2010 NHL Offseason chatter

[Brendan]

I think his offensive ability's helped him get that record more than his defensive skills.

[tp49]

Hot off the press of the NY Post comes this article regarding the Kovalchuk, Luongo and Hossa contracts.

The NHL has given the NHLPA an ultimatum regarding the contested front-loaded contract of not only the Devils' Ilya Kovalchuk, but Vanocuver's Roberto Luongo and Chicago's Marian Hossa, as well, The Post has learned.

A well placed source reports that the league has informed the Players' Assn. that the league will grandfather the recently submitted Kovalchuk 15-year, $100M contract, Luongo's 12-year, $64M deal that is entering its second season and Hossa's 12-year, $63.3M deal that also is entering its second season into the CBA under the following conditions:

There's no way this doesn't end without arbitrators and possibly litigation. It will be interesting to see what happens when all the dust settles.

[charger77]

Gretzky's an all-time +/- leader and he wasn't much on defense?

And the all time short handed goals leader.

[HedleyLamarr]

Hot off the press of the NY Post comes this article regarding the Kovalchuk, Luongo and Hossa contracts.

The NHL has given the NHLPA an ultimatum regarding the contested front-loaded contract of not only the Devils' Ilya Kovalchuk, but Vanocuver's Roberto Luongo and Chicago's Marian Hossa, as well, The Post has learned.

A well placed source reports that the league has informed the Players' Assn. that the league will grandfather the recently submitted Kovalchuk 15-year, $100M contract, Luongo's 12-year, $64M deal that is entering its second season and Hossa's 12-year, $63.3M deal that also is entering its second season into the CBA under the following conditions:

There's no way this doesn't end without arbitrators and possibly litigation. It will be interesting to see what happens when all the dust settles.

So what are these conditions?

[NEW.ERA]

Carey Price finally signs with the Habs.

[The_Admiral]

Hot off the press of the NY Post comes this article regarding the Kovalchuk, Luongo and Hossa contracts.

The NHL has given the NHLPA an ultimatum regarding the contested front-loaded contract of not only the Devils' Ilya Kovalchuk, but Vanocuver's Roberto Luongo and Chicago's Marian Hossa, as well, The Post has learned.

A well placed source reports that the league has informed the Players' Assn. that the league will grandfather the recently submitted Kovalchuk 15-year, $100M contract, Luongo's 12-year, $64M deal that is entering its second season and Hossa's 12-year, $63.3M deal that also is entering its second season into the CBA under the following conditions:

There's no way this doesn't end without arbitrators and possibly litigation. It will be interesting to see what happens when all the dust settles.

So what are these conditions?

Raising cap hits ex post facto and promising never to do it again, basically.

[Lee.]

The closest Gretzky got to his defensive zone was about 6 feet in front of his blue line, where he skated back and forth waiting for a defenseman to clear a pass out to him. He rarely, if ever, got between an opposing player and his own team's net.

[Don]

Plus/minus is one of the most overrated stats in hockey, Gretzky was far from a complete player. Thats why I believe Bobby Orr is the best to ever lace em up.

[tp49]

Hot off the press of the NY Post comes this article regarding the Kovalchuk, Luongo and Hossa contracts.

The NHL has given the NHLPA an ultimatum regarding the contested front-loaded contract of not only the Devils' Ilya Kovalchuk, but Vanocuver's Roberto Luongo and Chicago's Marian Hossa, as well, The Post has learned.

A well placed source reports that the league has informed the Players' Assn. that the league will grandfather the recently submitted Kovalchuk 15-year, $100M contract, Luongo's 12-year, $64M deal that is entering its second season and Hossa's 12-year, $63.3M deal that also is entering its second season into the CBA under the following conditions:

There's no way this doesn't end without arbitrators and possibly litigation. It will be interesting to see what happens when all the dust settles.

So what are these conditions?

1. That the cap hit on future multi-year contracts will not count any seasons that end with the player over 40 years of age. The cap hit would be calculated on the average of the salary up through age 40 only.

2. That the cap hit on future contracts longer than five years will be calculated under a formula granting additional weight to the five years with the highest salary.

The league has given the PA, which is being directed by Donald Fehr, until Friday at 5 pm to accept these conditions. If the PA refuses, or if negotiations fail to yeild a common ground, the league has informed the PA that:

1. It will reject the Kovalchuk contract.

2. It will move to immediately devoid the Luongo contract.

3. It will move to immediately open proceedings for a formal investigation into the Hossa contract.

The NHL owns sweeping punitive powers against teams and players judged guilty of circumvention under Article 26 of the CBA.

[The_Admiral]

The league has given the PA, which is being directed by Donald Fehr, until Friday at 5 pm to accept these conditions. If the PA refuses, or if negotiations fail to yeild a common ground, the league has informed the PA that:

1. It will reject the Kovalchuk contract.

2. It will move to immediately devoid the Luongo contract.

3. It will move to immediately open proceedings for a formal investigation into the Hossa contract.

1. The "Kovalchuk contract" was a fraud perpetrated by a mid-market Bettman loyalist in order to precipitate this whole fiasco, so nothing is lost here anyway,

2. Luongo craps his pants whenever a game is important and there isn't an All-Star team to bail him out, so Vancouver comes out ahead by losing his contract,

3. Scotty Bowman isn't senile or retarded enough to leave any evidence of Hossa agreeing to an early retirement that a "formal investigation" might find.

Stand your ground, Fehr.

[Corvus]

Incomplete players aren't elite, which was what we were arguing all along.

I guess Pavel Bure wasn't an elite player during his prime then?

[NJTank]

Here we go again, I see a strike looming and the NHL in serious danger of folding as Gary Betman is welcomed at NBA headquarters with a Mission Accomplished banner. For the love of god, all that is holy can the NHL finally fire Betman and save the sport.

[charger77]

The closest Gretzky got to his defensive zone was about 6 feet in front of his blue line, where he skated back and forth waiting for a defenseman to clear a pass out to him. He rarely, if ever, got between an opposing player and his own team's net.

So does Gretzky's imcompleteness make him not an elite player?

[charger77]

Comrie to Pittsburgh

[Brendan]

Comrie to Pittsburgh

Man, his career has gone down the drain since he left Edmonton the firs time, oh well, he's doing okay in his personal life.

[NJTank]

Those Oiler teams in the 80s were so great Gretzky did not need to play Defense, Messier did that for him and if any one hit the Great One McSorley to care of that too.

[jkrdevil]

The NHL and NHLPA apparent;y have reached an agreement. As part of the settlement it looks like the new Kovalchuk deal will be approved (but it will be the last of the long term deals).

[njmeadowlanders]

The NHL and NHLPA apparent;y have reached an agreement. As part of the settlement it looks like the new Kovalchuk deal will be approved (but it will be the last of the long term deals).

Yep...and the others (Savard, Luongo, Pronger, Hossa, et al) also stand.

[bstewart]

The NHL and NHLPA apparent;y have reached an agreement. As part of the settlement it looks like the new Kovalchuk deal will be approved (but it will be the last of the long term deals).

Yep...and the others (Savard, Luongo, Pronger, Hossa, et al) also stand.

it's interesting the previous deals are allowed to stand. Does that mean the teams that did not sign players to these now illegal deals are at a competitive disadvantage under the salary cap??

[oddball]

I just love all these people who bash Wayne Gretzky and never actually watched him play. Yes, he played defense, but his role was not to help down low, but rather as third man high. I love the fact that people think defense is all about hitting people and playing down below the net. When in fact you can play a more effective defense away from the net and in the passing zones. What made Gretzky a underappreciated defender was that he knew the game better than most did, and so he didn't waste his time chasing the puck, rather he knew where the puck was going to be and would antiipate and intercept a pass leading to a scoring opportunity. If you watched Gretzky on a regular basis and not just highlights, you would know this.