Well Nashville is a good example. They bring in a deep pocketed owner who offers a directors loan to the corporation to help bridge the financial shortfall. After a bunch of years the corporation is sold or refinanced and the director's loan is repaid. There is no tax on the repaid loan
- spatso

Great, they save on taxes. How does that help them when the cap floor continues to go up and their own revenues and league revenue sharing doesn't cover them getting to that floor. The cap isn't keeping them competitive, it's forcing them to spend money they don't have on players that are being shed by high profit teams that CAN afford them but can't fit them under the cap.

Yeah cap!!!

sorry, aren't the same 18 teams rotating in and out of the playoffs every season if they get in at all?
- mayorofangrytown

Well that's always going to be a side effect of a small market team but if teams can make the playoffs 5-6 times or more over a 10 year span, they have a good chance at building up a good fan base and growing interest in the sport at the grass roots level.

I hope you're right, but there's not a whole lot of tortorella history to base this on. I think the "NYR's are overrated" talk is just wishful thinking. They look deadly. The only real hope there is a playoff time slump. Looks like they could have financial problems starting next season so we just need someone to get hot and knock them out this year, but I would consider them one of the favs to be doing some early summer cup hoisting.
- TS_Downes

I agree. You never know what's going to happen. But on paper they're one of the top teams. And I would lean towards agreeing that they're overrated is just wishful thinking.

Well that's always going to be a side effect of a small market team but if teams can make the playoffs 5-6 times or more over a 10 year span, they have a good chance at building up a good fan base and growing interest in the sport at the grass roots level.
- NickTheKid87

Or we give them 15 years and if they fail we move them somewhere that works.

Pretty amazing. I read that article by Mirtle. This CBA won't do a dam thing to help the small markets long term. It's just a band aid.
- MJL

exactly.....its a shortsighted solution that this Mickey Mouse leauge continues to operate under. This resoluition stinks. Both sides have polished poop and are selling it as gold or status quo

As a hockey fan, I think the cap is a great way to build the game up in non-traditional places like Dallas & Nashville (gotta get it out of Phoenix & Sunrise though) and keep the league more competitive as a whole but as a Flyers fan I hate it.
- NickTheKid87

That's where we differ. I don't think the Cap does that at all. At least it hasn't to this point. The most it does is punish the teams that are sucessful at building a team.

I think it slows down the accelerated growth. All the Canadian teams most of the northern US teams can do a $70m cap. But there are 8 to 10 teams that just do not have the financial muscle to keep up. I think Bettman is going to leave that to the next commissioner to fix.
- spatso

Which is why I said it's a band aid. As long as revenue continues to grow, and the Cap ceiling drags the cap floor along, this will be a failed business plan.

Sorry this is off the wall but

When can I order Center Ice?? Now??

Who gets the " C "

I agree. You never know what's going to happen. But on paper they're one of the top teams. And I would lean towards agreeing that they're overrated is just wishful thinking.
- MJL

Or completely delusional.

That's where we differ. I don't think the Cap does that at all. At least it hasn't to this point. The most it does is punish the teams that are sucessful at building a team.
- MJL

That's why there needs to be a better revenue sharing system in place. Without one the cap is pointless and, like you said, inhibits the teams that can spend money.

Which is why I said it's a band aid. As long as revenue continues to grow, and the Cap ceiling drags the cap floor along, this will be a failed business plan.
- MJL

A hard cap has proven to be unworkable but the NHL is 20 years behind like always.

Like Jsaquella pointed out, there needs to be a good revenue sharing system in place or else the cap is essentially irrelevant. If both are in place than it can keep the small markets competitive. That way, hockey as a sport will grow in these markets as well, which has actually been the case over the past few years. A good sign for USA hockey for sure.
- NickTheKid87

Has it been the case in Columbus? Or Florida?

Have we signed PK Subban with all our extra cap space yet?

Or we give them 15 years and if they fail we move them somewhere that works.
- mayorofangrytown

I would agree with you there too. Phoenix is a failed experiment as is Florida & Tampa Bay to a lesser extent. They've shown solid attendance numbers. I think Dallas can sustain a team as can Nashville & Carolina given the opportunity to put a good product on the ice.

That's why there needs to be a better revenue sharing system in place. Without one the cap is pointless and, like you said, inhibits the teams that can spend money.
- NickTheKid87

I don't see that happening. They increased it, but not enough. Most of the Owners aren't interested. They're just interested in taking more from the players. And I really would like to move to Hockey and enough of the lockout and the CBA. I had enough of that for 3 months.

Has it been the case in Columbus? Or Florida?
- MJL

No which is why I believe they should relocate to Canada or the northern US. But teams like CAR, DAL, NSH have the chance to have success given a good on-ice product.

I've seen him play eight times -- nine if you include the Subway Series game he played. Also saw him several times during the Flyers prospect camp in July and covered the second of the two scrimmages for the Flyers' official site.

He's not very dynamic offensively -- regardless of recent junior numbers, I don't think he'll be a true top six in the NHL -- and needs to add muscle. But otherwise there's a lot to like. He's tenacious; an aggressive forechecker. He skates fairly well. He's responsible defensively.

It's not hard to look at him and see a future NHL player. A Western Conference scout's assessment of him as a future John Madden type seems more likely to me than the Flyers' comparisons to Mike Richards.
- bmeltzer

i agree totally he is no mike richards but his skating,forecheck and defensive play he will be a good third line guy. i ,see him being a 8-12 goal a year guy or trade bait

I don't see that happening. They increased it, but not enough. Most of the Owners aren't interested. They're just interested in taking more from the owners. And I really would like to move to Hockey and enough of the lockout and the CBA. I had enough of that for 3 months.
- MJL

I'm with you there. Remind me in 8 years and we'll talk about it then.

I'm with you there. Remind me in 8 years and we'll talk about it then.
- NickTheKid87

Without a doubt, but at least we've got that long until round 4.

Have we signed PK Subban with all our extra cap space yet?
- mayorofangrytown

I know you're joking but it is time to kick tires and I can't wait to see the first trade made before the regular season. As much as we do need an upgrade on d, I would be over the moon if we could get a Giroux level guarantee on wing. It's wishful thinking that Bobby Ryan will be taking the next flight out to Philly but I am really excited for what could happen next.

Sorry this is off the wall but

When can I order Center Ice?? Now??

Who gets the " C "
- Flyers_1488

If it's free, I'd think you don't need to order it, it will just be there like it is during the previews.

Laviolette on 94.1 at 1:15.

I know you're joking but it is time to kick tires and I can't wait to see the first trade made before the regular season. As much as we do need an upgrade on d, I would be over the moon if we could get a Giroux level guarantee on wing. It's wishful thinking that Bobby Ryan will be taking the next flight out to Philly but I am really excited for what could happen next.
- SuperSchennBros

It's going to be an interesting short season. Hopefully my interest will get back to level soon. That's why I'm on here.

I know you're joking but it is time to kick tires and I can't wait to see the first trade made before the regular season. As much as we do need an upgrade on d, I would be over the moon if we could get a Giroux level guarantee on wing. It's wishful thinking that Bobby Ryan will be taking the next flight out to Philly but I am really excited for what could happen next.
- SuperSchennBros

I seriously hope that if the Flyers are going to trade quality assets, that it's not for Bobby Ryan.

I've seen him play eight times -- nine if you include the Subway Series game he played. Also saw him several times during the Flyers prospect camp in July and covered the second of the two scrimmages for the Flyers' official site.

He's not very dynamic offensively -- regardless of recent junior numbers, I don't think he'll be a true top six in the NHL -- and needs to add muscle. But otherwise there's a lot to like. He's tenacious; an aggressive forechecker. He skates fairly well. He's responsible defensively.

It's not hard to look at him and see a future NHL player. A Western Conference scout's assessment of him as a future John Madden type seems more likely to me than the Flyers' comparisons to Mike Richards.
- bmeltzer

I am even less excited about our prospects (Laughton, Cousins) then I am about this seasons team. There is time for changes to be made of course. Upgrade on both wing and d would be nice but I will be happy watching the flyers play either way.


Bill, would you have identified Scott Laughton as a first round choice?

It's going to be an interesting short season. Hopefully my interest will get back to level soon. That's why I'm on here.
- mayorofangrytown

As am I sir.