Quoting: Pompadour_de_Armstrong
GMBA apparently denied a major sell off apart from the UFA crop (and Chychrun who wanted out). I think Schmaltz and his backloaded contract was definitely available, but he just left the game tonight with an "upper-body", and if they didn't want to bring money back for Chychrun, that means it was unlikely in a Schmaltz deal as well. Wouldn't expect too much back in that case, but also who can add that cap without more maneuvering? Crouse is publicly saying he wants to retire here, and he's a prototypical Armstrong player. Doubt he moves. Keller trade would be insane, even if they are rebuilding, and they will need to hit the floor somehow. Same contract/cap difficulties would exist as in a Schmaltz deal even if they did. I personally would trade Vegemite, but I think the club sees him as a feather in their proscouting-hat since rescuing him from the Czech Extraliga.
Gutierrez has already said the revenue from the Mullet is going to be low, and that they expected to run lean. Not sure I expected that meant they were going to under sell their best trade asset by avoiding taking salary back, so who knows how far they want to cut down to the bone. If someone can absorb one of the "core" players without sending contracts back, maybe they'd be available for futures, but seems unlikely.
I wonder if the league will help, or do something. Drop the coyotes cap floor requirement and give each team an extra million in cap to appease the nhlpa. Blame the arena situation.
It does look like the cap floor will be a challenge next season without any more trading. They lose Kanes 2.6. Ladds 5.5. I don’t see anybody due a significant raise. I take it back about trading term away probably.
The team has such a disproportionate huge chunk of the future talent in the league, and their trajectory is to have very high picks for all of their own selections.
I sympathize with the entire situation and there’s a real good chance the next great marketable talent for the NHL plays in a 5000 seat arena surrounded by a cap floor team who got there in the backs of IR contracts. That’s not good for the other 31 ownership groups, and Bettman represents them all.
Sorry, that Chychrun return pissed me off. I find it telling the typical talking heads aren’t questioning it after reporting for months the price was 2 firsts and a high quality prospect or more at times. Then Bill Armstrong today, “ To escape with no money taken back was huge for us.". I can’t even…What are you escaping from? Chychrun was a bargain for his performance. What’s Chychrun gonna do? Go play in Russia? He’s under contract. He had 0 leverage.
I am glad Ottawa landed him, especially considering they’re up for sale. I hope it works out well. That seems awfully coincidental to me.
I hope the coyotes work out well too.
A healthy league is good for all.