Better yet, take a $10M run at Pettersson.
- khawk

What folks need to understand is that high end young players are going to max out after their entry level deals. Teams are going to be paying for futures. And, because of the cap there is going to be less money for 29 and 30 year plus UFA's. There might be a few exceptions (McDavid) but, overall a player like Brady T faces the prospect of a reduced offer after an 8 year deal. Recent deals like Pietrangelo and Tavares are already perceived as huge horse collars around the necks of what was going to be supposedly long term contending teams.

Colorado has overnight gone from being a non contending team with lots of cap space to an elite team pressed against the cap and needing to resign their best player next summer. Sakic's decision to move Duchene now seems brilliant. But, at the time, everyone predicted that he would be hosed.

Unless you are talking McDavid or MacKinnon and a few other elite talents teams should not be reluctant to move assets, especially if the team is still a few years away from being an elite contender.

I love Brady T. But, remember, his character and reputation may actually outstrip the full range of his talent. It is entirely possible that the Sens might actually improve if they were to trade Brady T sometime during the next 3 years.

Along the same lines, I think all the teams in the East are going to wake up in the next year and look at Buffalo and say, "how to hell did that happen?" Buffalo has no fear of trading Eichel and because of that their roster which is already loaded with prospects is going to become even more lethal in the long term.

Everyone needs to accept that nothing will be the same. It changed for everyone when McDavid signed a long term deal upon completion of his entry level contract. Cap space and financial flexibility will prove to be the ultimate weapon. Some great young teams will get destroyed early because they overcommit on long term deals for kids coming off entry level contracts.

They will miss completely on the second part of the change...really good 29 and 30 year old players having to take lower salaries because most of the cap has been taken up by elite young players signing long term deals on the expiration of their first deal.

The Stanley Cup is usually won by veteran teams.

Agree 100% especially the extensions. It's obvious that Melnyck plans is to ice a mediocre bubble team for 3-4 years then blow it up and start a new rebuild with a new GM and coach. That's why he extended Dorion and Smith for another 3-4 years.
- granpa

What is a blue a$$ you season?

What folks need to understand is that high end young players are going to max out after their entry level deals. Teams are going to be paying for futures. And, because of the cap there is going to be less money for 29 and 30 year plus UFA's. There might be a few exceptions (McDavid) but, overall a player like Brady T faces the prospect of a reduced offer after an 8 year deal. Recent deals like Pietrangelo and Tavares are already perceived as huge horse collars around the necks of what was going to be supposedly long term contending teams.

Colorado has overnight gone from being a non contending team with lots of cap space to an elite team pressed against the cap and needing to resign their best player next summer. Sakic's decision to move Duchene now seems brilliant. But, at the time, everyone predicted that he would be hosed.

Unless you are talking McDavid or MacKinnon and a few other elite talents teams should not be reluctant to move assets, especially if the team is still a few years away from being an elite contender.

I love Brady T. But, remember, his character and reputation may actually outstrip the full range of his talent. It is entirely possible that the Sens might actually improve if they were to trade Brady T sometime during the next 3 years.

Along the same lines, I think all the teams in the East are going to wake up in the next year and look at Buffalo and say, "how to hell did that happen?" Buffalo has no fear of trading Eichel and because of that their roster which is already loaded with prospects is going to become even more lethal in the long term.

Everyone needs to accept that nothing will be the same. It changed for everyone when McDavid signed a long term deal upon completion of his entry level contract. Cap space and financial flexibility will prove to be the ultimate weapon. Some great young teams will get destroyed early because they overcommit on long term deals for kids coming off entry level contracts.

They will miss completely on the second part of the change...really good 29 and 30 year old players having to take lower salaries because most of the cap has been taken up by elite young players signing long term deals on the expiration of their first deal.

The Stanley Cup is usually won by veteran teams.
- spatso

Great observations, each team also has their own budget too. Asset management is key in today's NHL.

What I would like to see is the NHL do something to level the the playing field as far as team salary caps go. Right now some teams enjoy large and unfair advantages because of a favourable tax situation for instance.

I'm not smart enough to propose a solution but I think there probably are people around who could figure it out and maybe Canadian based teams need to put some pressure on the league to get it done. They do generate a lot of revenue for the league after all.

What I would like to see is the NHL do something to level the the playing field as far as team salary caps go. Right now some teams enjoy large and unfair advantages because of a favourable tax situation for instance.

I'm not smart enough to propose a solution but I think there probably are people around who could figure it out and maybe Canadian based teams need to put some pressure on the league to get it done. They do generate a lot of revenue for the league after all.
- Whatisavailable

This is a great point! I am sure you remember the time Gary Bettman put in place the system to help Canadian teams with the CAD dollar vs the US Dollar. I am exhausted and off to bed, but I am sure someone reading this recalls how it worked or the name of it, teams that spent a certain amount, etc...could qualify for this league revenue, where the league helped a few Canadian teams. Again, I am off to bed when I hit submit on this comment, but you are sooooo right, the league needs to help out on this. Great great point!

Is today the day that the Tkachuk gets done?

Is today the day that the Tkachuk gets done?
- spatso

I guess tomorrow for his birthday

I guess tomorrow for his birthday
- Crosside

I would guess that as well. Would be cool - and at the same time a let down if he doesn't accept at least a 7 year deal

If it's bridge at 7m, I'm not happy with that if the last year is 9m like his brother. Not worth it!

Fans want Brady on a 7-8 year deal at no more than 8M per year or less, Brady wants a 3 year deal because he does not trust Melnyk in any way shape or form and do you honestly blame him? What has the team done in the off season to show they are serious about building a cup contending team? NOTHING, in fact they traded a top 6 RW for a aged LD they did not need and signed another LD they did not need.... Unless they tried to acquire a top 6 RW or C to replace Dadonov (Rienhart?) but could not do to cost or player would not sign in OTT that Brady knows about and we do not.

Why would a player sign a 8 year deal on a team that will rebuild in 5 years and every 5 years....

i believe Chabot will be traded before his M-NTC kicks in in 3 years.

Your dealing with Melnyk here a irrational, delusional, cheap and broke owner.

Fans want Brady on a 7-8 year deal at no more than 8M per year or less, Brady wants a 3 year deal because he does not trust Melnyk in any way shape or form and do you honestly blame him? What has the team done in the off season to show they are serious about building a cup contending team? NOTHING, in fact they traded a top 6 RW for a aged LD they did not need and signed another LD they did not need.... Unless they tried to acquire a top 6 RW or C to replace Dadonov (Rienhart?) but could not do to cost or player would not sign in OTT that Brady knows about and we do not.

Why would a player sign a 8 year deal on a team that will rebuild in 5 years and every 5 years....

i believe Chabot will be traded before his M-NTC kicks in in 3 years.

Your dealing with Melnyk here a irrational, delusional, cheap and broke owner.
- Mithos

Thanks for the laugh - Dadonov is a top six RW - that's funny. I was impressed by the fact that Dorion was able to get rid of his contact and a little extra depth on depth on D doesn't hurt unless Smith plays him all friggin year.

Brady is not stupid. He knows this team is not ready for making big roster moves this year but I've posted it before and I'll say it again. on this I agree with you 100 percent, I wouldn't trust Melnyk as far as I could throw him and If I were Brady I'd definitely do the bridge deal and see what happens in the next couple of years. If the team is floundering two years from now he can give notice that he wants to blow Melnyk's popsicle stand.

Thanks for the laugh - Dadonov is a top six RW - that's funny. I was impressed by the fact that Dorion was able to get rid of his contact and a little extra depth on depth on D doesn't hurt unless Smith plays him all friggin year.

- Whatisavailable

I'd agree with you if they did anything to address the hole that was made by trading him. He had two years left, who cares if he's not living up to his contract, there's nobody to take that spot right now. Great, Melnyk saved some money but this team didn't get better and now has one more hole to fill.

Thanks for the laugh - Dadonov is a top six RW - that's funny. I was impressed by the fact that Dorion was able to get rid of his contact and a little extra depth on depth on D doesn't hurt unless Smith plays him all friggin year.

Brady is not stupid. He knows this team is not ready for making big roster moves this year but I've posted it before and I'll say it again. on this I agree with you 100 percent, I wouldn't trust Melnyk as far as I could throw him and If I were Brady I'd definitely do the bridge deal and see what happens in the next couple of years. If the team is floundering two years from now he can give notice that he wants to blow Melnyk's popsicle stand.
- Whatisavailable

Dadonov will be much more productive in Vegas than he was in Ottawa.

New blog up!

I'd agree with you if they did anything to address the hole that was made by trading him. He had two years left, who cares if he's not living up to his contract, there's nobody to take that spot right now. Great, Melnyk saved some money but this team didn't get better and now has one more hole to fill.
- CooCooKaChoo

I'm not disagreeing with you about the fact that there are big holes in the lineup. It's just that last year Smith was playing the crap out of guys who were just blocking some of the younger guys who are the future of this team. If you give him the option to do it again then I think he will.

If you're talking an actual top six RW there is no urgency at this point. I think Melnyk hurt Ottawa's bargaining position when he publicly stated that the team would be looking to add a top C and RW. I wish the guy would go swim with sharks in Jamaica or something.

Wait for a good hockey deal There's no rush and things might actually work out pretty well internally.

I've been waiting for quite some time for Dorion to use some of that cap space to add picks in exchange for taking on salary dumps but that's never going to happen.