Soo Bored! You guys just aren't entertaining today....

So why the 50 contract limit? I understand that for the Flyers it's less of an issue since our contracts are top heavy financially but for other team it's an issue.

I was reading around today and one of the teams is at 49 contracts but is substantially below the Salary Cap. If they have the money to spend and want to use it why can't they sign 5 or 6 or more players?

There are two reasons that this bothers me. 1. it's a cap on the number of players there can be under contract to NHL clubs. 2. While the owners spend all their time wringing their hands and locking out players and fans over player salaries, with a cap floor in place and a limit on contract numbers this serves to increase the overall average salary per player.

Like many things NHL, I don't get it.
- mayorofangrytown

I believe the mechanism exists for reasons of parity... a team like Toronto could sign a staggering number of UFAs and unsigned/undrafted prospects and have the luxury of seeing who sticks out of the bunch, then hide the rest off the cap once the season begins.

As far as inflating salaries, I'm not sure the 50-limit has too much bearing on that. There are a ton of players making near the league minimum right now despite the artificial scarcity of roster spots. I actually think it has some depressive effect on salaries, to be honest. AHL stars/vets/fringe-NHL'ers might command much more if teams could afford to carry more contracts.

I believe the mechanism exists for reasons of parity... a team like Toronto could sign a staggering number of UFAs and unsigned/undrafted prospects and have the luxury of seeing who sticks out of the bunch, then hide the rest off the cap once the season begins.

As far as inflating salaries, I'm not sure the 50-limit has too much bearing on that. There are a ton of players making near the league minimum right now despite the artificial scarcity of roster spots. I actually think it has some depressive effect on salaries, to be honest. AHL stars/vets/fringe-NHL'ers might command much more if teams could afford to carry more contracts.
- Tomahawk

Could they really demand more with the salary cap in place? Especially with the new rules to prevent burying contracts, it seems unlikely.

SCOREACEK SCORACEK!

I believe the mechanism exists for reasons of parity... a team like Toronto could sign a staggering number of UFAs and unsigned/undrafted prospects and have the luxury of seeing who sticks out of the bunch, then hide the rest off the cap once the season begins.

As far as inflating salaries, I'm not sure the 50-limit has too much bearing on that. There are a ton of players making near the league minimum right now despite the artificial scarcity of roster spots. I actually think it has some depressive effect on salaries, to be honest. AHL stars/vets/fringe-NHL'ers might command much more if teams could afford to carry more contracts.
- Tomahawk

I'm sure there's a reason and that's as good as any.

Logic suggests that if the cap floor is a finite number dividing it by 50 instead of 60 is inflating the average.

I believe the mechanism exists for reasons of parity... a team like Toronto could sign a staggering number of UFAs and unsigned/undrafted prospects and have the luxury of seeing who sticks out of the bunch, then hide the rest off the cap once the season begins.


- Tomahawk

It's not too dissimilar for why the NCAA only allows so many scholarships for Football or other D1 sports.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Voracek
- bmeltzer

Jakob Dumpling is going to be a legit all star this season.

Jakob Dumpling is going to be a legit all star this season.
- Marc D

I think so as well. I have a lot of friends from different areas, Pens fans, Blackhawks, Red Wings, Kings, Rangers, etc who all comment constantly on how good Voracek is.

Most often mentioned is his ability to carry the mail and back off opposing defenses. I am very excited to see him play this season.

Could they really demand more with the salary cap in place? Especially with the new rules to prevent burying contracts, it seems unlikely.
- BulliesPhan87

You can still bury up to, what, $900k?

Take a guy like Martin St. Pierre for example... the guy is super-skilled, is a big scoring threat at the minor-pro level, but his size and relative average mobility make him a reach to secure an NHL roster spot outright. At worst, he would bring instant offensive star power to any farm team, and then there's always the outside chance that he could pull a PA Parenteau/Marty St. Louis and unexpectedly translate his offense to the NHL if given the opportunity.

With the 50-limit, and most teams having their hands full trying to fit their UFA additions and prospect ELC's under that limit... adding a player like St. Pierre is relegated to a low-priority luxury. For the player, he pretty much has to accept the few offers he has available to him to keep his NHL dream alive or be faced with heading over to Europe.

If there was no limit, there would probably be many more offers for a player like him to choose from, and that would supply him with much more negotiating leverage.

As of right now, the poor guy is on $550k, one-way, one-year deal.

I'm sure there's a reason and that's as good as any.

Logic suggests that if the cap floor is a finite number dividing it by 50 instead of 60 is inflating the average.
- mayorofangrytown

It's doesn't act as a cap on supply, it acts as a cap on demand.

Teams can only sign 50 players at a time... there's a lot more than 50x30 really good hockey players out there.

he will improve but the numbers could take a dip from playing on the 2nd line...
- Crimsoninja

Baby Schenn + Jake Dumplings is money

I'm with Crims on this one

except for that part about dipping numbers, that is false

If there was no limit, there would probably be many more offers for a player like him to choose from, and that would supply him with much more negotiating leverage.

As of right now, the poor guy is on $550k, one-way, one-year deal.
- Tomahawk

Wouldn't that be good for the player and the team that picks him up not to mention the NHL?

Say Edmonton is way under the cap. They sign him to a two way contract for league minimum as their 51st contract. He gets a little bump in pay, the chance to make an NHL roster and the Oilers get another option at the minor league level.

The salary cap is still intact. What's the down side for anyone?

It's doesn't act as a cap on supply, it acts as a cap on demand.

Teams can only sign 50 players at a time... there's a lot more than 50x30 really good hockey players out there.
- Tomahawk

So why cap demand if the outgoing money remains the same?

This season I'm most excited to see what Brayden Schenn does among any other player on the team. I feel this season is in fact Schenn's break out season.

I do not in the least believe it is a slam dunk that Voracek will produce far and away better then Lecavalier. Simmonds definitely does not a play a game that will see him produce more then Lecavalier. If anything, in my opinion, should Giroux get hurt, Lecavalier is still considered to be a number one center anywhere.

Is it fate that Ron Hextall has become an assistant GM the same season Ray Emery has signed here? Emery will never be Hextall, Hextall was a wild man but Emery is a tough goaltender. If I'm Laviolette, I would give Emery the occasional nod to give players in his crease and around his net the occasional cheap shot. I would love to see your AM re tackle a forward of the opposing team.

This season I'm most excited to see what Brayden Schenn does among any other player on the team. I feel this season is in fact Schenn's break out season.

I do not in the least believe it is a slam dunk that Voracek will produce far and away better then Lecavalier. Simmonds definitely does not a play a game that will see him produce more then Lecavalier. If anything, in my opinion, should Giroux get hurt, Lecavalier is still considered to be a number one center anywhere.

Is it fate that Ron Hextall has become an assistant GM the same season Ray Emery has signed here? Emery will never be Hextall, Hextall was a wild man but Emery is a tough goaltender. If I'm Laviolette, I would give Emery the occasional nod to give players in his crease and around his net the occasional cheap shot. I would love to see your AM re tackle a forward of the opposing team.
- dingo8urbaby

Its do or die for Schenn this season. Its time to step up to the plate.

Jakob Dumpling is going to be a legit all star this season.
- Marc D

Dumpling & Chase?

Its do or die for Schenn this season. Its time to step up to the plate.
- GOA88

He's 21, how is it do or die time?

Dumpling & Chase?
- Moose_15

As in chase a dumpling with a beer? Yeah that was distinctly Vorachek's issue at the beginning of last season.

I understand you like the player, but you also gotta see that he has his faults.. There are a slew of players that I take over him, but the emotional connection would probably stop me in my tracks.

Here is my honest take of Giroux... G is one of the best competitors in all of hockey. His offensive prowess is elite, however he is a pass first player and that will always affect his goal totals. Giroux has the ability to take over games by being offensively dominant. He is a special teams dream as well. His even strength defense however is slighty above average on a good day. He has a tendency to over commit to the puck, lose track in his zone or of a player, and rush out of the zone early. When he wants to, he can be very strong along the boards, and can actually throw pretty big hits (for a smaller player). The latter part comes with the competitors edge. He plays a very physical game (again considering his size), which may suggest he is often stronger defensively than he actually is (for some reason physical play and defensive plays can be misconstrued as being synonymous).

Giroux is in the upper echelon of forwards.. but has room to be even better.
- jak521

This is a solid analysis but I do think you're undervaluing Giroux's defensive abilities based solely off this past season. It was an up-and-down campaign in which G had several glaring lapses in his own zone. At different times thru the year he was either trying too hard to be a difference maker at both ends of the ice (bc the team was desperate for points) or uncharacteristically taking plays off on the backcheck. The year before he was very good defensively. The shortened campaign he was average. So no, he's not Datsyuk or Toews but he has that ability. He's coming off a bad year all around, but overall he's good in the two-way game. He wasn't Selke material last season (he was barely average), but he has that type of ability. He just needs to find the consistency in his own zone that has eluded him recently.

Dumpling & Chase?
- Moose_15

nah he can carry the mail, that is one of the things that makes him special

Its do or die for Schenn this season. Its time to step up to the plate.
- GOA88

so he will be a bust at age 21...

hmmm

He's 21, how is it do or die time?
- KINGKENZO

That's a good point but I do think that if he doesn't improve this season he will not be factored in as highly into our long term plan. The trade rumors will go up and we all know Homer isn't shy about trading someone...
Each season is one to prove yourself, but he's had some time to stretch his legs. Gotten good opportunities, if he doesn't live up to them he's going to see them begin to dry up and passed to other players knocking on the same door.

As in chase a dumpling with a beer? Yeah that was distinctly Vorachek's issue at the beginning of last season.
- FlyersGrace

If pierogies and beer help him shoot at a 17.1% clip--someone hire Mrs. T

so he will be a bust at age 21...

hmmm
- Marc D

B. Schenn will do just fine this season. He won't be a bust until he's 22.

He's 21, how is it do or die time?
- KINGKENZO

Im saying he needs to show improvement or I think he gets traded in a package for a defenseman.