Tuesday Roundup
by J.P. on Nov 18, 2008 6:08 AM EST
39 comments
A little more than a week ago, Caps Assistant GM Don Fishman (a.k.a. possessor of perhaps my safest-for-work dream job) sat down with a group of season ticket holders for some "Chalk Talk," a team-hosted Q&A with a member of the organization.Fishman was surprisingly candid about the team's salary cap situation - the Caps, at that point, were $190,000 below the $56.7 million ceiling. Not $305,000 below or $668,899 below, but $190,000 below.
So what does $190,000 get you in the NHL these days? Well, it'll get you about 55 days (not games, but days) of Chris Bourque or 50 days of Sami Lepisto or or 43 days of Simeon Varlamov or 21 days of Karl Alzner (or three days of Alex Ovechkin).
It'll also get you saving money wherever you can. For example, perusing the AHL transactions page, I noticed this:
Click to enlargeA couple of paper transactions and $5,107.53 saved? Perhaps - every penny counts (note, too, that the team wasn't exactly broadcasting their moves either - the October 31 press release on Sloan's demotion noted that "Sloan, 27, returns to Hershey after being recalled by the Caps on Oct. 20."). [Update: see the comments for why the cap probably isn't why this was going on, though the underlying point remains]
So things are tight. Damn tight. And remember, teams have to leave some room for short-term injury replacements (i.e. if another defenseman goes down with a day-to-day injury and the team calls up Lepisto, they do so at $3,763.44 per day against the cap while the guy he's replacing is also still counting against the cap).
In other words, barring some serious salary cap shedding, this is the team the Caps will be going with the rest of the way. That $4 million right wing or blueliner you were hoping for at the deadline for a prospect and a pick? Don't count on it - if the Caps are at $190k below the cap at the deadline, they'll only be able to afford about nine days of a player at that salary.
Which brings us to King Karl. To make it easy, let's assume the Caps stay where they are vis a vis the cap and team health, and that they're going to send down Tyler Sloan to make room for Alzner and that they're willing to bump right up against the cap (which is unrealistic because of injuries, as noted before). The earliest it could possibly happen? March 13, give or take a day.
Like I said, these are your 2008-09 Caps - hope you like 'em.
Elsewhere 'Round the Rinks:
If you didn't catch this story on former Caps prospect Robert Mueller yesterday, make sure to now.... At least the Caps made Ryan Getzlaf's day suck a little more back in 2003 (and look - an article about that 2003 Entry Draft that mentions Eric Fehr, though not in the context of "impact players").... Somehow Alex Semin is losing All-Star votes. You can't pin this one on Sarah Palin, elitist liberal media!... A couple of power rankings from yesterday, where the Caps are up two to seventh at CBSSports.com and up three to sixth at The Hockey News (where they refer to Jose Theodore as either an emergency contraceptive pill or a Huey Lewis & The News album - and I'm not sure which is worse).... Wait, I thought it was Ovechkin, not Nicklas Backstrom, who folks thought resembled the Geico caveman.... Thanks to sk8 for passing along this article on John Erskine.... Want to know how Ben Clymer ended up in Minsk? I mean, other than by being a sub-NHL caliber hockey player? He's happy to tell you.... Finally, for the fan who needs all of his (or her) Carrie Milbank pictures in one place, there's this (thanks, Phil, from all of us).
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This is the biggest macro-story in Caps-land right now, full of implications for 17 and 92, the trade deadline, Alzner and more. It explains so much.
by Tyler on Nov 18, 2008 7:22 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
by Anonymous on Nov 18, 2008 7:47 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
I have wondered if things got so tight if the Caps might not resort to sending a guy down as a "paper transaction" on off days and recalling him for game days. I assume that if they were sent down, they would be unable to skate with the team since they were technically in Hershey even if they didn't actually travel down there.
by Sombrero Guy on Nov 18, 2008 8:01 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
by Sombrero Guy on Nov 18, 2008 8:06 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
I guess that means the pressure is really on everyone on this lineup to produce, especially with all the minor injuries we've seen so far this year. We just don't have any room to wiggle and no room for mediocre performances.
There've been enough rumors and enough chatter over the past several months to make me think that there's a good chance that the Caps are at least passively shopping Nylander. They can't do much of anything actively because of the NTC, but just because they're on a diet doesn't meean they can't look at the menu. I can't say that I have an especially informed or experienced opinion on the wisdom of shopping him, but I can see pros and cons of such a trade, and I'm not counting such a possibility out.
That said, who might be up on the trading block, given this? Who could we trade that isn't essential to the team that might give us a good chunk of change to work with? By essential, I mean "can't do without", not "brings something to the table".
by this space for rent on Nov 18, 2008 8:24 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
and they should redo the voting for the All-Star game.
by NS on Nov 18, 2008 8:25 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
If Fehr can establish himself, I think you might as well pack the bags for one of those two veteran RWs.
by JP on Nov 18, 2008 8:29 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Is the cap really $59.2? I always thought it was around $56 million.
by b.orr4 on Nov 18, 2008 8:34 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
I'm assuming that is the IR but how long do you have to be hurt to be on the IR?
by Scott on Nov 18, 2008 8:36 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
by JP on Nov 18, 2008 8:55 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
The LTIR exemption allows the team to raise its cap by the amount of the injured players contract. Hence, $56.7 million + $2.5 million (Pothier) = $59.2 Million.
by Joe on Nov 18, 2008 9:00 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
by JP on Nov 18, 2008 9:03 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
JP: Kozlov came to mind, although I admit I like what he does for Ovi. So did Clark, although they obviously can't say so - it's pretty bad when you're shopping your captain, but you're right that he doesn't have much value right now. I still think Nylander might be on the block.
Which brings up an interesting question - if Clark is traded or otherwise leaves the team, who gets the C? Fedorov is a candidate but I doubt he'll be around next year. Laich? Nylander if he's not traded?
by this space for rent on Nov 18, 2008 9:04 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
by b.orr4 on Nov 18, 2008 9:12 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Oh, and I think there's a better chance that Jaromir Jagr captains the Caps next year than Michael Nylander. Nothing about 92 says "C" to me. My guess? Ovie.
And perhaps the main point of this post is to recognize that any potential Nylander trade isn't just a swap of the named players - it also will have to free up cap space to allow a key call-up or another move, in essence making the trade Nylander for Player A plus Karl Alzner, for example.
by JP on Nov 18, 2008 9:15 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
"The LTIR exemption allows the team to raise its cap by the amount of the injured players contract. Hence, $56.7 million + $2.5 million (Pothier) = $59.2 Million."
I was just about to advocate for some kind of forced retirement (the pink slip) for Potsie, to free up space, but this (which I didn't know -- thanks!) tells me that it'd be pointless.
by Anonymous on Nov 18, 2008 9:37 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
by FAUX RUMORS on Nov 18, 2008 9:45 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
by Anonymous on Nov 18, 2008 9:51 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
by Sombrero Guy on Nov 18, 2008 10:02 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
by MacVechkin, fka JR on Nov 18, 2008 10:42 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
I'm late to the party, but as Tyler said in comment #1, Tarik earlier wondered aloud about why there weren't paper transactions involving Sloan, when all he add to do was a little digging.
by pepper on Nov 18, 2008 11:00 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
No. 2.6 million is way, way too much for a guy who's only put up one point in 16 games and is a -4 (plus he only has 13 shots). Given he's the captain, and his trade value would be pretty much zero, I don't see him going anywhere this year. But I could see him sent off or waived in the offseason.
by DMG on Nov 18, 2008 11:23 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Every time a fan thinks about a move, the first thought in their hfboards.com-addled head ought to be, "what is the effect on the cap?"
by The Peerless on Nov 18, 2008 12:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
by b.orr4 on Nov 18, 2008 12:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
My assumption related to Sloan and the AHL paper transactions was that it related to the days counter for when his waiver-exempt status expires (the 30 days on the roster/10 games played rule.) At this point, he has played in 9 games so the next one he plays in will result in Sloan having to clear waivers if sent to the AHL. There are still days remaining on the 30 day counter, but that rule is whichever one is reached first.
And FWIW, some of us knew (and posted elsewhere) about the paper transactions regarding Sloan :)
by sk84fun_dc on Nov 18, 2008 12:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Who isn't exactly factoring in the cap? I think everyone realizes the Caps have hardly any room to work with (unless you are referring to fans of other teams...which is possible). But if you're referring to Caps posters on HF...then you are incorrect.
by strungout on Nov 18, 2008 12:26 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
@ Peerless: Thanks for the lofty praise.
by JP on Nov 18, 2008 12:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I do question whether those moves have anything to do with cap related savings rather than to do with Sloan's waiver-exempt status. It's not clear to me that the Caps gained any cap space with those up and down paper transactions based on the way the LTIR exception works and the fact that the LTIR for Pothier is how the Caps have space to work with related to the cap.
Sidenote, but this is not unique to not announce the paper transactions where the player is not on the roster on the team's off days (no practice, etc.) Simply a paper transaction related to the waiver rule and in some cases, the cap calculations. And when the League calculates payroll, etc.
by sk84fun_dc on Nov 18, 2008 12:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
It's not like the Boudreau is going to sit him out and he demands to be traded, at least I don't see it that way. So why are trade rumors persisting?
by Shaggy on Nov 18, 2008 2:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
by Wiley One on Nov 18, 2008 2:50 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
b) Based on the data from NHL Numbers, I think the paper transactions do mean something with regards to Tyler Sloan. If he's officially on the Hershey roster, his salary for the day shouldn't count towards the Caps cap.
c) I think a lot of people are focusing on forwards to trade, but there are other assets to trade as well. A lot of teams are looking for a puck-moving defenseman and if we could package one of those (Lepisto) with someone like Morrisonn, that's about $1.5M saved from the cap.
by Brian on Nov 18, 2008 3:04 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
That's a good point: both Clark and Nylander suffered serious injuries and it has to take a while to get into the flow of things at NHL speed. I also think Nylander is getting too much criticism. He could be playing better but he is tied for sixth on the team in points (fifth among forwards).
It's not like the Boudreau is going to sit him out and he demands to be traded, at least I don't see it that way. So why are trade rumors persisting?
Because people like to gossip, people don't do their research and there aren't any no trade clauses in video games.
by DMG on Nov 18, 2008 4:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Reading the CBA clauses as it relates to LTIR and cap calculations, the examples show the team spending up to the cap before the LTIR $ kick in, so it is not clear to me how a team has any cap space to be making room on a prorated basis.
Simplistic example - if the team is 500,000 below the cap max and the player on LTIR has a 1.5M cap hit, the first .5M brings the team up to the cap and the team can exceed the cap by 1M.
In other cases, for example early last season, where the team did not exceed the cap and didn't have a player on LTIR, it is true that they were gaining additional cap space due to the prorating based on the days in the season for later in the season.
Given the Caps situation and reading the CBA, I am not clear how they could be gaining additional cap room based on the paper transactions related to Sloan's roster status.
It would be great if someone (hint hint JP) gets clarification from an authority on this topic as it will end the confusion.
OT: As noted above, there is a waiver implication to Sloan's days on the roster. Also, I think the prorated salary for Sloan is a factor as it relates to other issues and calculations (including what counts towards the league paid salaries, off season cap calculations, etc.)
by sk84fun_dc on Nov 18, 2008 4:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
by Chris on Nov 18, 2008 6:36 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Why not for Bouwmeester? He's definitely leaving FLA and FLA has the cap space (I think).
by Chris on Nov 18, 2008 6:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
If you were the Thrashers or the Panthers would you take either of those trades? Kozlov's contract is up after this year, Clark's underperforming and has a not insignificant cap hit and Morrisonn's a second pairing defenseman at best. If you're Atlanta or Florida and you decide to part with your best player you'd have to be getting more than a serviceable stay-at-home defenseman out of the deal for the long term.
Plus, even if Florida or Atlanta were desperate to move those guys, they'd find a better offer somewhere else.
by DMG on Nov 18, 2008 8:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Like I said, it wasn't clear to me they were creating space with the transactions, but these blog entries make it sound like they might be after all.
As I said in an earlier post, getting clarification on this point from a reliable source would be great!
http://ducks.freedomblogging.com/2008/11/17/ducks-play-with-roster-for-cap-purposes/2954/
http://ducks.freedomblogging.com/2008/11/18/bobby-and-bretts-not-so-excellent-adventure/3012/
and back to Sloan's situation: based on the waiver rules, if he plays in his 10th game tomorrow night, he will have to clear waivers to be sent back to the AHL
by sk84fun_dc on Nov 18, 2008 11:37 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Why not for Bouwmeester? He's definitely leaving FLA and FLA has the cap space (I think).
If he's DEFINITELY leaving FLA, I'd hate to say bye to Kozlov, but that trade would definitely work for me. If I'm florida and I KNOW I'm losing that guy, I take whatever I can get, probably. Though we'd just have to hope they haven't actually seen Morrisonn play... ever.
by Hazardous on Nov 18, 2008 11:56 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Bottom line: the Panthers could get a better offer elsewhere
by DMG on Nov 19, 2008 11:07 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington
|
22 | 13 | 5 | 4 | 30 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
19 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 23 |
|
Atlanta
|
18 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 22 |
|
Florida
|
20 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 20 |
|
Carolina
|
21 | 4 | 12 | 5 | 13 |
(updated 11.21.2009 at 8:36 AM EST)
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