I think it was a smart move by Tampa.
- 13sundin13

Of course it was. It's legal cheating.

Of course it was. It's legal cheating.
- gergeswillems

Of course it was. It's legal cheating.
- gergeswillems

Everybody calling it cheating by what they think the rule should be rather than what the CBA says.

Kid just texted me that he’s at a BBQ with Rielly right now. I texted him back that he’s at a BBQ with Tessa Virtue that she brought her boyfriend to.

Everybody calling it cheating by what they think the rule should be rather than what the CBA says.
- Canada Cup

Haha exactly.

Everybody calling it cheating by what they think the rule should be rather than what the CBA says.
- Canada Cup

Exactly. They were given the same criteria as every other team. JBB took advantage of the loop holes and won a Cup. Lou Lam has been pulling stunts like this off for years. And he just won back to back NHL GM of the year awards.

I'm only surprised this hasn't happened more often. Many GM's have legal backgrounds. Cooper and Brisebois are both lawyers IIRC. Are lawyers not taught to exploit loopholes? The cat was let out of the bag in 2015 when Chicago had no cap space and needed a 2C.

Patty Kane gets injured and Stan Bowman used his LTIR to trade for Antoine Vermette. Hawks win the Cup and most fans said "good work Stan." So how can the NHL allow one team to take advantage of the CBA legally and not allow another to do the same?

Fans should be blaming the NHL. These guys also come from legal backgrounds and think they're smarter than everybody else. They were just taken to the woodshed by Brisebois. Change the CBA. Negotiate new rules. But in the meantime GM's will keep exploiting loop holes. Why wouldn't they?

I think it's hilarious that Gary and Billy Boy are acting all happy Tampa won the Cup. When you know behind closed doors they must he seething. Why? Tampa made a mockery of the salary cap. Who invented the cap? Smarty pants Bettman did.

Exactly. They were given the same criteria as every other team. JBB took advantage of the loop holes and won a Cup. Lou Lam has been pulling stunts like this off for years. And he just won back to back NHL GM of the year awards.

I'm only surprised this hasn't happened more often. Many GM's have legal backgrounds. Cooper and Brisebois are both lawyers IIRC. Are lawyers not taught to exploit loopholes? The cat was let out of the bag in 2015 when Chicago had no cap space and needed a 2C.

Patty Kane gets injured and Stan Bowman used his LTIR to trade for Antoine Vermette. Hawks win the Cup and most fans said "good work Stan." So how can the NHL allow one team to take advantage of the CBA legally and not allow another to do the same?

Fans should be blaming the NHL. These guys also come from legal backgrounds and think they're smarter than everybody else. They were just taken to the woodshed by Brisebois. Change the CBA. Negotiate new rules. But in the meantime GM's will keep exploiting loop holes. Why wouldn't they?

I think it's hilarious that Gary and Billy Boy are acting all happy Tampa won the Cup. When you know behind closed doors they must he seething. Why? Tampa made a mockery of the salary cap. Who invented the cap? Smarty pants Bettman did.
- gergeswillems

Still have to have a legit injury and timeline with doctor's diagnosis so it's not like any team can just do it at will. It's something that lined up with Tampa's situation and they took full advantage. I'm sure Bettman is fine with it, they've responded to cap circumvention in the past with fines and penalties.

Still have to have a legit injury and timeline with doctor's diagnosis so it's not like any team can just do it at will. It's something that lined up with Tampa's situation and they took full advantage. I'm sure Bettman is fine with it, they've responded to cap circumvention in the past with fines and penalties.
- 13sundin13

I never doubted Kucherov's Injury. My only issue was the timing of the surgery. JBB said 3 days before the season started that Kucherov wouldn't be back until the playoffs. I didn't know JBB was a doctor? But again, no rules were broken.

Look at Johnny Boychuk on the Islanders. He sustains an eye injury. Lou says he needed his eyelid stitched up. But he'll be ready to play the following season. Right before the season starts, all of a sudden Boychuk is legally blind in his injured eye and can't play anymore. He's LTIRetired. About 4 seconds after that Mat Barzal signs a new contract.

He'll do the same thing with Andrew Ladd shortly. And Kyle Palmieri will be signed 4 seconds later.

I never doubted Kucherov's Injury. My only issue was the timing of the surgery. JBB said 3 days before the season started that Kucherov wouldn't be back until the playoffs. I didn't know JBB was a doctor? But again, no rules were broken.

Look at Johnny Boychuk on the Islanders. He sustains an eye injury. Lou says he needed his eyelid stitched up. But he'll be ready to play the following season. Right before the season starts, all of a sudden Boychuk is legally blind in his injured eye and can't play anymore. He's LTIRetired. About 4 seconds after that Mat Barzal signs a new contract.

He'll do the same thing with Andrew Ladd shortly. And Kyle Palmieri will be signed 4 seconds later.
- gergeswillems

Yeah and that's all within the rules of the CBA so it's not cheating. Every team is playing under the same rules it's up to them to take advantage when the opportunity presents itself. In the end, no matter what rules are made, they'll always be bent for an advantage, that's competitive sports.

Leafs used the Joffrey Loophole too. They said he was injured but he was out on a snowboard shredding the gnar.

Just for the record, I don't care if we "legally" cheat or not...if it helps us win, we should, but FFS..................

...can we just throw some muthafu3kin hits???


How are we suppose to LTIR some of these fu3kers if they avoid contact like me making out with a chick with a coldsore?

Dubas: "Engvall will be out for the year. He sustained a neck injury doing a flyby forecheck."

Not sure that will really hold water with the league.

I never doubted Kucherov's Injury. My only issue was the timing of the surgery. JBB said 3 days before the season started that Kucherov wouldn't be back until the playoffs. I didn't know JBB was a doctor? But again, no rules were broken.

Look at Johnny Boychuk on the Islanders. He sustains an eye injury. Lou says he needed his eyelid stitched up. But he'll be ready to play the following season. Right before the season starts, all of a sudden Boychuk is legally blind in his injured eye and can't play anymore. He's LTIRetired. About 4 seconds after that Mat Barzal signs a new contract.

He'll do the same thing with Andrew Ladd shortly. And Kyle Palmieri will be signed 4 seconds later.
- gergeswillems

I don't know where you draw the line in this situation. It's one thing that happened in 2015 with the blackhawks and it was 5 million over the cap. Still dicey but seems okay.

This is 17 million over and done right before the season started and it worked out with the perfect timeline. I've read things online (don't know how true) that Kucherov was ready in March and they just held off.

I think what gets most people upset is that 17 million and the way JBB did it was so blatant that it wasn't even attempted to hide it. Coupled with the sour grapes of fans who don't want to see a "power house" not getting penalized for the cap.

I do believe Bettman isn't enjoying this. This goes against what the cap and he's stood for all along. Parity.

I agree that they did it legally and my hats to tampa front office for doing it. Full credit.

I do believe this loophole and the one where Clarkson and Horton are used for LTIR relief should also be closed in some fashion. That becomes difficult because they were players who wanted to play but couldn't. Some teams don't want to pay the insurance premiums or in the case of Horton who wasn't insured due to his back his actual salary for not playing a game.

Just for the record, I don't care if we "legally" cheat or not...if it helps us win, we should, but FFS..................

...can we just throw some muthafu3kin hits???


How are we suppose to LTIR some of these fu3kers if they avoid contact like me making out with a chick with a coldsore?

Dubas: "Engvall will be out for the year. He sustained a neck injury doing a flyby forecheck."

Not sure that will really hold water with the league.
- underhill14

They could tell them he was wounded by poachers.

Leafs used the Joffrey Loophole too. They said he was injured but he was out on a snowboard shredding the gnar.
- Zezel

Just for the record, I don't care if we "legally" cheat or not...if it helps us win, we should, but FFS..................

...can we just throw some muthafu3kin hits???


How are we suppose to LTIR some of these fu3kers if they avoid contact like me making out with a chick with a coldsore?

Dubas: "Engvall will be out for the year. He sustained a neck injury doing a flyby forecheck."

Not sure that will really hold water with the league.
- underhill14

Matthews hitting the net a few times probably would have helped even more a few Engvall or Marner body checks

I don't know where you draw the line in this situation. It's one thing that happened in 2015 with the blackhawks and it was 5 million over the cap. Still dicey but seems okay.

This is 17 million over and done right before the season started and it worked out with the perfect timeline. I've read things online (don't know how true) that Kucherov was ready in March and they just held off.

I think what gets most people upset is that 17 million and the way JBB did it was so blatant that it wasn't even attempted to hide it. Coupled with the sour grapes of fans who don't want to see a "power house" not getting penalized for the cap.

I do believe Bettman isn't enjoying this. This goes against what the cap and he's stood for all along. Parity.

I agree that they did it legally and my hats to tampa front office for doing it. Full credit.

I do believe this loophole and the one where Clarkson and Horton are used for LTIR relief should also be closed in some fashion. That becomes difficult because they were players who wanted to play but couldn't. Some teams don't want to pay the insurance premiums or in the case of Horton who wasn't insured due to his back his actual salary for not playing a game.
- Aaron_85

They’d have to renegotiate the CBA to address the Tampa one

I don't know where you draw the line in this situation. It's one thing that happened in 2015 with the blackhawks and it was 5 million over the cap. Still dicey but seems okay.

This is 17 million over and done right before the season started and it worked out with the perfect timeline. I've read things online (don't know how true) that Kucherov was ready in March and they just held off.

I think what gets most people upset is that 17 million and the way JBB did it was so blatant that it wasn't even attempted to hide it. Coupled with the sour grapes of fans who don't want to see a "power house" not getting penalized for the cap.

I do believe Bettman isn't enjoying this. This goes against what the cap and he's stood for all along. Parity.

I agree that they did it legally and my hats to tampa front office for doing it. Full credit.

I do believe this loophole and the one where Clarkson and Horton are used for LTIR relief should also be closed in some fashion. That becomes difficult because they were players who wanted to play but couldn't. Some teams don't want to pay the insurance premiums or in the case of Horton who wasn't insured due to his back his actual salary for not playing a game.
- Aaron_85

I think some of that 18 mil over the cap was the zombie contracts of the injured Gaborik and Nilsson. Tampa was stuck between a rock and a hard place last off season and much like now, fans were anticipating their roster to be gutted.

JBB had 3 RFA's. Sergachev, Cernak and Cirelli and no cap. Tyler Johnson was waived twice. No takers. So he places Kucherov on LTIR and acquires the 2 zombie contracts. He used the LTIR to re-sign his RFA's. Tampa goes from being royally screwed to being cap compliant.

Kucherov miraculously heals up just in time for the playoffs (cough 6 weeks before) and Tyler Johnson becomes a $5 mil 4C. They even traded for David Savard at the trade deadline. It all worked out for JBB and Tampa. It reminds me of that great TV show from the 80s. The "A" team. I love it when a plan comes together. As I said before, JBB should've won NHL GM of the year.

They could tell them he was wounded by poachers.
- Zezel

Before they make roster moves I think they should make sure Keefe is the guy.
I've questioned his strategies on numerous occasions.

If Cooper (B2B) can take the time to match lines what doesn't Keefe?
He did nothing to shield Matthews from Danault.

Maybe try to shake up the lines.
How about Using the slap shot from the point on a power play.
Again Keefe did nothing to change it up.
I can't put any blame on the fold to Dubas. He made some shrewd moves.
Matthews, Marner and an anemic power play.
Anyone of those come through and we beat Montreal.

Matthews hitting the net a few times probably would have helped even more a few Engvall or Marner body checks
- Canada Cup

This point exactly sums up why we never agree.

We are on exact opposite sides of the game. You apparently think it's JUST a skill game like Dubas.

I think it's a contact sport. Using the body opens up space to give Matthews more time to take his shot....therefore missing less.

Any player that is on the ice in a contact sport needs to make contact. Same as Tampa using the CBA to their advantage, other teams use contact to their advantage against the Leafs.

If it was just about Matthews making a few more shots....we would win the Cup every year if Keefe would use the flying V. Easy peasy.

It's not. It's about competing, which includes hitting and not being afraid. Bottom line.

Love to see a NFL player that doesn't like contact survive in that league.

You guys have me going down a rabbit hole now.

I just added up - and I came to about 90.8 million for Tampa Bay for the players that played in the playoffs. I'm probably missing something, but it doesn't seem as bad as it is made out to be. I omitted Gaborik and Nilsson since they never played and teams have banished players to LTIR for years and no one really complained.

Anyway - the loophole should be fixed. I have said for a while that the aggregate cap hit of the lineup in the playoffs should be cap compliant.
- Leafs43

You can't just consider the players that played in the playoffs. ALL teams that played post-season have a players that count toward the cap but don't necessarily play.

So most teams then iced a team under the 82M cap.

Heck - TB now has a bunch of UFAs and they are STILL over the CAP at 85M+

This point exactly sums up why we never agree.

We are on exact opposite sides of the game. You apparently think it's JUST a skill game like Dubas.

I think it's a contact sport. Using the body opens up space to give Matthews more time to take his shot....therefore missing less.

Any player that is on the ice in a contact sport needs to make contact. Same as Tampa using the CBA to their advantage, other teams use contact to their advantage against the Leafs.

If it was just about Matthews making a few more shots....we would win the Cup every year if Keefe would use the flying V. Easy peasy.

It's not. It's about competing, which includes hitting and not being afraid. Bottom line.

Love to see a NFL player that doesn't like contact survive in that league.
- underhill14

completely agree...

I've never understood why this seems so difficult to grasp - you need to use your body shield the puck, to take the puck away from opponents and yes when appropriate to body check and block shots.

I'm always left wondering if the individuals who can't grasp this never played in the playground at school, or never got involved in anything remotely physical from an activity perspective.

You can't just consider the players that played in the playoffs. ALL teams that played post-season have a players that count toward the cap but don't necessarily play.

So most teams then iced a team under the 82M cap.

Heck - TB now has a bunch of UFAs and they are STILL over the CAP at 85M+
- Nasty_Duck

My point is that people keep saying Tampa was 17 million or 20 million over the cap.

But they are including contracts who were never going to play. There are dead contracts like Gaborik's all over the league.

Tampa was well over the cap in the playoffs - but not to the extent some are accusing.

Having an argument with the better half:

Leftover chalet sauce... drink or chuck?

Exactly. They were given the same criteria as every other team. JBB took advantage of the loop holes and won a Cup. Lou Lam has been pulling stunts like this off for years. And he just won back to back NHL GM of the year awards.

I'm only surprised this hasn't happened more often. Many GM's have legal backgrounds. Cooper and Brisebois are both lawyers IIRC. Are lawyers not taught to exploit loopholes? The cat was let out of the bag in 2015 when Chicago had no cap space and needed a 2C.

Patty Kane gets injured and Stan Bowman used his LTIR to trade for Antoine Vermette. Hawks win the Cup and most fans said "good work Stan." So how can the NHL allow one team to take advantage of the CBA legally and not allow another to do the same?

I'm not sure why some are calling it "cheating".. its obviously within the rules. I'm just pissed that my team didn't take advantage of this.

Fans should be blaming the NHL. These guys also come from legal backgrounds and think they're smarter than everybody else. They were just taken to the woodshed by Brisebois. Change the CBA. Negotiate new rules. But in the meantime GM's will keep exploiting loop holes. Why wouldn't they?

I think it's hilarious that Gary and Billy Boy are acting all happy Tampa won the Cup. When you know behind closed doors they must he seething. Why? Tampa made a mockery of the salary cap. Who invented the cap? Smarty pants Bettman did.
- gergeswillems