Ultimately, its more profitable for the NHL to have as many teams as possible. They should really only have 24 teams. That would be a nice round number. 4 divisions of 6 teams each.

No one would ever vote for that though. Less jobs for everyone.
- PhillySportsGuy

Or go to 32 teams and move teams in bad markets to newer markets where owners will risk their own money to build a franchise.

However, i doubt me and you will ever see eye to eye on this.

The Salary Cap was designed by the owners, for the owners.
- Flyersgod

I just want the cap gone so we can have discussions focused more on the game than on finances. If we acquire a player I'd rather not discuss his average annual salary and cap ramifications and not have that influence whether we're happy to have him lace them up for the Flyers.

The Player's union would riot if the league contracted. As one would expect......
- johndewar

(frank)ing unions

I just want the cap gone so we can have discussions focused more on the game than on finances. If we acquire a player I'd rather not discuss his average annual salary and cap ramifications and not have that influence whether we're happy to have him lace them up for the Flyers.
- mayorofangrytown

Not to mention the expectations placed upon players who sign a contract that they could never live up to.

Not to mention the expectations placed upon players who sign a contract that they could never live up to.
- Flyersgod

Grossmann makes the salary of a top-4 defenseman but isn't Bobby Orr.

BURN HIM!

Or go to 32 teams and move teams in bad markets to newer markets where owners will risk their own money to build a franchise.

However, i doubt me and you will ever see eye to eye on this.
- Flyersgod

I actually agree with you. I don't think the salary cap has done much to help the small market teams. Ultimately, its about those teams ponying up the money and making their franchise a better destination. The salary cap didn't help keep Gomez or Parise in NJ, Briere or Drury in Buffalo, Suter (or Weber) in Nashville.

Grossmann makes the salary of a top-4 defenseman but isn't Bobby Orr.

BURN HIM!
- jmatchett383

YEAH BLAME GROSSMAN FOR TAKING A BUTTLOAD OF MONEY!

HE SHOULD HAVE SAID NO I WANT LESS MONEY!

While it wouldve been fun to watch NJ get (frank)ed so hard by losing out on a 1st rounder for signing a stupid contract with a player who bailed on the team anyways, it is better this way. Their franchise is in a bad place, so it was smart of the league to try to cut them some slack.

I actually agree with you. I don't think the salary cap has done much to help the small market teams. Ultimately, its about those teams ponying up the money and making their franchise a better destination. The salary cap didn't help keep Gomez or Parise in NJ, Briere or Drury in Buffalo, Suter (or Weber) in Nashville.
- PhillySportsGuy

I think it did. Without a salary cap, the Flyers may have offered him $13M annually, instead of just for the first year.

(frank)ing unions
- 2Real

Stupid workers wanting rights!

I think it did. Without a salary cap, the Flyers may have offered him $13M annually, instead of just for the first year.
- jmatchett383

I guess thats true. I still doubt Weber would be a Predator had he not signed the offer sheet.

YEAH BLAME GROSSMAN FOR TAKING A BUTTLOAD OF MONEY!

HE SHOULD HAVE SAID NO I WANT LESS MONEY!
- Flyersgod

Some guys do actually have to watch out for that. I'm still gonna use the verb "Luongoed" even though he got to keep his fat check and play n his favorite location, in Florida. So that worked out for him, but players do have to watch out for signing contracts that could get them stuck in a place they aren't happy with down the road.

I actually agree with you. I don't think the salary cap has done much to help the small market teams. Ultimately, its about those teams ponying up the money and making their franchise a better destination. The salary cap didn't help keep Gomez or Parise in NJ, Briere or Drury in Buffalo, Suter (or Weber) in Nashville.
- PhillySportsGuy

Perhaps. Taking money from successful teams and giving it to crap teams doesn't help anyone. Crap teams are still crap teams making crap decisions and playing infront of crap fans. So long as those crap teams are receiving money, what incentive do they have to try and innovate or adapt to the game?

I'm tryin to dance around politics the bests i can... i may have to step out and let you guys finish this up

Stupid workers wanting rights!
- wolfhounds

They have the rights now. It's not about rights anymore.

I don't pretend to know whether or not the salary cap is a good idea or not, but I do know it's in every team's best interest to have a strong, competitive league or everyone's profits suffer.

Perhaps. Taking money from successful teams and giving it to crap teams doesn't help anyone. Crap teams are still crap teams making crap decisions and playing infront of crap fans. So long as those crap teams are receiving money, what incentive do they have to try and innovate or adapt to the game?

I'm tryin to dance around politics the bests i can... i may have to step out and let you guys finish this up
- Flyersgod

I have a degree in entrepreneurship and have taken several economics classes (almost enough to minor in it). I understand how the market works. I agree with what you're saying. This isn't the real world though. This is the NHL and they aren't going to EVER contract. Using those restraints, determining the best course of action can differ.

Chris Pronger is never going to play again.

Neither is Marc Savard.

The illusion that they are not "retired" is a farce and a waste of time for all involved.

Get them paid, fine.

But the idea of trotting these guys into town for a physical every year (that EVERYONE knows they are going to fail) to put up the charade that they will be coming back is kind silly.

I know it's what the CBA says to do. What I'm saying is the CBA should have been amended otherwise.
- johndewar

Exactly.

We all know why they do it. They shouldn't have to -- it's a farce. They're never going to be cleared. That stuff about teams trying to pay players outside the system simply isn't true -- the NHL requires that those players on LTIR to be medically examined.

They don't just take the Flyers' word for it that Mike Rathje couldn't play, or that Chris Pronger's done. They know they can't play, and in guys like Marc Savard's case or Chris Pronger's case, where their careers were actually ended on-ice, while playing actual games for all to see, it's ludicrous to make them be on LTIR.

Because of the weakness in the Canadian dollar right now, the cap is actually expected to go up to about 68.5 million now, instead of 71.

Because of the weakness in the Canadian dollar right now, the cap is actually expected to go up to about 68.5 million now, instead of 71.
- JAKEw1234

can't they do anything right

They have the rights now. It's not about rights anymore.
- Flyersgod

Because everything is permanent, nothing changes...

Exactly.

We all know why they do it. They shouldn't have to -- it's a farce. They're never going to be cleared. That stuff about teams trying to pay players outside the system simply isn't true -- the NHL requires that those players on LTIR to be medically examined.

They don't just take the Flyers' word for it that Mike Rathje couldn't play, or that Chris Pronger's done. They know they can't play, and in guys like Marc Savard's case or Chris Pronger's case, where their careers were actually ended on-ice, while playing actual games for all to see, it's ludicrous to make them be on LTIR.
- AllInForFlyers

There should be a clause for catastrophic injuries. A career ending concussion can occur to any player at any moment.

Pronger was playing at an all star level when he got injured. Its not like his injury and cap removal would have helped the Flyers.

Stupid workers wanting rights!
- wolfhounds

yea the right to not get laid off for being poopty at your job

Because of the weakness in the Canadian dollar right now, the cap is actually expected to go up to about 68.5 million now, instead of 71.
- JAKEw1234

Nice job Canada. Bringing us down

That'll make things interesting though for the Flyers, unfortunately. I think it was Marc who posted here with a lowdown of what needed to be done/what players needed re-signed etc and by the end of the day, the ballpark cap space was about 6 mil for a dman and backup goalie.

Now it'll be 3ish. Meh.

Because of the weakness in the Canadian dollar right now, the cap is actually expected to go up to about 68.5 million now, instead of 71.
- JAKEw1234

what we don't pay players in bitcoin yet?

There should be a clause for catastrophic injuries. A career ending concussion can occur to any player at any moment.

Pronger was playing at an all star level when he got injured. Its not like his injury and cap removal would have helped the Flyers.
- PhillySportsGuy

It has nothing to do with helping or not helping the Flyers.