The Canadian Perspective on UFA and the Future

[comericatigers]

I was in Canada for the start of free agency and got back to the States last night. I can't remember if I was watching Roger's Sportsnet or TSN, but in a round table discussion with Darren Pang, the panel basically blasted the state of the league with regard to spending on players. Basically every "big" UFA signing they analyzed, the panel claimed that these player are not worth the money that was spent. This overspending obviously sets a bad precedent with regard to salary cost for the next few years until the next strike comes.

During the show, the panel specifically targeted the Buffalo Sabres (not in a bad way). They used their quick fall from grace as a reason why the league is falling apart again and that players salaries are so high that the Sabres could not afford to keep Briere, Drury, and Campbell. They claim under the current CBA, small market teams like the Sabres will have a tough time competing and that other teams might go bankrupt.

I know we have discussed these situations several times on many different levels, but I found it interesting this was coming out of Canada and they used the Sabres as their example. What is more interesting is that no Canadian team is small market and has to worry about money. And yet the panel still discussed the outrageous spending on players and the state of the league.

:popcorn:

[imissandrereed]

This problem has nothing to do with nationality and has to do with economics. It has become a current trend in the NHL to over price and over value players in this NHL. The fact of the matter is some of the contracts being thrown around are outrageous and its almost as if the CBA has done nothing to curb the problem. Further more if they keep raising the cap every year what the hell is the point of having one?

[Iggy72]

Yeah, that's been the tone so far in what TSN has called the "silly season". If you're wondering why TSN and Sportsnet aren't as worried about the Canadian teams, it's because the strenght of the Canadian dollar has allowed the Oilers (who have a new billionaire owner who grew up an Oilers fan) and Flames to be as competitive as the Habs and Leafs. The Sens are on the downturn of their decade of good teams, though they still will be competitive, and the Canucks' turmoil is due to some bad decisions.

I think they used the Sabres mainly because they've been rocked by UFAs signing elsewhere, not because it's a viable hockey market. TSN and Sportsnet have always had good thing to say about the hockey fan base in WNY (just ask Pierre McGuire). The teams that these stations have in mind are teams in non-traditional markets like Atlanta and Nashville.

What you may not be hearing right away, but has been said by just as many commentators, is that these teams overpaying will get in trouble. The Score pondered what would happen if the Canadian dollar dipped down to 1990s levels again. They also point to Dan Boyle's contract that T-Bay essentially dumped (thought they too have an aggressive owner).

By the way, happy belated 4th to all you good American folk here!

Pax.
Iggy72

[Papaduke]

If the American economic downturn is not reigned in and spreads to Canada... this cap is gonna fall and a lot of teams and players will be hurt.

[Smapdi]

These contracts will begin to catch up to teams. The salary cap only allows you to overspend on so many players.

Look at us getting Rivet. We got a very good, Top 4 pairing d-man, locked into 3.5 million for the next 3 years for basically not much. Two second rounders for a legitimate top 4 nhl d-man is a steal. The only reason Rivet came that cheap was because San Jose simply couldn't afford him bringing in Boyle and Blake. Those two alone are making over 10 million dollars this year.

Once arbitration rolls around, you will see many bargain basment deals for very good NHL players simply due to cap constraints.

[Riley_Mason]

What is more interesting is that no Canadian team is small market and has to worry about money. And yet the panel still discussed the outrageous spending on players and the state of the league.

:popcorn:
They already lost all their small market teams.

[comericatigers]

They already lost all their small market teams.

Yep, Winnipeg anyone.

[comericatigers]

Yeah, that's been the tone so far in what TSN has called the "silly season". If you're wondering why TSN and Sportsnet aren't as worried about the Canadian teams, it's because the strenght of the Canadian dollar has allowed the Oilers (who have a new billionaire owner who grew up an Oilers fan) and Flames to be as competitive as the Habs and Leafs. The Sens are on the downturn of their decade of good teams, though they still will be competitive, and the Canucks' turmoil is due to some bad decisions.

I think they used the Sabres mainly because they've been rocked by UFAs signing elsewhere, not because it's a viable hockey market. TSN and Sportsnet have always had good thing to say about the hockey fan base in WNY (just ask Pierre McGuire). The teams that these stations have in mind are teams in non-traditional markets like Atlanta and Nashville.

What you may not be hearing right away, but has been said by just as many commentators, is that these teams overpaying will get in trouble. The Score pondered what would happen if the Canadian dollar dipped down to 1990s levels again. They also point to Dan Boyle's contract that T-Bay essentially dumped (thought they too have an aggressive owner).

By the way, happy belated 4th to all you good American folk here!

Pax.
Iggy72

The cap floor this season is higher than the original cap ceiling the year after the lockout.

:nono: