Diminished ice time

Before we get to that subject, just a moment to credit defensemen Andrej Meszaros and Lukas Krajicek. Meszaros, wearing a full mask to protect his stitched up lips and mouth, played 25:38 with a blocked shot. Krajicek, who has been bothered by a finger injury, played a season-high 24 minutes and blocked two shots.

Their participation in Sunday's 4-1 victory over the Thrashers allowed Ty Wishart to be scratched and Paul Ranger (upper body) to have another day off. With Wishart and Vladimir Mihalik, going back to AHL Norfolk, it's pretty much assured that Ranger will be ready for Thursday's game at the Coyotes.

Just one more housekeeping thing: forward Paul Szczechura was scratched because of a left leg problem that he said has been lingering for a while. With the three days off, coach Rick Tocchet said it was a "no brainer" to sit him on Sunday. The hope is he will be ready for Thursday.

Anyway, back to the point of this blog. Did you notice that Tocchet did not use the MVP line on the game's first power play? A message for the lead line on a power play that was on a 5-for-56 streak? And how about the wakeup call when Steve Eminger scored with assists from Jussi Jokinen and Adam Hall?

Tocchet said he was using whatever line was up, and he will continue to do that in the near future, he said. He said it is part of a "mental break" for his top three forwards. That seemed to extend to the rest of the game as well, to a certain extent as Vinny Lecavalier played just 16:13, more than four minutes below his average. Marty St. Louis (who had two goals and has five and 12 points in his past eight games) played 15:37, almost six minutes down; and Vinny Prospal played 14:43, about four minutes down.

When asked about it, St. Louis said, "Obviously, we haven't scored on the power play, so, you know, it is what it is."

What it is, is simply something to keep an eye on.

Oh, and I just wanted to pass this quote along from Thrashers coach John Anderson, whose team fell behind Tampa Bay into the Southeast cellar: "Our give-a-crap level is at zero. ... I got to question whether anybody cares in that locker room right now. It's a joke."      

Comments

[Coach Bill]

Don't worry,hvivlivi- your posts are good ( so are Ajax's and PD's-although sometimes painfully excessive)and you have never babbled excessivly. Carry on,hv ( what the hell does hvivlivi stand for?)

[hyjyljyj]

I wonder the same thing

Posts too long, I scroll past--and invite others to do the same if I babble on too long--it's only fair

Can't blame PD for being bitter about hockey, look at his team the MakeBelieves. Last time they won the Cup hockey sticks were made of wood, and goalies' faces made Seal look like Kevin Weekes.

Ajax wins. Now both of ya can take a rest :^D

[Boltflasher]

I think PD just wants to be the one to "stir the drink" on this blog for some reason. It would certainly be a lot duller if he wasn't blogging here...though, I do wonder if Ajax and PD have day jobs...

[Patrick]

PD exposed.

Wow, that's like PD's greatest hits. I thought I remembered Bear being one of the people who frequently trashed Richards last year. The guy who now he thinks Richards is more valuable to a team than Mike Smith.

In a couple of exchanges you can tell he's the master of circular logic, but now the double talk is there in plain text to see. I'm sure he still stands by everything he's said, though. And don't forget, he's the first person to admit when he's wrong about something.

For the two people I think who have said they sometimes appreciate PD's "insights" - Why is that again?

PD, I can't being you've been spewing hate on a blog for a team you don't even like for 2-3 years. As I have pondered before, where does that come from...?

Any doubts by anyone any more that PD wishes the worst for us fans in regards to our team?

[ajax]

These are some old quotes from Bear, who is really PD, right??. I went thru about two months, and found quite a differnence in writing and quite a difference on some players that are no longer here.....Some really 180 degrees from his opinions alst year to his opinions this year about same players/team/circumstances...read on..... There are so much for being professionals.
The core is rotten..toss it and rebuild. Why they reupted Boyle is crazy..but thats our Jay.
Posted by: PD | April 02, 2008 at 02:53 PM (I could of swore just this week PD said "we should of kept the core" Year ago, just the opposite on the same blog .....read on....
Max I meant Stamkos as the second horse@ 50/50..
Agree with you totally on Feasty's appraisal talents for D men.
Paying a 1st for Obrien was also insane. Posted by: Bear | April 08, 2008 at 03:11 PM.....
(the Golden boy is Brad in this post by PD)..
Never was a huge Golden Boy fan but have to agree with Patrick that some are a little hard on Brad.
The guy has a bad case of the flu and shouldn't likely even be dressed.....
Heh Ajax just trying to give Patrick a break, but he's right I let the cat out of the bag by referencing Ritchie as Golden Boy..
He wore a skirt here for 100K a night.
He does have the flu..is that a comprimise?
Go Rangers!
Posted by: bear | April 11, 2008 at 10:17 PM (that is the same Golden Boy PD defends all the time this year, the key to the PPlay, the straw that stirs the drink....He hated Brad while he wore our jersey!!! read on...
Boltflasher:
To your house metephor: "makes no sense to gut your house before you sell it" The players side, (Vinny's) would be to stay out of burning houses. He has that independent choice now.
Agree with the huge problems on D but not one of our starting 4 plays those minutes with a competitive team. Tough to blame Torts.
Posted by: bear | April 14, 2008 at 02:34 PM....(how often has PD defended the D from last year, and yet last year he printed...none of the top 4 would be playing with a competitve team, another full reversal of thoughts) read on...
Ovechkin is Over8ed"
Another floater..(that made me laugh as that is his keyword for VinnyFloat)
Posted by: pd | April 18, 2008 at 01:50 AM ......and what about the Boyle trade?? read on......
Why they resigned Boyle rather than trading him for the future is beyond me. He won't fit the necessary workstyle of next years team anymore than V4 will.
Posted by: bear | March 02, 2008 at 12:09 PM....

Lisa what will be attendance like to watch Vinny, Marty, Boyle and 19 nobodies finish last again?
Posted by: Bear | March 03, 2008 at 10:05 AM (Hello, talk about a 180. Seems last year he actually agreed with the cleaning of house, but such a different tone this year)...read on....
They have marketed the "big three" concept to Tampa fans who really take them at faith when in fact because of no depth the team has been getting worse by the day let alone by the year Posted by: Bear | March 03, 2008 at 01:18 PM .... Again, seems last year he was all in on the "problems"..........read on...
Patrick/JR
Well since you guys asked, obscurity is a relative thing, no?
Last years NHL Fan All Star voting had V4 at 15th at his position..thats obscurity to me. I think he was better last year too.
Patrick, I do have those lotto numbers:
10 million V4, 8 million Golden Boy, 5 Million Marty, 6.5 million to resign Boyle..hows that for a lotto..adds up to 29.5 million.
Self imposed cap at ? 48 say leaves 18.5 million for the other 15/16 and still no goalie.
That's the 5 year basement scenario simply because it never works over 82 games in the new league.
Posted by: bear | February 19, 2008 at 02:54 PM ...(hard to believe this is the same guy bear/pd when you read last year and this year. complete 180, PD was all over scrapping the big 3, but has blasted new owners this year for doing it)...
I think Boyle resigns, Marty stays and we are stuck with Goldenboy Posted by: bear | February 17, 2008..(hard to read the posts of PD this year when you look at the posts of PD about brad last year)...
why did I look into this. Cause I knew so much of PD/Bear was really all about just banging everything and about A month ago PD said he was Bear. The minute he said that, it never left me. A guy who hated Richards so much, I think bear coined the phrase, "crosses the blueline and sprays the ice" yet all year he has been talking just the opposite. He was clearly against the Boyle resigning. Anyway, Didn't want to be mean. Just wanted to show what I knew. Hated Feaster, hated the star system, hated RIchards, the D was no good last year, and more than once questioned resigning boyle. Yet he misses all of them this year. Like lots of us have said, he was just as unhappy last year, with all the players and Gm's he now loves. This was posted this week, quite a different tune than what he was saying about the same exact person last year....
How would that record look with an average goalie in net and Brad Richards in the linup for those 43 games Posted by: PD | January 03, 2009 at 11:40 AM .....Boyler and Kubina, along with Habby were the other key players but Ritchie stirred the drink Posted by: PD | December 23, 2008
Sorry PD, but I knew you were more than anything a constant downer no matter what the cirucmstance.

[Herb]

Every player in the NHL will have a bad year in most cases. Kovalchuk normally has 30+ goals by now, Vinny4 usually has at least 25 goals, and I remember how bad of a year that Joe Thornton had in Boston. The very same year he was traded for a bag of nuts. Thornton has been at or near the top in league scoring since then. Every star player will have a down year like Boyle had last year. I was disgusted when the Bolts traded away Boyle for a bag of nuts as well. Now this collection of players on the Bolts roster aren't worth a hill of beans......except for Smitty. I feel that Vinny4 will be back next year and Ryan Malone will be worth what he is paid IMO.

[Steve-O]

Did it get quiet around here all of a sudden?

Boyle made the All-Star team? How is that possible, I mean I have heard right here, from some, that he is overrated and not very good, too small, worst +/-...

What kind of egg is that all over Len Barries face? fried, scrammbled, poached. His shins have got to hurt from kicking himself so hard, or is it Koules thats kicking him?. See what happens when you are a hater. What we wouldn't give for a good puck moving defensemen that could transition our offense. We gave him away and then traded the so called bounty. Brilliant! Go Danny!

[Patrick]

Coach Bill, You are my hero.

[leo]

The Boys at MSG.
Call it.
Should I be worried?
P.

[olin]

...hej CB...that was me...LOL I agree with, eh?

[ajax]

I am done to. It was fun. PositiveDoom God Bless Ya. We will have to agree to disagree.
Danny Boyle made the all-star team. Good for him. Perfect situation for a very good player.
Big effort in Phoenix. They got beat on homeice last night 6-0, so expect a hornet's nest.

[ajax]

http://www.forumice.com/showthread.php?t=27963
http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/media_entertainment/sports-wrap-nhl-teams-on-ratings-power-play/ This is a good one cause it shows television ratings in Tampa up 25% over last year.
Here is a great one PD, it talks about all phases of the NHL on the rise
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/79800-nhl-growing-rapidly-richards-is-third-top-selling-jersey
http://www.bizofhockey.com/index.php?view=article&catid=33:nhl-news&id=182:nhl-sees-key-gains-in-attendance-television-online-and-corporate-growth&tmpl=component&print=1&page=
PD what will the cap be in 2018?? And absolutely 100% they could buy him out at any time. The cap number stays, but what if the cap number is 70 million?? Not everyone thinks the world is ending PositiveDoom.
Blog after blog you post Smith and his record and he hasn't proven anything and isn't a number one goalie. Those are your words.
The Vinny in the AHL was a joke(obviously genius), but everyone on this blog knows you hate Vinny as a person and as a player.
I won't bore anyone and print a zillion articles about ESPN back in talks with NHL. Duh that is a nobrainer. NBC picked up their option year for NHL. Can't be a bad thing for revenue stream.
Selanne Modano Sundin Sakic all are older and making gobs more than what Vinny will be at the end of his contract. There are presently at least (I was to tired to look at every team) 27 players who will be 37 or older in the league right now. 5 or more over 40. Back to SuperMats. 7 million cap next year. Does Vancouver shut down shop if he is a bust?? Somehow, silly me I think the cap might just be a tad higher in 2019 when someone will really have to worry about your beef. Insane facts Insane reasoning...Insane.
From what I read you are the only person on the entire blog that believes Vinny is untradeable. But you just cross your arms and stamp your feet and keep saying "Cause I said it is so!!!"

[PD]

Know what coach I concur.

Ajax is right, no recession issues imminent, full houses and GM's will line up to trade for V4 and his franchise killing contract.
Its a steal

PD out

[Coach Bill]

PD- Keep me out of this. To be honest with you, I'm getting tired of reading these disertations by Ajax and you. While they are interesteing and well thought out they are becoming very redundant and time consuming to keep reading. If you and Ajax can keep posting this much "information" you really must have way too much time on your hands. So far in this article " Diminished Ice Time", you two have posted 35 comments. 35! Another poster a few days ago ago suggested that you (although interesting and thoughtful) should consider hitting the minimize button a bit. Respectfully, I agree.

[PD]

Ajax take out Chicago and show me how attendance is booming.
Show me the Espn contract too

Nothing matters other than Cap money and they can not buy out Lecavalier for 2.5..His hit then is 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5
That stays, thats the doom and gloom.
Pretty doomy and pretty gloomy.

BTW show me where I said Smith sucks and Vinny should be in the AHL too

Loonie tunes

[ajax]

PositiveDoom:
1. You were 100% wrong about attendance. This is the best example of you, even when it is in writing you spin it as some "plot" You ignored the fact about ESPN picking hockey back up.
2. Salary cap will be an issue, but your opinion is of catastrophic results, without ever acknowledging that their would be options/compromise/winwin. Without compromise, simply 50-100 players would go to Europe. Not exactly what everyone/anyone would want, Hence "solutions" would be found.
3. Vinny at same age will make 11.5 million less than Sundin for those two years. Yet we are all wrong. Sundin cap hit next year will be 7 million, Sakic this year is older at 6 million. PD they could buy him out at 2.5 million. Think son. If Sundin stinks this year, the Canucks have to buy him out at 7 million. So someone would want Sundin for two years to win the cup at 14 million but not Vinny at the same exact age for 2.5 million to win the cup?? The cap hit is 7.7 for Vinny, next year 7.0 for Sundin.
What exactly did you prove yesterday and today other than when good solid facts are thrown in your lap you ignore them. I call it the PositiveDoom effect. Got a nice ring to it.
Sundin 38/39 14 million salary 14 million cap
VL4 38/39 2.5 million salary 15.4 million cap.
PositiveDoom how much clearer can it be??

[PD]

Coach Bill is it ADD? if not what?
Can't seem to get across the point that Lecavaliers cap hit his last two year is 7.5 per season..untradable
I've tried.

[PD]

The main thing Ajax is that you, personally, have been totally conned by OK hockey and as it fits your personna, you can never admit a mistake.

I can't change that , only feel sorry for you.

I've been right from the beginning and it seems to drive you crazy.

[PD]

Like I said Ajax, sad

I proved you wrong on everything yesterday and all you do is spew the bad PD cree.

V4's contract is untradable..tough.

[ajax]

Sorry Sundin will be 38/39 same age, making gobs more at that age. At the same ages Sundin will make approx 14 mil for two years. Vinny will make 2.5 mil. for those two years. Wait!! Egads!! Maybe the Lightning are brilliant??

[ajax]

PD the year VL4 makes 4 million than 1.5 than 1 mil, he will be 37 at the start of that season. Captain Dave was 41. Sakic got brought back at 6 million at age 38. And less we all forget the big example, By the way, Sundin is older today making 7 million at age 39/40 ( he signed for two years) than Vinny will be making 4 million and 1.5 million. Can't wait till I hear your response on this one. And I am 110% sure everyone, EVERYONE, will agree when you spin this. I'll help ya out. Sundin at 39 is better than Vinny at 29. Whew, that was easy. Twice you said age 42, he will be 39 when the last year of his contract starts. So now you can stop exaggerating. Oh, I know, he has a fake birth certificate. The attendance figures must be fake too.

[ajax]

man o live PD, seems Everyone posting ain't exactly agreeing with ya. P.S. (they rarely do) My real beef with you PD is simple and for me, the basic A-B-C's of life etc etc. Things go wrong, but there are options and possibilities. Day after day, month after month, you print these closed end Gospel sentences about doom and gloom. Always such bad news and the undertone "you all just wait and see" "you all don't know what I know" You hate Vinny. Look at his resume. Watch the accolades laid upon him the last few years. And you hate him and blame him for everything. The guy donates 3 million and you post after post even attack his integrity. When I write down my pluses and minuses for Vinny as a player and a person, alot more on the plus side of the page. You hate the guy and it oozes out of ya. The reality is you hate everything about this team/organization but the players and management who left. but you hated them when they were here also. Brad this and that but under your previous "handle" you blasted his soft play. Anywho, I know we have some problems. I believe we are going in the right direction. I realize that it might be one step forward two steps back. You are 110% negative. When they win you attack the owners, when they lose you attack the players. Only one thing constant, the doom and gloom, and the continued blogs of "You all koolaid drinkers just wait and see" If everything you print is negative surely one day some of it will come true, and that day is what you live for. I live for the good days.

[PD]

Patrick:
Most players retire or are out of the league by 35. Right
V$ is committed to 7.5 in cap space for 7 years after that.
Pretty crazy

[PD]

Ajax what part about its a bad financial idea to allocate 7.5 milion cap dollars to a forward until he's 42 , don't you get??

Sundins on a two year contract and they brought him in to win a cup...hello,totally different scenarios.
One's a team killer.

On the half full, Again your usual projecting others comments to me.
BTW speaking of projecting , why do you keep blubbering, Insane?

Half Full,Thats actually what Boyle said, (link above) and he should know because he still keeps in contact with his close friends via text-message -- Marty St. Louis, Paul Ranger, Jeff Halpern, Ryan Craig --
Tell them

Show me where I said Smith is a bad goalie? Never once said that.

Stawberries Ajax, the strawberries.

[Boltflasher]

PD, please don't talk attendance unless you've been to the games to see for yourself. The building is not half full and Mr.Boyle is wrong about that too...there are nights that it looks half full at the start of the game, but as I've said before alot arrive, for some reason, late in the first period or 1st intermission...I've been to almost all of the games.

[Justine]

PD - Why should we believe Boyle's quote on the building being half full rather than the attendance numbers? Is he there every night? Also, take what he says with a grain of salt. He is obviously bitter - and has reason to be - but the reason that excitement is not the same as 2004 is not because of the new owners. It's because of the lockout, the economy, the crappy records (which have not just been this year) - mostly reasons outside of the new ownership group's control. I understand that Boyle is going to blame everything on the new owners - he wanted to stay here and they didnt want him - and I'm not defending how they treated him or saying the trade was a good idea (although I think his contract was stupid - I would rather have a longterm deal with Vinny any day). Still, I bet most players would want to be playing for an owner that cares, has passion, wants to win, rather than an absent owner who does nothing but keep the payroll low. The new owners have obviously made mistakes, but in the long run, I would rather have OK than Palace and I think that most TB fans would agree.

[Patrick]

PD,

You'll say anything.

Most players retire or are out of the league by 35. If they are still in the league, they are well past their prime. Of course there are the very best that hang around and there are exceptions, but boyle is not in that class and is borderline defensively in his prime now and he's small physically for the position.

When he was still on lightning, after signing that contract I thought, well we'll get three more great years and then three bad years at 6+ mil each.

[Mike13]

There is another option too, buy him out late in the contract like the Rangers and Maple Leafs have done recently.

[Mike13]

I'm not entirely sure that he is untradeable from a financial perspective. Many people said the same of Brad and his monster deal.

A better example is Mats Sundin. The guy is what? Nearly 38 (Born 2/13/71), and was offered $10-mil this past summer. Of course, that is with the salary cap at $56-mil -- not 42. If (a big if to be projecting the salary cap 2 years from now) it goes to 42, then he could be very difficult to trade at the later stages of his career. If it goes to 50, then it would probably not be so difficult.

Besides all of this, the Bolts don't appear to be interested in trading him, so it's pretty much a moot point any way.

[ajax]

PD you backed it up with what YOUUUUU believe. I didn't see a show of hands other than yours, as usual. The attendance figures for us, the league and Chicago are posted everywhere on the internet but you are right in your own mind. 16,700 is half full. I am not the smartest guy but do we have a 33,400 building?? Under your theory lots of stars are untradeable. You know why rich people do exactly what they want PD, cause they can. Same reason Vancouver insanely gave Sundin so much more than anyone offered. Big teams will take big money players in a second and never think a second about it. Your ability to think real world, big picture is handcuffed by your negative doom and gloom brain. And exactly why is Smith no good?? Let's see Danny and Brad had the worst plus/minus in the whole league last year cause....... They were on a bad team??? Maybe??? Just another example of your constant bait and switch with whatever stat can spew your Lightning hate routine. For every one post of yours that says Vinny can't be traded I will show you ten that says you are wrong. But that is the whole argument/conversation here with you. You are smarter than everyone. you see the real truth when all of us Koolaid drinkers don't. You are a classic example of a pessimist. "no one knows what I know"

[PD]

Just for the record wise one I said Vinny was untradeble because of his contract and backed it up.

Stuff the rest Ajax

[PD]

What Ajax no apologies??..what a surprise.

Proved you full of BS on everything you posted, so your come back is PD is bad

You are a sad man Ajax who can never admit that he is wrong.

BTW Ajax, you might want to read Boyles quote on the crowds in Tampa
He has the creds, you the bluster.

Try not to believe attendance numbers.

[ajax]

In a small market, in a deep recession, with a losing team, with chaos everywhere, this horrible hockey market averages 16,673 tickets a night. Two ways to look at it, as always. I think it is pretty darn good and shows what a loyal fan "base" we have. Of course, 2500 are freebies. Insane. I wonder how Boston feels being in first place and having less crowds than us?? OF course they don't have the 2,500 freebies every night. Insane.

[ajax]

You guys are wasting your time. His logic is perrrrrfectly clear to him and only him. Rarely does anyone agree with him. Look no furthe than his constant banter on Smith and W-L record. Exact stats for one goalie means something entirely different when it is our goalie. I have never seen one sentence about Smith's ability, strengths or weaknesses. He just loves to hate. But from players to ownership from A to Z he has nothing but bad bad bad for our team our fans everything. Nothing positive except for the players who left. Am I wrong?? In someways we are the insane ones. The guy goes on and on about Vinny's ability, character, leadership etc. THE WHOLE HOCKEY COMMUNITY IS WRONG AND PD IS RIGHT. The guy was promoted from coast to coast as the best player in the league the last couple years and PD in his infinite wisdom knows he stinks and is untradeable. Insane.

[PD]

No Patrick, I strongly suggested trading V$ two years ago, you got the wrong guy. Actually Ajax was one of the few that agreed.

Too late now.

Since you mention Boyle, those are the most productive years for a defenceman.

Boyle BTW let loose in Calgary.

A QUALITY free agent will never come here and play for the OK Maroons

Must read for the Koules/Barrie Fluffers:

""I remember back to 2004, to our championship run. An amazing time for all of us. People were excited in Tampa. Hockey mattered. That building really rocked. Now most nights it's half full. We were just a couple years removed from a Stanley Cup, and they blew it up. It's turned into a revolving door" DFB

http://www.calgaryherald.com/Sports/Tampa+tumble+saddens+shark/1146631/story.html

[Patrick]

PD,

Yeah, that could suck when he's 35 and older. Right now he's 28 and one of the best forwards in the league. When he's 35+ and probably not earning the money that will be the time to cry about it, not now. No one know what things are going to like 7-8 years from now anyway, so that's even less reason to harp about that part of the contract now.

Your same line of reasoning applies to Dan Boyle (will be counting 6.6 mil when 35, 36 and 37), who is less of a player than Vinny, but you've repeated stated how bad it was the lighting traded him, yet it's terrible that the lightning can't trade lecavalier.

This is just your constant act of all the players they've moved are great and the ones they keep are terrible.

[PD]

Patrick the critical thing is what will V4 be producing when he's 35-42?

TSN had it inperspective:

"That means Lecavalier could, for example, play the first seven years of the deal and earn an average of nearly $9.7-million per season, though the cap hit for the contract will be approximately $7.72-million. The other side of the coin, however, is that the cap hit would still be $7.72-million when the season salary drops in the final years of the new
deal."

That's a cap anvil of epic proprtions and why I suggest no other GM will touch it.

[Patrick]

The salary cap may go down for the next 1-3 years, but it will go back up when we recover from the global economic crisis. In three years, it went from 39 mil, to 56 mil. So there will be plenty of time for it to go back up and lessen the impact of the 7.5 per season. Vinny's salary counting 7.5 mil is going to be better during the down time than the actual 10 mil he's getting. We've already been in that situation before with Brad's 7.8 mil salary and we weren't even spending the cap back then.

Something that scares me about Vinny's contract is the that Marty is going to retire well before it's over and Marty has pretty much been the one who helped Vinny jump from a good player to a top 5 player.

[PD]

Coming from him it would be Hijer.Very buffled.

Patrick what a can of worms that will be. The owners did crush them last time.

The NHLPA voted just a couple of weeks ago on reopening the agreement with the results of that vote due before All Star game.

Not a chance that they reopen it so the owners are stuck at least until 2012.

On a positive note it sounds like the vote to grandfather in visers will pass.

[hyjyljyj]

:p

[hyjyljyj]

"Please don't try to put words in my mouth Ajax that makes me also sound like a baffoon."

...Would that be a buffled baffoon?

sorry, couldn't resist p:

[Patrick]

What about the very recent history of the Owners crushing the PA - 25% off all salaries, the Salary Cap, etc. After the lost season, attendance was pretty high, so what's to stop the owners from doing that again if it becomes necessary?

Do you not remember the PA - "There will never be a salary cap"

[hyjyljyj]

ajax: "...just one guess who the number 1 and 2 of all-time are??? Homer and Denis in that order, I swear!!! Another wild stat, Kovalchuk and Crosby, both 10 misses in a row at one time. Malkin and Iginla 9 misses in a row. Ovechkin and Heatley 8 misses in a row. Heatley hasn't had a shoot out goal since March of 2007. Seems all of the stars struggle with it."

Two more stellar reasons to stick a fork in the stupid "shootout" gimmick and let the teams finish the games. We gave it a good try for a few years, and it took on a life of its own--now an unbelievable ONE of every EIGHT NHL games is decided by this idiotic circus act. Don't look now but that's over TWELVE PERCENT of all NHL games, folks. Completely out of hand for that many games to be decided by a virtual coin flip.

Check this out http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=400160 for more interesting facts. It says Brodeur is #1 all-time in shootouts with 27 victories. Dallas' Marty Turco is the only other goaltender with more than 20 victories. His .677 winning percentage (21-10) is the best of any goaltender with 30 or more decisions.

[PD]

Don't forget the NHL Pa has an equal say and 56% of the kitty

The pa won't reopen that without major major concessions. Do not see it happening. Teams better be ready, like you say.

[Boltflasher]

PD, I meant that NHL brass will probably meet for discusssion about the cap before it drops in 2010 and may come up with an alternative, thus, the drop may not happen...we'll see...few things in life other than death and taxes are carved in stone...I have simply been trying to get people to realize its probably going to be a major issue to be addressed in 2010 if league economics continue as is pending some other unknown events...

[PD]

Not to be labor a point Ajax but an apology would be nice..

"The last three years of Vinny's ccontract he makes 6.5 million total, in 2016!! I don't think that will scare the big money teams away PD. Think son, think. Only your prejudice allows you to think that Vinny couldn't be traded. Insane 110% false statement as usual."

[Patrick]

Totally off topic, but Semin has to be the worst hockey fighter ever...

http://www.nhldigest.com/alexander-semin-hockey-fight/

[PD]

Flasher when did you join George Bush's economic team?

"Most articles are talking a possible cap reduction in 2010...but it doesn't mean it will happen..."

Let's just look at the Bolts.
Base of 9500, What percentage of those feel they got value this year? Ask Herb

What percentage of those can afford it now vs when the reupped?

It's not pretty

[Patrick]

Boltflasher,

Your thoughts are refreshingly rational.

[PD]

Patrick , not to worry.
He's yours for life.