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Prepare For A Fire Sale
by Paul on 01/09/09 at 03:31 PM ET
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from David Staples of The Cult of Hockey,
...One has to give credit to the cagey Burke for escaping a team that is already over the cap (Anahem is at $58 million thanks to Burke) and seizing control of a team that is well under the cap (credit to Cliff Fletcher). From his grave, Niccolo Machiavelli tips his hat to Burke, the master of fortuna (good luck) and skillful machinations.
This year, Toronto’s cap number is $47 million, while Los Angeles is at $45 million. There’s room for both teams to pick up one or two stars.
So don’t be surprised if you see an NHL superstar making his way to the Kings or the Leafs in coming months.
And don’t be surprised if fans in the numerous cities that are right up against the cap—such as Edmonton, Chicago, New York, Ottawa, Philadelphia, San Jose, Pittsburgh, Washington, Anaheim, Calgary and Detroit—find themselves waking up and looking with great envy at Los Angeles, where Lombardi might soon be hailed as the smartest head in hockey for the way his team has recently shed salary, positioning itself perfectly for the the NHL’s coming fire sale.
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I don’t think there’s enough sarcasm in the world for the day when I wake up and say, “Man, am I envious of the Los Angeles Kings and the Toronto Maple Leafs.”
Posted by Earl Sleek from Anaheim, CA on 01/09/09 at 04:31 PM ET
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Hockey Links
The NHLPA’s Paul Kelly confirmed today, in an interview with Corus Sports Radio, that the trend will be away from veterans and long term contracts, towards younger, less expensive players.
The WJC demonstrated that young hockey players can deliver entertaining hockey that sells tickets. Many of these young stars will soon move up to the NHL.
Kelly says that more veterans and players may find themselves bought out or demoted if they can’t be moved.
He also noted that teams with a significant number of impending UFAs, such as Detroit and Montreal, are better positioned to adjust as they will have the flexibility to decide what committments and what direction they wish to take..
Anaheim having fifteen UFAs this summer, that situation may work to their advantage.
In any event, it appears that we are about to see a major shift in how teams constitute their rosters, spending money on a few ‘impact’ players and using talented young players to fill out the balance of the roster.
The days of middle level players commanding inflated salaries may be numbered.
Posted by davetherave from Ottawa, Canada on 01/09/09 at 04:30 PM ET