The Salary Cap

[RadioGaGa 162]

One of the guys at work had an interesting take on the upcoming salary cap...Let's say for example your a guy that currently make between 6-8 Million. The salary cap comes into effect and limits what you can make. If you're "only" going to make 3-4 Mill a year, why not take the pay cut and play close to home...in front of family and friends every night.

Think about every player from Ontario who ends up playing in Toronto...they all say what a dream it was growing up to wear Blue & White. If the rich teams (although Tor. is one of them) can't just out bid everyone else for a player because of the cap...maybe the geography of where to play gets a little more attention.

A salary cap may work in favor of the Canadian Teams more than we think.

Thoughts?

[kosydar 0]

It wouldn't help any of the smaller market American teams like Atlanta, Florida, Nashville, ect.

[Chadd 916]

Players might be interested in playing for teams in Texas and Florida where there is no personal income tax. If you're making less that extra couple percent might make a difference.

I can see players doing things like Malone and Payton did in LA. Take less money to play for a team with a chance to win the cup.

[Next Sakic 0]

I think if they capped the league the players would be playing for teh love of the game instead of money. i would play for free!

[Cavs019 708]

Unfortunately no one in the nhlpa is willing to do that.

[kosydar 0]

With all this talk of high salaries, this makes me feel a little better about the NHL. I know the NHL doesn't get half of what the MLB does in revenue, but still.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story...mlbmostoverpaid

[Chadd 916]

We could do an NHL version. I would have to imagine that Mario (9 points, $5.25M) is the "winner". Holik and Hasek would have to be on the list too.

[kosydar 0]

Jason Allison (if he still got paid, same goes for Bure), John Leclair, this could be fun.

Heres a link to the top salaries. http://asp.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/...tion.aspx?pos=3

[Lightning 0]

You guys forget that "half" of canada lives in Florida during the winter anyway. :P Besides that, if you can play hockey and then step outside into the sun to go play golf or spend time with your family and friends outdoors without having to freeze your ass off, why wouldnt a player want to come here. I dont know about you guys but a winter at 60 degrees is a hell of alot better than 0 degrees. Not to mention no state tax as Chad stated before. Why do you think Shaq has a house in Orlando, and why does he want to goto Miami! And families want to visit the south, not Philly or Detroit!

[Eazy_b97 1]

Depends on the players. I remember alot of players wanting to come to Toronto and were willing to take paycuts to play in their hometown. I'm not sure, but I would think it'd be the same in Montreal. You can see the years Toronto signed alot of players were the years alot were from the area.

[kosydar 0]

Niewy for sure. He took a $3 million a year pay cut last season to play in TO. Thats also why Draper was said to be going to TO if he couldn't get a deal done with the Wings. The hometown thing really makes for some good rumors, the latest being the Niedermayer brothers going to Vancouver.

[Eazy_b97 1]

That's the motive for Kariya to sign with Vancouver as well.

[kosydar 0]

I can't see Kariya signing with Van. He'd have to play behind Naslund, and I dont see him going somewhere where he isn't the first liner.

[Eazy_b97 1]

I'd expect him to play with Naslund and them to move Bert with the Sedin twins. I don't think it'll happen and hope it doesn't because I don't think he'd fit in well, but there is a talk of him going there and everytime its because of the home town team effect.

[kosydar 0]

I think Bert with the Sedin twins sucks for Bert. Him and Nazzy work really well together, and the Canucks would be better off signing a second line winger to play with the Sedins instead of bumping one of, if not the most complete forward in the game back to second line ice time.

[JR Boucicaut 3797]

Damn, must be some good crack being sold in Oregon...

[kosydar 0]

Don't think Bertuzzi is one of the most complete forwards in the game? Hes been one of the top scorers the past 3 years, he plays physical and with an edge (not gonna talk about the incident....), hes big, he can skate well for his size, he uses his size, and he is very good defensively as shown in his high +/-. I don't see what hes lacking.

[Chadd 916]

This year he was below a point a game average, a bit low for a guy making $7M a year and averaging 21 minutes a game. He takes off too many nights and only plays hard when it suits him.

[JR Boucicaut 3797]

My nod still goes to Forsberg.

[kosydar 0]

I'd give it to Forsberg too, but I don't see anyone challenging Bert for #2.

[Chadd 916]

Sundin, Thornton, Sakic doesn't throw the body much but doesn't really need to.

[QandA 0]

Sundin, Thornton, Sakic doesn't throw the body much but doesn't really need to.

Sundin, never a power forward, he's a goal scorer with size. Thornton isn't in the NHL anymore, Sakic well I guess we could call him probably the best all around player in the league.

[kosydar 0]

I don't think Sakic is the best all around players in the league. Hes one of the best snipers, but I don't think he has all the aspects that Bert and Forsberg do.

[Chadd 916]

Thornton signed the Swiss deal in case of a lockout, it is null and void in the event of an NHL season. Sundin isn't a banger but he has hits when required.

[Eazy_b97 1]

I think I'd consider Thornton the most complete Forward, then Bert, then Forsberg, then probably Iggy. Forseberg doesn't play enough for me to consider him the top "complete" forward, plus I'd be more afraid to play Bert or Thornton. I think if I could take injuries away from any player and start them off with a clean bill of health, I'd definately give Lindros a good amount of consideration, although his baggage is fairly high.