Originally Posted by
conscript
Problem is that the Hawks have three "significant" contracts coming off the books this year, Oduya at $3.5m, Burnetter at $2m, and Morrison at $1.25m. Those combined with current cap space and estimated cap growth is only going to open up $11 million or so in cap space with a number of roster spots needing to be filled even without making upgrades. Probably going to take signficant trade action to bolster the Hawks at all barring any massive changes to the CBA.
But honestly, with the ridiculous parity in the West this year, couldn't you just see a small revolt inside the owners where the big clubs are sick of supporting the small clubs with revenue sharing which allows them to keep their best players and still compete without shelling out too much of their own money? Detroit, New York, Philly, Pittsburgh, and the Canadian teams are essentially paying for the Phoenix Coyotes to be in the second round. Chicago essentially paid a fair portion of the salary of the team that just knocked them out of the playoffs lol. I could see the NHL moving to the NBA model allowing big teams to spend significantly more if they so desire but with heavy financial penalties associated. Such a system would free up mad money for Chicago as they are one of the biggest markets in the NHL now.
Well biggest market until that team disappears into obscurity again. How many times has Detroit been called a fallen empire this week in the media? Does that even make sense? Detroit won the Cup in 2008, made the Finals the year after, made the second round the two years after that, and got knocked out the first round this year. Chicago won the Cup and got knocked out in the first round twice both times barely even making the playoffs. If Dallas doesn't completely blow it year before last Chicago doesn't even make the playoffs after winning the Cup. If the Pacific wasn't such garbage this year (or Calgary had a real team but that won't happen ever) Chicago would have been the 8th or 9th seed with the way they played this year. Not saying Detroit isn't slipping, because they certainly are, but the castle isn't exactly crumbling into ruin.
Speaking of Detroit, how about this trade Franzen nonsense? He didn't have a good playoff certainly, but how many guys in the NHL make a little over $135,000 per goal. Not per point, which is considered pretty good, PER GOAL. He made $136,000 per goal this year ($70,000 per point). Malkin made nearly $175,000 per goal, Stamkos $125,000, Ovie $250,000. Of the 35 players that scored 29+ goals this season, Franzen's $136,053 ranked 17th. Best value for the money guy in that group, Jordan Eberle at $34,069 per goal. Worst value Rick Nash $260,000 per goal or Ovie if you exclude Nash because he was on Columbus. It is insanely hard to get Franzen's production on Franzen's salary. Excluding guys on rookie contracts there are about a dozen players in the entire league that out perform him dollar for dollar. Why would Detroit trade him when you are getting great production at a replacement level salary.