Columbus Blue Jackets Buy Out Scott Hartnell
June 29th, 2017 at 12:32pm CST • By Gavin Lee
The Columbus Blue Jackets have bought out the remaining two years on Scott Hartnell‘s contract, making him a free agent.
- walleyeb1

I'd sign him. He's bought and add paid, could get him cheap? Think he could keep up with Kaner?

Fair enough, I'm assuming by the very rare chance he is not actually allowed to go on LTIR.

More likely what is to happen is that he is granted LTIR status but league moves to implement other restrictive rules around the practice. IE will freeze him out from ever coming back and playing, not allowed to buy out or trade LTIR players, etc. Punitive moves like that.
- Gerk

Keep hope alive.*

* Quote attributed to Jessie Jackson. Brought to you by CuplessEnviousTroll.com

I'd sign him. He's bought and add paid, could get him cheap? Think he could keep up with Kaner?
- Bjm84

Handzus somehow did.

Regarding coming back off LTIR. I would be expecting something to the effect of, if you are on LTIR for X amount of time you are not eligible to come back for the playoffs. More cap circumventing issues. Coming back during year I think they would be fine with.

League wants to avoid the optics of having Hossa go on LTIR, not play one game all year, come back for playoffs and play with no cap impact. However unlikely that is to happen.
- Gerk

Agreed, the optics on that would be bad, but realistically speaking, how many players could take a whole year off from competition, then come back at playoff time and be an effective player? Missing 6-8 weeks is one thing if you can keep your conditioning, missing 6 months is something completely different.

Agreed, the optics on that would be bad, but realistically speaking, how many players could take a whole year off from competition, then come back at playoff time and be an effective player? Missing 6-8 weeks is one thing if you can keep your conditioning, missing 6 months is something completely different.
- TheTrob

I don't disagree, just stating it is something league may proactively look to avoid.

Agreed, the optics on that would be bad, but realistically speaking, how many players could take a whole year off from competition, then come back at playoff time and be an effective player? Missing 6-8 weeks is one thing if you can keep your conditioning, missing 6 months is something completely different.
- TheTrob

Pronger did it!

Agreed, the optics on that would be bad, but realistically speaking, how many players could take a whole year off from competition, then come back at playoff time and be an effective player? Missing 6-8 weeks is one thing if you can keep your conditioning, missing 6 months is something completely different.
- TheTrob

Pronger did it!

I don't disagree, just stating it is something league may proactively look to avoid.
- Gerk

The league will no doubt try and add some type of language to get around this practice, but regardless of what is changed, the teams will have their capologists and lawyers find the loopholes again that will allow them to circumnavigate the cap once again. That's the nature of the beast.

At a certain point, when the cap begins to effect the majority of teams in the league and stifles movement, forces players out, etc. something will be done to allow a little more flexibility.

Chris 'True Grit' Neil would be very welcomed in Chicago



- Hank3Henshaw

No

The idea of Hartnell sounds good, but only on a very low deal. He seems to be in sharp decline:
http://www.hockey-referen.../players/h/hartnsc01.html

60, 49, and 37 points in the last three years.

Granted the last two were with 'why shoot the puck when you can lay dive it to the other team and lay down in front of their slap shot?' Tortorella.

I wouldn't be surprised to see him back in Philly or Nashville, both teams loved having him in the organization.

Never been a Gagner fan. And I've made that abundantly clear here in the past.

Saw him play a lot this past season and when you use him the right way, he has matured into a pretty effective player.

45.3 is prolly better than AA for his career. Gagner was 47.1% last year, which I KNOW is better than AA was.

The Gagner rumor (which was not mine), along with maybe Del Zotto and some of the depth d-men, or a guy like Cramorossa makes more sense than some other stuff that's out there (to me).

But that's ONLY if the Hawks used Gagner the right way. You put Gagner at C with Kane, with a road grader/space creator type at LW, you might have something, esp. if you can get Gagner at 1-2 million a year less a year than AA.
- John Jaeckel

Gagner has gotta be looking for around 3 or 3.5 per. Maybe more because 50 points.

AA at 4.5 is much better value than Gagner at 3 or more regardless of who you put on the left side.

If you can sign him for a million then cool beans but I think that number is way low.

The idea of Hartnell sounds good, but only on a very low deal. He seems to be in sharp decline:
http://www.hockey-referen.../players/h/hartnsc01.html

60, 49, and 37 points in the last three years.

Granted the last two were with 'why shoot the puck when you can lay dive it to the other team and lay down in front of their slap shot?' Tortorella.

I wouldn't be surprised to see him back in Philly or Nashville, both teams loved having him in the organization.
- ObeseOprah

Also, the Hawks brought in Brunette (albeit at age 38) in 2011, and that did not go well. He's quite similar to Hartnell.

I'd take a flier on Hartnell, but only if the better options (Vanek, Jagr, Marleau) were already exhausted.

Also, the Hawks brought in Brunette (albeit at age 38) in 2011, and that did not go well. He's quite similar to Hartnell.

I'd take a flier on Hartnell, but only if the better options (Vanek, Jagr, Marleau) were already exhausted.
- ObeseOprah

Jagr in Chicago

Also, the Hawks brought in Brunette (albeit at age 38) in 2011, and that did not go well. He's quite similar to Hartnell.

I'd take a flier on Hartnell, but only if the better options (Vanek, Jagr, Marleau) were already exhausted.
- ObeseOprah

I think Hartnell has more to offer than Brunette did. He's got snarl too. Bottom 6 for 1m is not bad.

I'm pretty sure teams can be up to 10% above the salary cap during the summer, must be cap compliant by Oct. 1, and then can LTIR on Oct. 2
- Hossa1881

Someone on a previous thread (possibly LBR) cited the CBA, that states there is another option for LTIR before the season begins, where if you have a replacement player or players already on your roster, you can LTIR the injured player the last day of training camp to be compliant on Day 1 of the season.

JJ, you know if that is true or not?

JJ with hartnell being bought out hawks should be all over this 2 years at 1.5 to 2mil per year then wiggles at the same trade kruger + hino or pick for miller shimdt or merril take a chance on yakbove 1year $900 if dont work out dump in minors. Mitchell 900 4th line center daupint 3rd line center good balance any money left giradi 900k 1 year. Your thoughts

Someone on a previous thread (possibly LBR) cited the CBA, that states there is another option for LTIR before the season begins, where if you have a replacement player or players already on your roster, you can LTIR the injured player the last day of training camp to be compliant on Day 1 of the season.

JJ, you know if that is true or not?
- ToewsdNKanefusd

Yes, that is true. The problem with that is you only get the relief above the cap to what you have already signed, so if you need to make moves after that, you're in trouble.

Yes, that is true. The problem with that is you only get the relief above the cap to what you have already signed, so if you need to make moves after that, you're in trouble.
- JRoenick97

Well, maybe the hawks plan on doing it that way, but want to be sure that Hossa will be able to be LTIRed before signing a free agent(s) up to hossa's cap hit above the cap...

JJ with hartnell being bought out hawks should be all over this 2 years at 1.5 to 2mil per year then wiggles at the same trade kruger + hino or pick for miller shimdt or merril take a chance on yakbove 1year $900 if dont work out dump in minors. Mitchell 900 4th line center daupint 3rd line center good balance any money left giradi 900k 1 year. Your thoughts
- Scott1977

I think Hartnell will get a lot more than $1.5mil or $2 mil. Maybe more than double that.

I think Hartnell will get a lot more than $1.5mil or $2 mil. Maybe more than double that.
- -Doh-

If that's the case they would have been able to trade him.

If that is the case, we might as well just bring Dowell up from Rockford.
- hpk90

Dowell has lost alot speed over the last year. He has a good role as c on the farm.

Someone on a previous thread (possibly LBR) cited the CBA, that states there is another option for LTIR before the season begins, where if you have a replacement player or players already on your roster, you can LTIR the injured player the last day of training camp to be compliant on Day 1 of the season.

JJ, you know if that is true or not?
- ToewsdNKanefusd

I do not know but I believe Powers laid this out in a piece recently ...?

Darren Dreger @DarrenDreger
15s

Kris Versteeg and the Calgary Flames are putting the finishing touches on a 1 year contract to keep Versteeg with the Flames. $1.75 mil.

JJ with hartnell being bought out hawks should be all over this 2 years at 1.5 to 2mil per year then wiggles at the same trade kruger + hino or pick for miller shimdt or merril take a chance on yakbove 1year $900 if dont work out dump in minors. Mitchell 900 4th line center daupint 3rd line center good balance any money left giradi 900k 1 year. Your thoughts
- Scott1977

That's a lotta horse tradin' there, Scott. I would avoid Yakupov.

Darren Dreger @DarrenDreger
15s

Kris Versteeg and the Calgary Flames are putting the finishing touches on a 1 year contract to keep Versteeg with the Flames. $1.75 mil.
- jt19

Meh, ok. My condolences to TTTime.