If Calgary loses tonight, do you think the Phantoms would offer Sanheim or Fazleev an ATO to finish out the season? I'm assuming the 2nd round of the Q won't start soon enough to raise the same question for Morin, and I think Kelowna has advanced as well.
- jmatchett383

They could offer Sanheim the chance to play for the Phantoms. The Q playoffs are still in the 1st round so those Flyers prospects have both advanced they won't be going any place.

If Calgary loses tonight, do you think the Phantoms would offer Sanheim or Fazleev an ATO to finish out the season? I'm assuming the 2nd round of the Q won't start soon enough to raise the same question for Morin, and I think Kelowna has advanced as well.
- jmatchett383

Aren't they too young? I don't understand all of these rules regarding age and the AHL.

Aren't they too young? I don't understand all of these rules regarding age and the AHL.
- funmaster18

They can't play in the AHL as a full-time player on an AHL/NHL contract, but they can sign an ATO after their junior season has ended. I believe Carter did it in 03/04 when he was 19.

They can't play in the AHL as a full-time player on an AHL/NHL contract, but they can sign an ATO after their junior season has ended. I believe Carter did it in 03/04 when he was 19.
- jmatchett383

That's stupid. They should just let them play full-time then.

That's stupid. They should just let them play full-time then.
- funmaster18

If that was the case, then every single highly-touted 18-year-old would jump ship from his CHL team and play in the AHL, which would rob the CHL of many of its best players. It's bad enough they need to replenish stock every 3-4 years, no need to shorten the window.

Edit: It would also (theoretically) begin the ELC term earlier.

If that was the case, then every single highly-touted 18-year-old would jump ship from his CHL team and play in the AHL, which would rob the CHL of many of its best players. It's bad enough they need to replenish stock every 3-4 years, no need to shorten the window.

Edit: It would also (theoretically) begin the ELC term earlier.
- jmatchett383

I disagree. If you are good enough, you should get to move up to a better league.

why was Horton not insured?
Maybe prior injury history makes it too expensive?
- Marc D

I don't know that it wasn't, and if it wasn't, why. I was just stating that I remember that being a rule.

CBJ made an understandable mistake not insuring Horton. They didn't know his back was going to fall apart.

http://bluejacketsxtra.di...e_Jackets_trade_2-27.html

If that's the case then by all means do it.

To clear salary cap problems in the past has typically cost an asset.

AZ has some young guys that may need new deals soon and 4+M in cap space is a real cost. I guess it depends if they can't make the cap floor.

But if it was me I'd spend the 4M on a UFA that could contribute rather then take on Pronger or Savard. As a fan I'd be mad to see them cheap out on that kind of move
- Marc D

It's true, but these contracts are special cases. Basically the last of their kind where the cap hit is so much higher than the actual salary.

Giving a spot in the lineup to a young, cheap player with potential and reaching the cap floor thru Pronger or Savard seems like a better move to me than what Buffalo did last offseason when they gave Meszaros a $4.125m contract.

I disagree. If you are good enough, you should get to move up to a better league.
- funmaster18

The entire idea is so the Junior leagues can keep their high end talent in the league, atleast for a few years.

I disagree. If you are good enough, you should get to move up to a better league.
- funmaster18

You do realize that these junior leagues exist to make money, right? You're basically stripping their rosters prematurely which creates a less enjoyable product for the fans.

The entire idea is so the Junior leagues can keep their high end talent in the league, atleast for a few years.
- MJL

And it's needed for some teams who aren't high end players like London, Kitchener, Quebec, Edmonton, Portland, etc.

Many barely even make a profit if at all.

Big example is the Sarnia Sting who when McDavid and Erie visited in round 1 sold out and had 3 rows deep of standing room only.

And it's needed for some teams who aren't high end players like London, Kitchener, Quebec, Edmonton, Portland, etc.

Many barely even make a profit if at all.

Big example is the Sarnia Sting who when McDavid and Erie visited in round 1 sold out and had 3 rows deep of standing room only.
- ob18

London should focus more on creating a fan base and less on throwing bananas.

London should focus more on creating a fan base and less on throwing bananas.
- jmatchett383

Or focus on creating a fan base less interested in throwing bananas

What if you could trade Giroux, vinny and our 1st next year to move to #2 in the draft?
- Jimmygrazz

Nope.
How does that make the Flyers better?

You do realize that these junior leagues exist to make money, right? You're basically stripping their rosters prematurely which creates a less enjoyable product for the fans.
- jmatchett383

I don't watch those leagues, so why would it impact my opinion? If the AHL wants to make more money, should they make it so you can't play in the NHL until you are 25?

The entire idea is so the Junior leagues can keep their high end talent in the league, atleast for a few years.
- MJL

I understand the reason. I just think it's dumb to hold a player back, because the league he is in just wants to make money.

And it's needed for some teams who aren't high end players like London, Kitchener, Quebec, Edmonton, Portland, etc.

Many barely even make a profit if at all.

Big example is the Sarnia Sting who when McDavid and Erie visited in round 1 sold out and had 3 rows deep of standing room only.
- ob18

If they aren't making a profit, maybe there shouldn't be a team there? Just like there shouldn't be two teams in Florida.

I don't want those leagues, so why would it impact my opinion? If the AHL wants to make more money, should make it so you can't play in the NHL until you are 25?
- funmaster18

If those leagues didn't exist, where would all of the best players play 60+ games a year when they're 16/17? The USHL? Those junior leagues need to exist, and in order to do so, they need to be able to draw fans, and in order to do so, they need to have good players to market.

If they aren't making a profit, maybe there shouldn't be a team there? Just like there shouldn't be two teams in Florida.
- funmaster18

The economics and need of CHL teams and NHL/AHL teams and entirely different. These are high school kids who are leaving their families behind to go play in the best junior leagues in the world. The teams exist to help cater to the players as much as possible.

CBJ made an understandable mistake not insuring Horton. They didn't know his back was going to fall apart.

http://bluejacketsxtra.di...e_Jackets_trade_2-27.html



It's true, but these contracts are special cases. Basically the last of their kind where the cap hit is so much higher than the actual salary.

Giving a spot in the lineup to a young, cheap player with potential and reaching the cap floor thru Pronger or Savard seems like a better move to me than what Buffalo did last offseason when they gave Meszaros a $4.125m contract.
- Feanor

it's very interesting stuff, no doubt and I would love to see them move Pronger's deal if it doesn't cost an asset to do so

I wonder if CBJ broke the rules by not insuring Horton?

I disagree. If you are good enough, you should get to move up to a better league.
- funmaster18

I agree 100%. I think the rule is silly.

If they are that worried about the product, then condense each of the CHL leagues by 1-2 teams. I dont even think they necessarily need to do that.

There's great players coming up in hockey all the time. I dont see why younger players or guys just waiting for an opportunity can't step in and be just as good. Sending back a defender like Sanheim next year just means there are huge minutes that now won't be available to the other 6-7 dmen on his teams roster.

Who knows, maybe one of those defenders just need an opportunity to showcase how good they are. Their worried about the talent level diminishing if they change the age rule, but what if the talent has been there all along?

It's not like EVERY SINGLE 19 year old is going to start making AHL rosters. But it's undeniable at this point that there are some 19 year olds who are just too good to still be playing Major Junior. Julius Honka of the Stars is a perfect example of this, but he's only playing in the AHL this year due to a loophole.

Maybe make a rule that a team can only have one 19 year old player on their AHL roster at a time? So not even just CHL guys, any player. If you bring over a 19 year old from Europe, your not allowed to have a CHL kid on your AHL roster. Just trying to think of ways to make it fair for both sides....?

If those leagues didn't exist, where would all of the best players play 60+ games a year when they're 16/17? The USHL? Those junior leagues need to exist, and in order to do so, they need to be able to draw fans, and in order to do so, they need to have good players to market.
- jmatchett383

I don't have an answer for you. I just think it's stupid that a player can be way too good for the league they are in and because of money, they aren't allowed to move up. Maybe the AHL should be allowed to have X amount of players under 20 on their teams.

I don't have an answer for you. I just think it's stupid that a player can be way too good for the league they are in and because of money, they aren't allowed to move up. Maybe the AHL should be allowed to have X amount of players under 20 on their teams.
- funmaster18

Hopped on the same brain wave as me I see

The economics and need of CHL teams and NHL/AHL teams and entirely different. These are high school kids who are leaving their families behind to go play in the best junior leagues in the world. The teams exist to help cater to the players as much as possible.
- jmatchett383

It's not like every player in those leagues would be good enough to move up to the AHL. You could argue it would make room for even more players to play in those leagues, with moving a few of the best players up to the AHL.

If they aren't making a profit, maybe there shouldn't be a team there? Just like there shouldn't be two teams in Florida.
- funmaster18

2 OHL teams just moved. But it's for them a year to year thing for some teams.