It would be like a violation of the AAV where they segment what is actually one agreement into two different pieces to be cap compliant early, when they wouldnt be otherwise.

The paper contracts are "1 Million this year and then 7 million for five years." Two separate agreements, one with $1MAAV, so theyre under the cap, and then another one with $7MAAV that theyll worry about later.

The handshake deal is a 6 year agreement for $36M with a $6MAAV.
- Der Kaiser

The paper contract is all that matters though

Any crappy lawyer can argue that

There's talk that Kevin Labanc's 1 year, $1 million contract was cap circumvention by the Sharks.
- Powerslave

How? The player chose and signed the contract. The NHL isn’t the KHL. They aren’t paying players under the table.

I’m sure they said next summer he will cash in and based on salary inflation. He could potentially make more then he could have this summer.

But they do

That's how it works

A player signing an extreme team friendly deal isn't cap circumvention

A player signing a contract that pays a ton of cash up front (more than allowed over a period of time if cap circumvention)

A player signing a 15 year contract at 29 is cap circumvention

A player signing a 1 year deal at $1 million with the premise they will be taken care of when the teams cap space is better the next season is not cap circumvention
- Stripes77

It is a way around it, though. For at least a year.

Labanc @ $1 million is laughable. He had 56 points last year. Don't tell me he ran to the Sharks' arena to sign that deal unless "certain promises" were made.

If it's not against the rules, it's certainly dirty pool to any other teams that may care about it.

It is a way around it, though. For at least a year.

Labanc @ $1 million is laughable. He had 56 points last year. Don't tell me he ran to the Sharks' arena to sign that deal unless "certain promises" were made.

If it's not against the rules, it's certainly dirty pool to any other teams that may care about it.
- Powerslave

Smart teams find a way to keep their good players

It's not dirty, I wish the Sabres were a team good enough where their players would work with management to keep the team together

But they do

That's how it works

A player signing an extreme team friendly deal isn't cap circumvention

A player signing a contract that pays a ton of cash up front (more than allowed over a period of time if cap circumvention)

A player signing a 15 year contract at 29 is cap circumvention

A player signing a 1 year deal at $1 million with the premise they will be taken care of when the teams cap space is better the next season is not cap circumvention
- Stripes77

Big risk for Labanc,honestly. If he has a bad year or suffers a bad injury (I hope not), it could really make this whole situation a lot more dramatic.

It would be like a violation of the AAV where they segment what is actually one agreement into two different pieces to be cap compliant early, when they wouldnt be otherwise.

The paper contracts are "1 Million this year and then 7 million for five years." Two separate agreements, one with $1MAAV, so theyre under the cap, and then another one with $7MAAV that theyll worry about later.


The handshake deal is a 6 year agreement for $36M with a $6MAAV.
- Der Kaiser

My guess? Bettman privately slapped the Sharks peepee and said "good job, don't do it again"

Then there's the player's union side to all this.

And arbitration rulings.

It's not as cut and dried as a team "just keeping their good players".

Both sides (teams and players) might be affected by it.

Big risk for Labanc,honestly. If he has a bad year or suffers a bad injury (I hope not), it could really make this whole situation a lot more dramatic.
- Phatjohnsn

It's a big risk/reward for him

It's a big risk/reward for him
- Stripes77

That could be the most interesting part.
If there is truly a @handshake agreement”

If Lebanc has an awful year and the Sharks say well you didn’t play well so we are going to offer this contract instead.

Would Lebanc blow them in? Really there is not much he/the league/the PA can do.

At the end of the day He signed the contract.

Smart teams find a way to keep their good players

It's not dirty, I wish the Sabres were a team good enough where their players would work with management to keep the team together
- Stripes77

aside from ror

how many former sabres do we miss from the last 5 years

I can't think of any

The PA has to have a fight in this, too, though.

Evan Rodrigues had 29 points. About half of what Labanc had.

Is he worth just $500,000 in arbitration?

It's a can of worms, that if proven, could get ugly.

The PA has to have a fight in this, too, though.

Evan Rodrigues had 29 points. About half of what Labanc had.

Is he worth $500,000 in arbitration?

It's a can of worms, that if proven, could get ugly.
- Powerslave

An arbitrator can’t use other contract signed/player stats to determine salary, IIRC

That could be the most interesting part.
.
- ImThatGuy

aside from ror

how many former sabres do we miss from the last 5 years

I can't think of any
- homiedclown

The last 5 years? None

They also have either the lowest or second lowest amount of points in the last 5 years

I did say good teams!

It's a big risk/reward for him
- Stripes77

I don't know, I think its much more risk than reward.To me, he as to produce as much as he has had in previous seasons but that isn't entirely in his control.

Disregarding injury, what if he ends up with weird utilization? Or the team is bad? Or he just is off/has bad luck and only ends up with 40 points? He is still an RFA and the team could use a down season against him. Arbitration possibly?

On the other side, if he overacheives and they already agreed, I wouldn't expect the org to say "oh yeah you did so much better, we'll offer even more than our gentleman's agreement".

Maybe I have an inherent distrust of big organizations and how they treat the "little guys" but it looks to me like he has a lot of variables to battle to make it work for him.

aside from ror

how many former sabres do we miss from the last 5 years

I can't think of any
- homiedclown

Ehrhoff.

An arbitrator can’t use other contract signed/player stats to determine salary, IIRC
- ImThatGuy

Wrong.

Read the last line.

What Evidence Can Be Presented
The evidence that can be used in arbitration cases includes:

The player's "overall performance" including statistics in all previous seasons
Injuries, illnesses, and the number of games played
The player's length of service with the team and in the NHL
The player's "overall contribution" to the team's success or failure
The player's "special qualities of leadership or public appeal"
The performance and salary of any player believed to be comparable to the player in the dispute

aside from ror

how many former sabres do we miss from the last 5 years

I can't think of any
- homiedclown

Paul Byron

I can't believe I said that.

Maybe that's more like 10 at this point though

But they do

That's how it works

A player signing an extreme team friendly deal isn't cap circumvention

A player signing a contract that pays a ton of cash up front (more than allowed over a period of time if cap circumvention)

A player signing a 15 year contract at 29 is cap circumvention

A player signing a 1 year deal at $1 million with the premise they will be taken care of when the teams cap space is better the next season is not cap circumvention
- Stripes77

All it takes is for the league to say otherwise. They have a history of penalizing these types of things retroactively. The offense is happening right in front of them. They should take action now, instead of waiting.

Lazar signing could be interesting .... the eastern conference is more wide open hockey. The west is still bigger tougher hockey

It is possible lazar could be a good 3rd liner being back in the east. He has the skills / tools to be good.

Let’s see how he can do. Also our right wing depth needs some help. No more nylander too.

Right now we have

Reinhart
Missing 2nd line RW
Erod / lazar
Okposo
- Sabretooth9

According to Calgary fans, the guy is a plug. There's no needle moving here.

aside from ror

how many former sabres do we miss from the last 5 years

I can't think of any
- homiedclown

Millsie, Konopka, Otter, Kane and definitely Mike "one of two best defensemen on the Sabres" Weber

I liked them ( weber was a jk), but I miss the services of Kane, Miller and Otter.

According to Calgary fans, the guy is a plug. There's no needle moving here.
- TheSabresTaco

There is no reason to be excited for him.

The dude asked to be sent to the minors cause he couldn’t hack it.

If he produces, great. But I expect little to nothing from him.

All it takes is for the league to say otherwise. They have a history of penalizing these types of things retroactively. The offense is happening right in front of them. They should take action now, instead of waiting.
- Lunaion

A player chooses to sign a 1 year deal well below what his market should be

It is NOT cap circumvention

Like what was posted prior what happens if he gets hurt? What happens if he doesn't produce?

Again it's a risk they player took

An arbitrator can’t use other contract signed/player stats to determine salary, IIRC
- ImThatGuy

Yes and no. They cannot use the contract signed by a UFA, but they can use RFA's contracts as comparables.

Paul Byron

I can't believe I said that.

Maybe that's more like 10 at this point though
- jcragcrumple

I can’t believe you are all forgetting about Varone.