I have to chuckle as when I visit here, where almost stays on point and the jhawk59 and I post off topic as we rudely are guiding the show elsewhere.
Let me be the first to say besides obvious covid-19 issues I think the reason the two cities are in Canada is the league knows it is 40% cheaper to stage, lodge and center from Canada, because with no fans and only tv sponsorships paying in, this is the cheapest method to try and finalize this season.
I guess if this comes to fruition, it will be with a all player vote, and include opted out for players...think about that - the road of challengers might be less rocky if a Johnathan Toews decides to sit (no rumor, example). Yesterday an athlete was quoted saying “I understand WHY we are playing,but should we be playing?”...to me that puts a more realistic spin on it.
At this point the avid fan in me is starting to think the same way, does shutting down waiting for an all clear (even if it means combining the season totals for the 2021 all clear Stanley Cup playoff next April).
One interesting fact that has come out is IF THE PLAYOFF are unable to happen, and the window closes and they get scraped, the present original winning percentages would be reinstated except that one in 8 lottery would still happen.
So no season, the hawks pick probably 10th, or first, or if Montreal goes first, 9th...
So the lottery win of tba has transformed me into the guy who seems to want a) no playoff or b) my team to have play in loss.

Sad

So basically everybody that signed before Covid hits makes Big money and everybody that signs the next 2 years after makes 20-25% less. no one will be able to dump salary look how hard it is with the cap going up 1.5-2 every year. if panarin was a UFA this coming off season he gets a 8-9 mil deal not 12. Also you could see a huge amount of offer sheets as well. you could offer 4.2 for a RFA and only give up a second. IE you could get 1st round talent RFA's with 2nd rounders. is it healthy to have 2/3 the league trying to dump salary the next 3 years. when you buysome out they only get 2/3 of the rest of the money. is it better to buy seabs out and pay with 13 mil or scratch him every game or LTIR and give him $20? if I was wirtz I would rather give him 13 on buyout then 20 to sit. unless there is relief it costs the hawks actually more since they so heavily front loaded the contract.
- kmw4631

Why do you think MLB owners are playing only 60 games? (Salary structure is different but the fact the owners are out to minimize their losses.) The players only get 37% fo their salary. Mike Trout takes a haircut from $38 mil. to $14. 65% of players make less than $1 mil, so even at a $1 mil. they only make $370K? Mookie Betts signed with the Dodgers for 1 year at $27 mil. this year anticipating a huge FA contract next year, well, he will "only" get $10 mil. this year and I doubt his FA contract next year will be anywhere close to what he thought, or his fair value compared to others with a long term deal.

The Maple Leafs spent $113 mil. on player salaries last year, so they paid approx. $31 mil. in dead money (trading for LTIR contracts, etc.) in order to field a team at $81 mil. Granted toronto is probably the franchise that makes the most money in the NHL, but under current conditions do you think they will want to spend $31 mil. in dead money next year? My guess is that they try and dump Nylander's $6 mil. and use the remaining $12 mil. on the 7 or 8 additional players they will need to field a team.

Maybe the new CBA will allow contracts to be renegotiated (which they don't allow now). Don't you think Duncan Keith would of demanded a re-negotiation of his contract a few years ago if he could? Do you think it is fair that he is limited to $5 mil. until rpobably his playing days are over, because he signed a contract under the old rules? Unfortunately, the old adage timing is everything applies. With this COVID there is a new normal. Robin Lehner unfortunately for him could have signed (rumored) long term for approx. $6 mil. for 3 years give or take. he wanted long term. I beleive his FA contract next year will not come close, in either $'s or term.

There is a report today that the NHL has decided to not permit any prospects signed during the shutdown to be eligible to play during the playoffs.

Same goes for any prospects that are still unsigned and may be signed in the near future.

So scratch Mitchell off the list of eligible Black Aces.

There is a report today that the NHL has decided to not permit any prospects signed during the shutdown to be eligible to play during the playoffs.

Same goes for any prospects that are still unsigned and may be signed in the near future.

So scratch Mitchell off the list of eligible Black Aces.
- AEL_Fox

I dunno I thought that wa always the case with Mitchell. the Wild's Russian vet Kirill Kaprizov and and non drafted prospects who didn't play in the last games of the regular season.
There is talk Russia is implimenting a "hockey serfdom" rule, were a player must buy his way out of any attachment to a Russian club before he can go to a North American or Euro club...

There is a report today that the NHL has decided to not permit any prospects signed during the shutdown to be eligible to play during the playoffs.

Same goes for any prospects that are still unsigned and may be signed in the near future.

So scratch Mitchell off the list of eligible Black Aces.
- AEL_Fox

That sucks for Mitchell (and anyone wanting to see how he stacks up right now), but I think it saves the Hawks from themselves of forcing him in if there is an injury. They have plenty of prospects that are on the cusp as it is. I would rather that he gets a more "traditional" integration into the team.

I dunno I thought that wa always the case with Mitchell. the Wild's Russian vet Kirill Kaprizovand and non drafted prospects who didn't play in the last games of the regular season.
- wiz1901

I think the whole situation was still up for debate between the players and the league. This just clarifies the whole thing.

I dunno I thought that wa always the case with Mitchell. the Wild's Russian vet Kirill Kaprizov and and non drafted prospects who didn't play in the last games of the regular season.
There is talk Russia is implimenting a "hockey serfdom" rule, were a player must buy his way out of any attachment to a Russian club before he can go to a North American or Euro club...
- wiz1901

Serfdom sounds so medieval. Putting aside that term, that would be good for Russian players to have some process in place to get out of a KHL contract.

Someone can correct me if this is inaccurate but I believe all other players in Europe can exit a contract early to come over to North America. May not be easy but doable.

That sucks for Mitchell (and anyone wanting to see how he stacks up right now), but I think it saves the Hawks from themselves of forcing him in if there is an injury. They have plenty of prospects that are on the cusp as it is. I would rather that he gets a more "traditional" integration into the team.
- Chunk

Could be totally unrelated but having Regula (a RHD) at voluntary trainings could be to replace the RHD in Mitchell who the Hawks were hoping to have on the playoff roster as a Black Ace or otherwise yet they saw the writing on the wall that Mitchell would be rendered ineligible.

I think the whole situation was still up for debate between the players and the league. This just clarifies the whole thing.
- Chunk

My take is that the league originally announced that the recent signees would not be eligible when the season started up.

Then the NHLPA wanted them to be eligible.

Now Mackenzie reports that they won't be eligible. Part of the give and take of the CBA negotiations.

*NEW* blog up: https://bit.ly/3dQDoMm

NHL Updates + a nice breakdown of how the Blackhawks players could play like Hossa in order to regain success!

Serfdom sounds so medieval. Putting aside that term, that would be good for Russian players to have some process in place to get out of a KHL contract.

Someone can correct me if this is inaccurate but I believe all other players in Europe can exit a contract early to come over to North America. May not be easy but doable.
- AEL_Fox

I think the other countries have a formal relationship and formal agreement with the NHL about player movement, etc.

The NHL at one point had a similar agreement with the KHL - it ended, and negotiations on a new deal broke down.

I think the other countries have a formal relationship and formal agreement with the NHL about player movement, etc.

The NHL at one point had a similar agreement with the KHL - it ended, and negotiations on a new deal broke down.
- StLBravesFan

Thanks for the background info on this, STL. Much appreciated!