dont think a player of Hossa status is willing to play for 3-4 million.Detriot has joined calgary,new york rangers and philadelphia in cap hell

Posted by FlyersFan on 04/11/09 at 04:32 PM ET

forward Mikael Samuelsson and goaltender Ty Conklin are scheduled to become free agents this offseason. Neither player is irreplaceable, but they have been significant parts of Detroit’s success this season.

What??? Is this guy a baseball writer filling in for a hockey blogger on vacation or something??

Posted by Red Winger from Sault Ste Marie on 04/11/09 at 04:39 PM ET

I think Hossa has bought in, but where the cap lands is the real issue. Even if it stays the same next season, as it likely will since most revenue was in the books before the economy tanked, the season after creates some issues. In a perfect world, I think Holland would want another one-year deal on Hossa, but Hossa just can’t do that again, and who can blame him?

Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 04/11/09 at 04:44 PM ET

Detriot has joined calgary,new york rangers and philadelphia in cap hell

Wrong. Franzen, Zetterberg, Datysuk, Rafalski and Lidstrom—the guys making the biggest bucks, all produce. The Rags and Flyers issues stem from money tied up in players like Drury, Redden, Rozsival, and Briere that simply have not produced anywhere near what they’re being paid for. I actually think the Flames have done an okay job, if anything, injuries have put them in the weird cap position they’re in.

Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 04/11/09 at 04:51 PM ET

Darn, I was hoping the first year would be a little less than 5M, to make room for Hossa.

Does anyone know enough about cap-ology to answer me this question?  I remember reading about the cap that a team could go over the cap, but they end up paying an exorbitant tax to do so.  Knowing Illych used to spend $80M on payroll, if he’s able, he may consider it justifiable to take such a hit to keep a team together.

The biggest concern I have is us re-signing Hudler, to be honest; someone will make him an offer he can’t refuse, mark my words.

Conks will be a bargain next year.

Samuelsson’s toast.

Posted by Hippy Dave from Portland by way of Detroit on 04/11/09 at 05:18 PM ET

Conks and Samuelsson are both gone next year.  Jiri Hudler is probably a goner, too, especially if Hossa re-signs.  He’s gonna get a massive offer sheet the Wings won’t be able to match.

And I hope those new CBA rules Cox mentions don’t come to fruition.  It’s really sad that the 75% of NHL owners and managers who suck at owning and managing NHL franchises (see Boston, Calgary, basically every NHL team south of, I dunno, the Ohio River) are determined to nickel and dime the rest of the league- and the fans- into sacrificing great, dynastic rosters in the all-holy name of “parity.”  You will never see another NHL team like the 1970s Canadiens or 1980s Islanders and Oilers.  Which is sad, I think. 

Last I checked, parity and “mediocrity” have separate entries in the dictionary.  Looks like the BOG is determined to rewrite the rulebook and the English language.

Posted by mudshark from Divetown, Colorado on 04/11/09 at 05:32 PM ET

Hippy Dave - I’m no capologist but I do know you cannot even go $1 over, this is a “hard” salary cap, unlike the NBA.

Posted by mc keeper from The Home Of Lord Stan on 04/11/09 at 05:34 PM ET

Does anyone know enough about cap-ology to answer me this question?  I remember reading about the cap that a team could go over the cap, but they end up paying an exorbitant tax to do so.

A team forfeits every game until under the cap, if I’m remembering right.

Posted by steve on 04/11/09 at 05:38 PM ET

Does anyone know enough about cap-ology to answer me this question?  I remember reading about the cap that a team could go over the cap, but they end up paying an exorbitant tax to do so.  Knowing Illych used to spend $80M on payroll, if he’s able, he may consider it justifiable to take such a hit to keep a team together.

Not allowed. No luxury tax, no “Bird Rule” to retain your own homegrown talent. This is the biggest problem with the existing CBA.

The biggest concern I have is us re-signing Hudler, to be honest; someone will make him an offer he can’t refuse, mark my words.

I like Hudler a lot. He’s progressed a ton. His skating is twice as good as it was his first season. His defensive positioning is, as well. He’ll never be a PKer or defensive stopper, he just doesn’t have the skating, but he’s made the efforts necessary to be effective in all ends of the ice at even-strength. These are all things that make me really like Hudler, and wish he could stay a Wing. But honestly, if some team wants to give Hudler an offer sheet the Wings cannot afford? And hand Hakan Andersson a first round pick? Be my guest.

Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 04/11/09 at 05:46 PM ET

I think Detroit is sitting pretty barring any major injury to Franzen or Zetterberg, they have a good group of core players loced up for years to come.  I think Hossa re-upping with them for anything near 7 mil.  even if they can get his cap hit don to 5-6 mil. is trouble waiting to happen. 

If they could unload Hudler, Lilja, Maltby, maybe Filpula, they would be cap pressed for a year until Holmstrom (probably retire) or Lidstrom retired or re-signed at lower annual hit.  Also, they’re going to want to get Leino signed for a few years.  But, the same problems would still exist in goal, until that Lidstrom/Holmstrom money came off the books or was greatly reduced.  I think they are better off letting Hossa go,  keeping Hudler,  and saving themselves some cap room/felxibility for the next few years in case their goaltending prospects don’t work out or the Cap comes down. 

After all,  they did win a cup without Hossa against some very good teams, and I’m no NHL GM, but that’s just my two-cents.

Posted by Russian Rocket on 04/11/09 at 06:05 PM ET