Updates on the salary cap, expansion, status of the Carolina Hurricanes, Alex Semin on waivers and much more in your NHL morning coffee headlines
Check out last night’s NHL highlights, including Radim Vrbata’s hat trick against the Sabres, Predators rally to down the Bruins and the Avalanche down the Wild in overtime.
NHL Board of Governors News.
NBC SPORTS: The NHL salary cap for 2016-17 is projected to reach $74.5 million, though there’s some skepticism from some observers that it could actually go that high.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That figure takes into account the NHLPA’s five percent escalator clause, plus it’s also likely based on the assumption of the Canadian dollar remaining at its current level of around 0.75 cents USD. However, I doubt it goes much higher above the current ceiling of $71.4 million.
My estimate is it’ll rise by $1.5 million to $72.9 million. Because unless there’s a sharp increase in oil prices, the Canadian dollar won’t be rising anytime soon. And with 38 percent of league revenue coming from Canadian teams, a lower Canadian dollar means another marginal increase (at best) for the cap ceiling.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman believes a number of hurdles must be addressed regarding expansion.
SPORTSNET: There was no decision from the NHL Board of Governors regarding expansion. Damien Cox speculates some of the governors could be having second thoughts about adding two more teams, despite the combined $1 billion in expansion fees that would be pocketed by the current 30 team owners. Commissioner Gary Bettman denies the delay could be to allow another city, like Seattle, to make a bid, insisting it’s between Las Vegas and Quebec City.
TSN: The format of an expansion draft could also be a hurdle to address. “There are a myriad (of issues), and within that are a lot of sub-issues that have to be addressed,” Bettman said. “For example: When? What will be the terms of the expansion draft? What would be the terms of an expansion draft if it’s one team or if it’s two teams? What will be the role or the position in the entry draft?”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: A couple of readers recently asked me why I haven’t addressed the potential effects of an expansion draft upon the salary cap, specifically teams carrying limited cap space with a number of key players to re-sign. As I stated then, it’s pointless to rush into hypothetical musings on this when we don’t even know the facts, such as when expansion might take place and what the rules will be. Bettman’s comments clearly indicates we simply cannot assume the next expansion draft will be governed by the rules of previous drafts, or even when such a draft takes place.
Notable NHL Headlines.
TSN: Among Frank Seravalli’s musings over what the NHL could look like in 2020 is the suggestion the league could be in the midst of another lockout by then.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The current CBA expires on Sep. 30, 2022. However, the NHL BoG can vote to opt out on Sep. 1, 2019, meaning another lockout could go into effect during the 2020-21 season. The NHLPA could also opt out on Sep. 19, 2019. While it’s a possibility the league could do this, it’s important to remember that it voted in 1998 to extend the 1995 CBA to 2004, and declined to exercise its early opt-out during the previous CBA.
Much will depend, of course, on what league revenues are by 2019. There could also be a desire to maintain labor peace, rather than go through this cycle again so soon after the previous one. We also don’t know if Gary Bettman will still be league commissioner, let alone if some of the hardliners among the team owners (such as Boston Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs) will still be as influential by that point.
NBC SPORTS: Recent comments by Pittsburgh Penguins GM Jim Rutherford suggest he’s questioning some of the roster moves of head coach Mike Johnston.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Add this with the recent report suggesting a rift between Penguins co-owner Mario Lemieux and captain Sidney Crosby, combine it with the Penguins poor performance this season, and it appears things aren’t rosy in Pittsburgh.
NBC SPORTS: Carolina Hurricanes president Don Waddell denies a recent rumor suggesting his club could be relocated to Quebec City. He points out the Hurricanes current lease arena runs to 2024.
MIAMI HERALD: Broward County officials will vote today on a new arena-lease deal for the Florida Panthers. “The lease would remain for 13 years, although the team could opt out after eight years if it gives the county a year’s notice and proves it lost $100 million over the next seven years.”
MONTREAL GAZETTE: The Canadiens placed left wing Alexander Semin on waivers.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If Semin is demoted as expected, it’ll free up $950K of his $1.1 million cap hit. Looks like his NHL career is sputtering to an end.
SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS: Logan Couture (broken leg) could make his return with the Sharks tonight against the Calgary Flames.
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES: Blackhawks defenseman Trevor Daley is listed as day-to-day with a head injury.
PHILLY.COM: The Philadelphia Flyers have recalled defenseman Andrew MacDonald.
“Recent comments by Pittsburgh Penguins GM Jim Rutherford suggest he’s questioning some of the roster moves of head coach Mike Johnston.”
Rutherford is the NHL version of Typhoid Mary. Wherever he goes a mess is left behind when he leaves.
Well I give Rutherford credit where it’s due though. The last few years the Pens got beat because they couldn’t score enough in playoffs. He has put together, on paper, the deepest forward group this team has had in a long time. But it came at the expense of the blue line. They one legit top pairing defenceman, and only one other top four defenceman. The rest is made up of 5/6 guys and Rob Scuderi.
I don’t think Johnston has done a good job at all, but at the same time, that’s a bad group of defencemen he has to work with. It would help if he would sit Scuderi half the time to give Clendenning more time, since he actually plays the kind of game meshes well with the skilled forwards.
Rutherford is not the problem right now in Pittsburgh, it’s Johnston. He is stubborn as a mule and has the team playing Mickey Mouse hockey. Johnston also INSISTS on playing guys like Rob Scuderi, and Pascal Dupuis over young, inexperienced, but infinitely more talented players like Adam Clendening, Derrick Pouliot, Daniel Sprong, and Connor Sheary. Johnstons system is terrible and it has the Centres it of the play before they develop. It’s time to finish me a coach that will play to his teams strengths. The fan base is getting thorough disgusted watching them trot Scuderi out game after game and watch him cost the team goal after goal with zero upside.
Couldn’t agree more – this team is a scoring powerhouse and should be coached to that. We saw this sort of situation play out in Washington where Ovie was forced to play more of a defensive game (I still think he should incorporate defensive play into his game) to the degree where his scoring suffered. While Pittsburgh’s problem has always been D (since 2009 anyway) and the depth there (prospects notwithstanding), they survived on their offense which has been restricted by Johnson’s system and that has to change because it is not working.
As for the fanbase, that is completely why Rob Scuderi is 20th overall in All Star votes and rising rapidly.
I’m believe that expansion will happen & soon. Ideally following the 2016-17 season. if not then 1 season later, following the 2017-18 season.
For 3 reasons primarily. There are at least 12 teams in the NHL losing money & need the cash. I think it’s important to have it done before the CBA is potentially up, early out clauses for both the NHL but more specifically the NHLPA. The players will be demanding a portion of that cash yet again as greed is rampant every where & better to get that money into the system & gone before it becomes a factor again. It’s a solution to most teams cap issues. Expansion gets large monies off their rosters, cap issues solved as expansion teams will need to get to the floor.
The expansion rules will be basically the same as they have been for the last 3 expansion drafts. There may be some minor variances but all in all the system is in place. The 1 primary issue that needs to be addressed that didn’t exist previously is players with no movement clauses. This will need to be mutually agreed to between the NHL & NHLPA.
Las Vegas & Quebec have arenas & are ready & willing to pony up. This still creates a disparity in east to west but that will be resolved when Carolina & Florida eventually relocate. Carolina most likely to Seattle when they finally have an arena deal resolved & built in the next 5 to 7 years.
Take your pick – Adam Oates, Guy Boucher, Randy Carlyle, Ted Nolan…any day now…heck even Ron Wilson could get more out of a roster like they have in Pittsburgh.
Bettman said the earliest expansion would be is for 2017-2018..
How would it happen sooner?? It’s ok to have thoughts striker but don’t spew garbage