So Markstrom, Elliot and Samuelsson clear waivers? Not one team in the league wanted these guys for free? I smell collusion...
- Shaundre93

G are hard to predict due to each team only having two slots. If you already have two one-way G's under contract, what can you really do if you don't want to add a 3rd? NHL has 60 G jobs, 210 D jobs, and 390 F jobs (ie, 2G, 7D, 13F)

Samuelsson suprised me a little as he did player well enough last season during his call-up.

So Markstrom, Elliot and Samuelsson clear waivers? Not one team in the league wanted these guys for free? I smell collusion...
- Shaundre93

It does seem like most teams are under the gun this week. And how in the hell did your GM get both of those guys signed? Is the mafia twisting ankles in Boston again?

And how in the hell did your GM get both of those guys signed? Is the mafia twisting ankles in Boston again?
- Topshelf Mountain

Maybe they (and Schwartz) seen what a fool Johansen was making of himself and just figured they should sign now and get paid later.

It does seem like most teams are under the gun this week. And how in the hell did your GM get both of those guys signed? Is the mafia twisting ankles in Boston again?
- Topshelf Mountain

Maybe they told those guys they are in the long range plans but they are up against a wall right now...we'll take care of you NEXT year...kind of thing

Players gamble a little bit with that but if they like a team/city and want to stay...they can go along with it.

Maybe they (and Schwartz) seen what a fool Johansen was making of himself and just figured they should sign now and get paid later.
- JoeAvg

Nah; they have very little leverage. Bruins can play & win without Krug and Reilly. I'm not so sure you can say the same out CBJ w/ Johnansen a former 4th overall pick.

In any case, players keep track of stuff like this. Montreal played hardball with Subban & he certainly didn't forget that. I'd expect Krug and Reilly to just make up what they weren't paid this year on their next contract.

Nah; they have very little leverage. Bruins can play & win without Krug and Reilly. I'm not so sure you can say the same out CBJ w/ Johnansen a former 4th overall pick.

In any case, players keep track of stuff like this. Montreal played hardball with Subban & he certainly didn't forget that. I'd expect Krug and Reilly to just make up what they weren't paid this year on their next contract.
- s0rcerer1984

They also get to jump into arbitration quicker with those one year deals and the arbitration eligible stats like goals, assists, and plus minus heavily favor those two. Krug gets very protected starts and Smith plays with one of the best two way talents in the game.

It should add up to major leverage next offseason after nothing this offseason.

Harrington and Despres should make for a great pairing with Bortuzzo injured right now. I really like how poised Harrington has been so far. Does not look out of place at all. Despres on the other hand looks like a pissed off bull ready to prove Bylsma screwed up big time.

Harrington and Despres should make for a great pairing with Bortuzzo injured right now. I really like how poised Harrington has been so far. Does not look out of place at all. Despres on the other hand looks like a pissed off bull ready to prove Bylsma screwed up big time.
- usethe1-2-2

I'm still not seeing it with Despres. He still has no clue when to force things and when to fall back, and he certainly doesn't look aggressive or physical.

Harrington has shown more poise and better instincts so far.

They also get to jump into arbitration quicker with those one year deals and the arbitration eligible stats like goals, assists, and plus minus heavily favor those two. Krug gets very protected starts and Smith plays with one of the best two way talents in the game.

It should add up to major leverage next offseason after nothing this offseason.
- usethe1-2-2

Any way you slice it , it's opportunity cost, what they could have made in this year of their careers, what if they get a career ending injury ? They are only on the books this year for less money ? It's a gamble

Any way you slice it , it's opportunity cost, what they could have made in this year of their careers, what if they get a career ending injury ? They are only on the books this year for less money ? It's a gamble
- Bradlee3

It is also opportunity gained though. They get through this season and they are holding all the cards. They had no leverage this year to do anything. They couldn't go to arbitration or hit ufa status. They had to accept any fair deal or sit.

I'm still not seeing it with Despres. He still has no clue when to force things and when to fall back, and he certainly doesn't look aggressive or physical.

Harrington has shown more poise and better instincts so far.
- hardnosed

Despres is #47

btw I'm just breaking balls. Most people don't like him because he is not an aesthically pleasing player to watch. But if you look past that he is quite effective in his game and just needs direction, something the old regime was too good to do.

Really enjoyed this right up. I and a few others on this board have been saying for a while that Letang is a very particular player who needs a very particular partner to function correctly. Nice to see stats that back up what my eyes picked up.

It is also opportunity gained though. They get through this season and they are holding all the cards. They had no leverage this year to do anything. They couldn't go to arbitration or hit ufa status. They had to accept any fair deal or sit.
- usethe1-2-2

I think it all depends on how you view it. The player loses up front, but the tables eventually turn with revenge being a possibility. In short, if you use leverage to maximum effect when you have it, expect the other side to do in kind to you if the tables turn.

PK Subban is just such a perfect illustration of this. Habs played hardball with him & forced a low-money bridge deal on him. Then, when the power swung his way due to his pending UFA status, he put the boot down on Montreal's neck. Subban is a great player, but $9M/yr is a tough pill to swallow.

Personnally, I see paying more money up front as a RFA & "buying" UFA years on the back end at a lower price as being a better long-term move. It requires some trust in the player, but the rewards can be immense.

I think it all depends on how you view it. The player loses up front, but the tables eventually turn with revenge being a possibility. In short, if you use leverage to maximum effect when you have it, expect the other side to do in kind to you if the tables turn.

PK Subban is just such a perfect illustration of this. Habs played hardball with him & forced a low-money bridge deal on him. Then, when the power swung his way due to his pending UFA status, he put the boot down on Montreal's neck. Subban is a great player, but $9M/yr is a tough pill to swallow.

Personnally, I see paying more money up front as a RFA & "buying" UFA years on the back end at a lower price as being a better long-term move. It requires some trust in the player, but the rewards can be immense.
- s0rcerer1984

No doubt that is true, but Boston had no cap room to do that. Their hands were tied the entire way.

No doubt that is true, but Boston had no cap room to do that. Their hands were tied the entire way.
- usethe1-2-2

Very true. Just saying that whatever money Boston saved this season, Krug and Reilly are going to be looking to get back next season. Kinda turns negotiations into a zero-sum game in the end.

Leino and Johansen. The first had a good playoff and Buffalo signed him to big money, the latter might be good and is trying to cash in early off one good year. Tough to evaluate off of one year. In Bostons case the players knew the predicament with the salary cap and still signed. As someone mentioned before, how these things are handled resonate with the players....likely why the same teams continue to suck.

Very true. Just saying that whatever money Boston saved this season, Krug and Reilly are going to be looking to get back next season. Kinda turns negotiations into a zero-sum game in the end.
- s0rcerer1984

Bostons screwed all the way around. They've likely one competitive year left, then age and contract terms are gonna kill 'em. They won't be able to afford a Reilly or Krug next year.

Leino and Johansen. The first had a good playoff and Buffalo signed him to big money, the latter might be good and is trying to cash in early off one good year. Tough to evaluate off of one year. In Bostons case the players knew the predicament with the salary cap and still signed. As someone mentioned before, how these things are handled resonate with the players....likely why the same teams continue to suck.
- Topshelf Mountain

One major difference with Leino and Johansen (at least in my mind), the former was undrafted while the latter was the 4th overall pick.

Draft posistion isn't everything, but Johansen was drafted 4th overall for a reason. That speaks to what a team thinks he has the potential to be & the likelihood of him reaching that potential. To be blunt, by picking Johansen with that pick CBJ already bet heavily on him once; it would make sense to do so again unless they think they made a huge mistake by drafting him in the first place.

One interesting twist that I wasn't aware of, if either Oskar Sundqvist or Kasperi Kapanen don't make the Pens roster, they will almost certainly go back to Europe.

Based on Ian Altenbaugh's tweets last night, and the little that I could find online, that seems to be the case.

They both are under contract to play back home and will have to report there if they don't make the NHL roster. I don't think that there is any transfer agreement in place for the AHL.

Good point. Columbus has the cap space and zero first line, seems like the advantage is with Ryan and his agent. In the GM's shoes I still don't budge though. If you allow yourself to get taken to task, like the Rangers didn't last year, you'll have a Sutter demanding five million.

All that being said, I still pay over a grand every year to play at 11:00 on a weeknight. Stupid genetics!

Bostons screwed all the way around. They've likely one competitive year left, then age and contract terms are gonna kill 'em. They won't be able to afford a Reilly or Krug next year.
- Topshelf Mountain

They were rumored to be shopping Boychuck who is a UFA at the end of this season, so he will likely walk, and they will be left with a 38 year old Chara, Seidenberg, and the young guys. Not a great defensive corps there.

They should move Lucic and extend Boychuck. Lucic has a $6 mil ticket, and would bring a good return.

Good point. Columbus has the cap space and zero first line, seems like the advantage is with Ryan and his agent. In the GM's shoes I still don't budge though. If you allow yourself to get taken to task, like the Rangers didn't last year, you'll have a Sutter demanding five million.

All that being said, I still pay over a grand every year to play at 11:00 on a weeknight. Stupid genetics!
- Topshelf Mountain

Columbus is not a financially sound organization. They are pinching pennies. Of course, you could argue they can't afford to not sign him.

Good point. Columbus has the cap space and zero first line, seems like the advantage is with Ryan and his agent. In the GM's shoes I still don't budge though. If you allow yourself to get taken to task, like the Rangers didn't last year, you'll have a Sutter demanding five million.

All that being said, I still pay over a grand every year to play at 11:00 on a weeknight. Stupid genetics!
- Topshelf Mountain

I tend to look at the Johansen situtaion as being very unique.

On one side you have a very talented, highly drafted C (at 6'3" 225lbs) who has the potential to be one of the best in the NHL, IF he plays to his potential, very shortly. He has only had 1 strong season, but he was the team's leading scorer w/63pts (12 pts more than the next closest player) & scored 33 goals. In short, a legit #1C who can be he face of franchise for the next 10yrs who has just only hit RFA.

On the other, you have a team, who has perenially been a joke, coming off its second playoff appearence in 15yrs & first playoff W ever. And not just W's, but W's agaist an NHL powerhouse team & new division rival in the Penguins. It is essential for CBJ that the winning from last season continue into this season not just in terms of hockey, but also developing a fan base. Ton of Cap space. CBA is on your side as the player is just a RFA without arbitration rights .

The way I look at it is CBJ has all the leverage on paper w/ the CBA, but after that it all slides to Johansen. The only leverage a RFA has is to sit out games, which ordinarily doesn't hurt the team all that much. But with CBJ you have (i) a history of failure & high expectaions out of the gate, (ii) no comparable alternative if Johnansen doesn't play, (iii) injuries depleting your little remaining scoring punch w/ Horton and Jenner out w/ injuries, and (iv) are negotiating w/ your potential best player & face of your franchise who you can't really afford to trade. Its situation where the player has much, much more leverage than a GM is use to.

One interesting twist that I wasn't aware of, if either Oskar Sundqvist or Kasperi Kapanen don't make the Pens roster, they will almost certainly go back to Europe.

Based on Ian Altenbaugh's tweets last night, and the little that I could find online, that seems to be the case.

They both are under contract to play back home and will have to report there if they don't make the NHL roster. I don't think that there is any transfer agreement in place for the AHL.
- rival22

That's correct with Sunqvist but not 100% certain with Kapanen, though I believe he's under contract too. It works much like the junior players. If they don't stick, they can't return or go to WB. A 9 game look is all they can get this year or it's ELC burn.

That's correct with Sunqvist but not 100% certain with Kapanen, though I believe he's under contract too. It works much like the junior players. If they don't stick, they can't return or go to WB. A 9 game look is all they can get this year or it's ELC burn.
- JoeAvg

Also I believe they need to be 20 years of age to play in the AHL? And neither is 20.