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Joined: May 2003
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From: Kelowna, BC
The End Is Near Boys!!
NHL looks to be springing back to life after season wiped out by lockout
30/06/2005 6:20:00 PM
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(CP) - A sign that the National Hockey League is about to spring back to life is all the signings of coaches and general managers in the past two weeks.
And a mad rush of player moves is expected when the league and the NHL Players' Association finally end the lockout that wiped out the entire 2004-05 season.
Some believe a new collective bargaining agreement will be ready as early as next week.
"You can feel it," agent Pat Brisson said Thursday. "Teams are signing their coaches and general managers. It's very different from last summer.
"From what I hear, it seems they'll announce something in a week or a week and a half."
The Anaheim Mighty Ducks offered a one-year deal to head coach Mike Babcock on Thursday and he will take a week to think about it.
On Wednesday, the Ottawa Senators gave GM John Muckler a three-year contract extension, which followed extensions given to coaches Pat Quinn of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Dave Tippett of the Dallas Stars.
Earlier, the Nashville Predators extended deals to coach Barry Trotz and his assistants, while the Chicago Blackhawks named Dale Tallon as GM. He promptly announced that coach Brian Sutter would not return.
All that movement could be small potatoes compared to the flurry expected when a new CBA in place, even if no one is sure exactly what the deal will include.
A salary cap somewhere in the $35 million to $40 million range is expected along with the 24 per cent salary rollback the players offered in December. The age of unrestricted free agency may come down from the current 31.
Hundreds of players contracts will have expired and GMs will have to fit new contracts into payroll limits.
"It will be the busiest time ever for us (agents), players and GMs," predicted Brisson. "It seems it will be a completely new system and we'll have to learn it quick.
"There will be more players on the market, lots of buyouts and with teams operating under a cap, they'll need room to sign players and they may have to let some go. It will be pretty wild."
Bob Gainey of the Montreal Canadiens said GMs are used to busy summers of signing free agents and going to arbitration with players and doesn't expect it to be that much different this year.
"It's always pretty busy," he said. "We really don't know what we're in for and when, but the bottom line is that we're all in the same position."
Gainey, who has only seven or eight players under contract for 2005-06, refuses to speculate on what may or may not be in the new CBA and says he'll deal with whatever new rules are agreed upon.
Brisson is bracing for major change.
He said the large payroll teams like Toronto, Detroit, the New York Rangers or Detroit may no longer be able to deal draft picks or prospects in exchange for expensive veterans.
"The draft will be extremely important and it will be important to sign your core players and do a better job off-ice to keep them happy," he said, adding that money may no longer be the deciding issue in where many players choose to ply their trade.
An area of concern to Brisson is the draft. His star client is Sidney Crosby of the Rimouski Oceanic, who is expected to be taken first overall.
But it is unclear yet how much entry-level salaries will be lowered and if restrictions will be placed on rookie bonuses. In the past, top picks have earned three or four times the rookie salary cap through bonuses.
"There has to be a way to make individual bonuses if an entry-level player makes a difference to his team," said Brisson. "If not, I wouldn't be surprised if entry-level players from Russia or other countries stay overseas because they can make more money."
NHL looks to be springing back to life after season wiped out by lockout
30/06/2005 6:20:00 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(CP) - A sign that the National Hockey League is about to spring back to life is all the signings of coaches and general managers in the past two weeks.
And a mad rush of player moves is expected when the league and the NHL Players' Association finally end the lockout that wiped out the entire 2004-05 season.
Some believe a new collective bargaining agreement will be ready as early as next week.
"You can feel it," agent Pat Brisson said Thursday. "Teams are signing their coaches and general managers. It's very different from last summer.
"From what I hear, it seems they'll announce something in a week or a week and a half."
The Anaheim Mighty Ducks offered a one-year deal to head coach Mike Babcock on Thursday and he will take a week to think about it.
On Wednesday, the Ottawa Senators gave GM John Muckler a three-year contract extension, which followed extensions given to coaches Pat Quinn of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Dave Tippett of the Dallas Stars.
Earlier, the Nashville Predators extended deals to coach Barry Trotz and his assistants, while the Chicago Blackhawks named Dale Tallon as GM. He promptly announced that coach Brian Sutter would not return.
All that movement could be small potatoes compared to the flurry expected when a new CBA in place, even if no one is sure exactly what the deal will include.
A salary cap somewhere in the $35 million to $40 million range is expected along with the 24 per cent salary rollback the players offered in December. The age of unrestricted free agency may come down from the current 31.
Hundreds of players contracts will have expired and GMs will have to fit new contracts into payroll limits.
"It will be the busiest time ever for us (agents), players and GMs," predicted Brisson. "It seems it will be a completely new system and we'll have to learn it quick.
"There will be more players on the market, lots of buyouts and with teams operating under a cap, they'll need room to sign players and they may have to let some go. It will be pretty wild."
Bob Gainey of the Montreal Canadiens said GMs are used to busy summers of signing free agents and going to arbitration with players and doesn't expect it to be that much different this year.
"It's always pretty busy," he said. "We really don't know what we're in for and when, but the bottom line is that we're all in the same position."
Gainey, who has only seven or eight players under contract for 2005-06, refuses to speculate on what may or may not be in the new CBA and says he'll deal with whatever new rules are agreed upon.
Brisson is bracing for major change.
He said the large payroll teams like Toronto, Detroit, the New York Rangers or Detroit may no longer be able to deal draft picks or prospects in exchange for expensive veterans.
"The draft will be extremely important and it will be important to sign your core players and do a better job off-ice to keep them happy," he said, adding that money may no longer be the deciding issue in where many players choose to ply their trade.
An area of concern to Brisson is the draft. His star client is Sidney Crosby of the Rimouski Oceanic, who is expected to be taken first overall.
But it is unclear yet how much entry-level salaries will be lowered and if restrictions will be placed on rookie bonuses. In the past, top picks have earned three or four times the rookie salary cap through bonuses.
"There has to be a way to make individual bonuses if an entry-level player makes a difference to his team," said Brisson. "If not, I wouldn't be surprised if entry-level players from Russia or other countries stay overseas because they can make more money."
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 45,832
Likes: 8,339
From: Mish-she-gan
No hockey for a year and then when it does come back the Red Wings get to bend over. 
I hope the small teams are happy; it sounds like they should be.
PS, tell the writer there is only 1 Detroit (thank god).
I hope the small teams are happy; it sounds like they should be.PS, tell the writer there is only 1 Detroit (thank god).
