11/05/24
July 01, 2009
Marian Hossa signs 12-year deal with Chicago: One year after taking a less-money shortterm contract in Detroit, Hossa signs a looong term deal with the Blackhawks, for even less average money...
holden, I was under the impression that salaries in the NHL could not vary much from year to year over the life of a contract. Am I mistaken?
posted by 86 at 04:48 PM on July 01, 2009
They can only decrease by a certain percentage each year, but I can't remember what it is and I'm not having any luck finding it right now.
posted by MrFrisby at 05:17 PM on July 01, 2009
Here's a write-up on the Zetterberg deal when it happened, by someone who seems knowledgeable about the cap rules. I do not believe the NHL has closed the loophole.
posted by holden at 05:30 PM on July 01, 2009
From section 50.7 of the current CBA (page 219):
...any decrease in Player Salary and Bonuses from one League Year to another may not exceed 50 percent of the Player Salary and Bonuses of the lower of the first two League Years of the SPC...
Legal mumbo jumbo aside, Chicago probably should have asked the Islanders how that Depietro contract has been working out so far.
posted by MrFrisby at 05:55 PM on July 01, 2009
Just the GMs stretching what little wiggle room they are given in the CBA. I have no problem with deals like this, if they're within the rules, even if they seem sneaky...jobbing the system is what separates great GMs from the pack.
As for Hossa leaving, I'm happy. We got a good season out of him in his prime, but once he disappeared in the playoffs, the honeymoon ended. Now the Wings have cap space, and roster space for the likes of Leino, Helm, and Abdelkader to move up to the big club. Jimmy Howard should get time in Detroit next season, as well, now the Ty Conklin has gone to St. Louis.
posted by MeatSaber at 05:58 PM on July 01, 2009
roster space for the likes of Leino, Helm, and Abdelkader to move up to the big club
Yea, I agree. In the playoffs, you saw those potential moments of brilliance from Hossa, but they only worked really well in 1 game iirc. I greatly enjoyed watching those three and will be a good foundation for the future.
posted by jmd82 at 07:26 PM on July 01, 2009
I see Mad Dog is also on his way to Chicago. I can't say I'm happy to see him to leave New Jersey, but that much money was too rich for Lou to match.
What's up with Montreal? First they trade for Gomez and then they sign Gionta to a 5 year/$5 mil per deal. $12mil is an awful lot of money for an average of 38 goals per season.
posted by MrFrisby at 09:28 PM on July 01, 2009
Step up to the betting windows gentlemen. With Hossa being on the last two teams that lost the Stanley Cup, it is a guarantee Chicago is going down in the Finals this year.
posted by dbt302 at 12:19 PM on July 02, 2009
Was Rick DiPietro available for comment?
posted by NoMich at 04:14 PM on July 02, 2009
I really hope the Wings beat the Blackhawks in the playoffs this upcoming season.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 09:41 PM on July 02, 2009
This is the Ken Holland trick (used in the Zetterberg and Franzen contracts) of gaming the cap by signing a player well into his likely retirement and paying a million or so dollars per year in the last few years. So while the average annual value and cap hit is $5MM per year, my guess is that in the first several years of the contract, the contract is going to be for significantly more than $5MM per year.