Mock Arbitration: Milan Jurcina
by J.P. on Jul 10, 2009 7:00 AM EDT
180 comments
[With Milan Jurcina filing for arbitration earlier in the week (the hearing's set for July 28), we thought it'd be fun to do a little role playing and guess at what that hearing might look like (with some minor procedural liberties taken). Of course, we aren't going to be throwing 40-page presentations at you, so think of it as a thumbnail sketch (we're also going to stick with a one-year deal parameter). J.P. will present the Caps' side, DMG will present the player's side, and Pepper will then issue a ruling. Let us know who's right and who's wrong in the comments.]
Capitals Brief
I. Overview
Milan Jurcina is a borderline NHL-caliber defenseman who shows flashes of being more than that, but, to date, those flashes a few and far between. More often, Jurcina is committing penalties and/or turnovers, often at the most critical times.
Jurcina - who was 11th among Capitals defensemen in average time on ice per game in 2008-09 (and last among Capitals defensemen who played more than 15 games) - took more penalties at five-on-five than all but four NHL defensemen this past season (while playing against weaker competition than any of the three blueliners who finished ahead of him). Moreover, Jurcina's penalties are the type that indicate how poor a skater he is: eight holds, seven hooks, four trips, and four interference minors.
Despite his limited ice time, Jurcina was second among Capitals defensemen in giveaways, had a 2:5 takeaway-to-giveaway ratio, and has had a tendency to make mistakes with the puck over at critical times (for example, his behind-the-back hand pass into the middle of the defensive zone in Game 6 against the Penguins, his last minute gaffe in a tied game in Montreal, his Game 2 giveaway against the Flyers in the 2008 playoffs, etc.).
Jurcina doesn't play the power-play (six seconds per game), hardly kills penalties (last among Capitals defenders who played more than 15 games in average ice time per game shorthanded), and also does not contribute significantly at the offensive end, registering the second-fewest points-per-game of any Capitals defenseman (he has just four goals in his last two full seasons). Further to the point about his lack of offense, it should be noted that five of his 14 career goals were scored in his first 23 NHL games, meaning he has scored just nine goals in his last 252 regular season games, or one every 28 games. With as many goals (four) in his last two full seasons as he had in the previous campaign (and two fewer than he had as a rookie), Jurcina, it would seem, is regressing offensively.
In sum, to call Jurcina one-dimensional would mislead the reader by implying there is an area of his game that is particularly strong.
II. Comparables
Below are some of Milan Jurcina's career statistics, through 2008-09 (age as used herein is the player's age on February 1 of the given season):
And here are some statistics of like-situated (i.e. comparable) defensemen through their "platform" seasons from the previous two seasons:
While Jurcina's offensive numbers compare favorably to the players listed above, as noted in the Overview, those numbers are skewed by the fluky start to his career. Over his last 234 games, Jurcina has averaged 0.15 points per game, placing him in the middle of this pack. However, the favorable comparisons end there for Jurcina, as both Morrisonn and Komisarek were top defensive defensemen for their teams in their platform years, both ranking third in average ice time and second in shorthanded ice time per game for their teams. Jurcina, as detailed above, was not similarly relied upon. For this reason, Morrisonn's $1.975 million and Komisarek's $1.7 million (average annual salary) post-platform salaries are clearly well above what a player like Jurcina can expect to be paid.
Exelby's role on the Thrashers was more similar to Jurcina's (though Exelby was a top-four defenseman for the Division-winning Thrashers in both average ice time overall and shorthanded), but Exelby also provided a certain measure of protection to his teammates, having engaged in 11 fights at the NHL level through his platform year. Jurcina, on the other hand, has never received a fighting major in an NHL regular or post-season game. Exelby's platform season and career to that point earned him a $1.39 million (average annual salary) contract, but given his role and the minutes played, he was (and remains) a more valuable player than Jurcina.
III. Summary
Milan Jurcina is a third-pairing National Hockey League defenseman... at best. His lack of discipline, skating ability and skill limit him to that role, and until he demonstrates that he can be adequately handle more than the minimal ice time he has thus far received throughout his career, he simply cannot reasonably command a salary in line with players on whom coaches and teammates rely in key game situations.
Jurcina has been durable throughout his career, and perhaps is fairly due a raise over the $912,500 he made in 2008-09. A ten percent increase is more than fair given what Jurcina brings to the Washington Capitals. The Capitals offer $1,003,750.00.
***
Jurcina's Brief
I. Intro
The skill set Milan Jurcina brought to the Washington Capitals in the 2008-09 season is one that is often under-appreciated because, although Jurcina is not among the league's foremost producers in terms of points and does not posses the kind of blazing speed that makes casual fans take notice, he successfully performs the duties of a National Hockey League defenseman by preventing his opponents from scoring and contributing towards a positive goal differential for his team when he's on the ice.
In his own end Jurcina stymies opposition's attacking efforts; of the seven defensemen who played more than thirty games for this season only one (John Erskine) had goals scored against his less often than Jurcina, and he played against significantly weaker competition. Jurcina also had a net positive impact on his team's five-on-five goal differential this season, outperforming 58% of NHL defensemen in that regard.
Jurcina's ideal frame and style of play also help to make his teammates better. Jurcina led all Capitals defensemen in hits, contributing to fatigue and intimidation of opponents, and in blocked shots, preventing scoring opportunities and allowing his goaltenders to conserve their energy for other situations. Additionally Jurcina's shot, which is acknowledged to be the hardest on the team, means that opponents have to be aware of his presence at the point, providing space for attacking players on his team.
Jurcina may not draw the attention and admiration of flashier players, but his contributions to the team and his style of play's residual impact on his teammates cannot be overlooked when considering the issue of fair compensation.
II. Comparables
We present to the arbiter six examples of comparable players who signed contracts after either the 2006-07 or 2007-08 season, although it is important to note that the raw numbers of Jurcina's offensive productive are deceptively low. Jurcina played this past season with the Washington Capitals, a team that scored the third most goals among all NHL teams, was second in powerplay conversion percentage, and was arguably the most offensively talent team in the league. This incredible depth of talent pushed Jurcina into a role where his production was unable to reflect his quality as a player and where he was stuck with relatively low quality teammates, and we thus ask the arbiter to keep in mind that while Jurcina's raw numbers are comparable to the players listed below, he has achieved those numbers without as much playing time.
Basic Statistics, Platform Year
Additional Statistics, Platform Year
Career Statistics through platform year
III. Summary
Milan Jucina provides his team with the skill, dependability, and durability of a strong second pairing defenseman. His talents extend beyond the defensive zone to include his high-quality shot and extend beyond simply stopping opposition attacks, his noticeable physical presence making the roles of his teammates easier - even when he's not on the ice. Such a talent is a rare and valuable commodity, a fact which is supported by the contracts of players comparable to Jurcina in career- and season-long performance.
We believe a salary of $2,450,000 to be fair and equitable to both the player and the team.
***
Ruling
IN THE MATTER OF A SALARY ARBITRATION CONDUCTED PURSUANT
TO ARTICLE 12 OF THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT BETWEEN:
MILAN JURCINA AS A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE PLAYERS’ ASSOCIATION
hereinafter referred to as the "Player"
AND
THE WASHINGTON CAPITALS, A MEMBER CLUB OF THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
hereinafter referred to as the "Club"
Before: Stephen Pepper, Arbitrator
Appearances:
For the Player: DMG
For the Club: J.P.
Hearing: New York, July 10, 2009
I.
This is a matter of an arbitration involving Milan Jurcina and the Washington Capitals pursuant to Article 12 of the collective bargaining agreement between the NHL and the NHLPA.
The Player signed a 2-year contract after the 2006-07 season and ending with the 2008-09 season. He earned a salary of $912,500 for the 2008-09 season. At the election of the Player, this award is to determine the Player’s remuneration for the 2009-10 season. The Player is requesting a salary of $2,450,000; the Club is offering $1,003,750.
II.
The Player is a 25 year old, 6’4", 233 pound defenseman with the Club. During the 2008-09 platform year, he played defense on the second and third pairings of the Club, and primarily, due to injury to a teammate, on the second pairing of the Club during its participation in the 2008-09 NHL playoffs. The Player was drafted in the eighth round of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft by the Boston Bruins, and made his NHL debut with the Bruins in 2005-06. He played for Boston until roughly the mid-point of the 2006-07 season, when he was traded, on February 1, 2007, to the Club in exchange for the Club's fourth round selection in the 2008 NHL Draft.
The relevant statistics of this 4-year NHL veteran are provided above, and I further provide here his relevant career playoff statistics:
The Player's brief describes Jurcina as successfully performing what is the principal duty of a NHL defenseman: "preventing his opponents from scoring and contributing towards a positive goal differential for his team when he's on the ice." Further to that point, the Player's GAON/60 at even-strength was the second-lowest amongst all Capitals defensemen, and his GF/GA differential was better than 58% of all NHL defensemen.
Additionally, the Player is characterized as a bruising blueliner who uses his massive frame to wear down opponents. To that end, he registered the most hits of any Club defenseman, and the 22nd most of any NHL defenseman, and it is stated that "his style of play's residual impact cannot be overlooked."
Finally, according to the Player, his negligible offensive output is mitigated by the fact that the Club was one of the most offensively prolific in the NHL in his platform season, and that this fact relegated him to fewer minutes and limited his ability to operate as a two-way defenseman.
The Club's brief describes the Player as primarily a third pair defenseman who does not play on special teams, played, overall, the fewest minutes per game in his platform season of any Club defenseman who played in more than 15 games, and against relatively weak competition when compared to his teammates.
The Player is also characterized as a slow, plodding skater who commits frequent obstruction penalties which betray his skating deficiencies and, worse, as a blueliner who has developed a reputation of committing major errors in judgment at critical junctures of a contest.
Finally, the Club's brief emphasizes that the Player's offensive output is wholly inadequate in light of his potential and, in fact, is regressing.
III.
In the search for comparables, the Player discounts, if not completely ignores, offensive output, in favor of "additional statistics" which primarily demonstrate his hard-hitting style of play. Most salient of these statistics are: GAON/60; GF/GA differential, hits, and blocked shots. The Player points out that even his modest raw numbers on offense were produced in fewer minutes on ice than of the comparables presented.
The Club focuses on comparables whose "basic" statistics are in line with the Player's numbers, and suggests that even the three comparables presented are perhaps "not so comparable" in that each of them played more minutes than did the Player, and that two of the three were top pair defensemen in their respective platform years.
It is noteworthy that Player presents six comparables and the Club merely three and, among them, we find two in common: Mike Komisarek and Shaone Morrisonn.
IV.
I am generally satisfied with the methods used to generate comparables, and find all but one of these seven unique players should be submitted as comparables.
I reject the inclusion of Anton Volchenkov for the combination of all of the following: during the respective platform years, (i) he averaged over a minute more in TOI/G than did the Player, (ii) he averaged 4.11 TOI/G on the penalty kill, while the Player averaged 0.93 TOI/G shorthanded; (iii) he blocked 116 more shots than did the Player, and 122 more than any other comparable; (iv) his +/- rating was third in the entire league (though second-best on his own team) and his GF/GA differential was the leader amongst all presented comparables, and over 1000% better than the Player's differential; and (v) he faced a significantly higher quality of competition than did the Player.
Trevor Daley matches favorably with the Player in terms of offensive output during their platform years, both during the regular season and playoffs, and faced a similar quality of competition. Similar to the Player, Daley's TOI/G was 5th most amongst defensemen on his team both during the regular season and playoffs. However, he registered far fewer hits and blocked shots than did the Player, and his GF/GA differential was far worse.
Tim Gleason tallied a similar total of hits and blocked shots as well as offensive output, but faced slightly better competition. He was tied for third in TOI/G amongst defensemen, for a non-playoff team.
Garnet Exelby presents a favorable comparison to the Player, in offensive production and TOI/G relative to this defense mates. He also registered a similar number of hits (146) to the Player (157), but with the added toughness benefit of two fighting majors in his platform year to the Player's zero.
The remaining comparables, Shaone Morrisonn, Barret Jackman, and Mike Komisarek, have all faced a higher quality of competition, to varying degrees, and played far more significant roles for their respective teams.
Finally, three general points should be made. First, the Club noted that the Player was not much relied upon to kill penalties. Significant is the fact that all six comparables killed penalties to some degree, ranging from 2.17 TOI/G (Exelby) to 3.36 TOI/G (Morrisonn) on the PK in their respective platform years. The Player had less than a minute per game on the PK during the 2008-09 season. This lack of versatility, especially given that the Club was short-handed the third most times in the NHL last season, stands out.
Second, the Player points out that the quality of the team on ice with him was rated far lower than that of all of the comparables he presents, thereby demonstrating some ability to perform similar to his comparables in more demanding situations.
Third, the Player committed about the same average number of minor penalties per game as did Exelby, Jackman, and Morrisonn, and fewer than did Komisarek, in their respective platform years. While perhaps some players' mistakes are more memorable than others, statistics do not appear to bear out that the Player commits minor penalties more frequently than do his peers.
In reviewing the above, I find Morrisonn, Jackman, Komisarek, and Gleason to be superior to, and play more significant roles on their respective teams than, the Player, Daley to be somewhat inferior to the Player, and Exelby to be most comparable in their respective platform seasons. The lowest paid player of the "superior" group is Komisarek at $1,700,000. However, Daley earned the second-highest contract of all comparables at $2,300,000, while Exelby earned $1,390,000. Given the sizable discrepancy between those latter two figures, I determine that the Player's salary should be set at a mid-point between that of Komisarek on the one part, and Exelby on the other part.
AWARD
Milan Jurcina is to receive a salary of $1,545,000 for the 2009-10 contract season.
NEW YORK, this 10th day of July 2009.
STEPHEN PEPPER
ARBITRATOR
8 recs |
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Comments
Nicely done. But where was this guy?
by Bald Pollack on Jul 10, 2009 7:27 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Pollack you magnificent bastard
I was about to post the following:
“Mock Trial: with J.P. Reinhold!”
by D'ohboy on Jul 10, 2009 7:28 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Rec’d for the Arrested Development love
by JustJeff on Jul 22, 2009 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Riveting stuff. I was on the edge of my bed reading it. I predict $1.4M.
by JSchon on Jul 10, 2009 7:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
JSchon, I liked the arbitration hearing that you posted to Caps Insider better:
Ok… Arbitration hearing…
Jurcina: Hello, I want a raise.
Arbitrator: Why do you think you deserve one?
Jurcina: Erskine.
Arbitrator: Thats a very strong case.
Capitals: Ahem, your arbitratorship?
Arbitrator: Shut it. Ruling Jurcina $1.4M.
Sublime.
by Your Nation's Capital on Jul 10, 2009 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, that’s great, except that Erskine’s contract – whether he’ll make $475,000, $4,750,000 or anywhere in between – is 100% irrelevant to Juice’s arbitration case.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jul 10, 2009 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I am not very intelligent, I only play intelligent on TV
by JSchon on Jul 11, 2009 7:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It also was more of a jab at Erskine than anything else… 3yr $3.75M contract was the lottery for Erskine.
by JSchon on Jul 11, 2009 7:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Too bad his contract was only two years then.
by brs03 on Jul 11, 2009 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Indeed.
Also, it’s hard to find many UFA defensemen around the NHL who can give you what Erskine can at less than $1.25m/year. His deal, imo, is fair, maybe a little high, but certainly not “lottery.”
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jul 11, 2009 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
“We” got jobbed. Dude’s barely a 3rd-pairing D and he got $1.5m? For what, durability and potential?
“We” are considering walking away from this decision…
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jul 10, 2009 7:46 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
How did you guys figure out who would take what position? Are those your actual positions on Juice with Pepper being indifferent?
by JSchon on Jul 10, 2009 7:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t think I’m as anti-Juice as my “brief” would indicate, nor do I think DMG is as pro-Juice as his would.
And I don’t think Pepper is indifferent, he’s just a brilliant jurist who can separate out any personal feelings to make a judgment based on the evidence provided.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jul 10, 2009 8:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t think I’m as anti-Juice as my "brief" would indicate, nor do I think DMG is as pro-Juice as his would.
Yeah, there’s no way in hell I think Juice in anywhere near as valuable as Volchenkov, Daley, or Komisarek. The only guy listed here I think he actually compared with is Excelby (I think Juice is better, actually).
by David M. Getz on Jul 10, 2009 8:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I know Stephen Pepper, Stephen Pepper is a friend of mine, but I’m not sure Stephen Pepper and “brilliant jurist” should be in the same sentence. ;)
Nice work and interesting read. $1.5 may be walk worthy. With Alzner presumably coming up the Caps currently have 8 defensemen, unless they find a trading partner.
by freakinandpeakin on Jul 10, 2009 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
that’s 7 defenseman and one “borderline NHL-caliber defenseman who shows flashes of being more than that.”
Russian Machine Never Breaks
by macvechkin on Jul 10, 2009 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
"We" got jobbed. Dude’s barely a 3rd-pairing D and he got $1.5m? For what, durability and potential?
Sounds like last year’s arb hearing, but with less Slovak.
On the flip side, it would only be for a year (unless I missed the terms).
by Bald Pollack on Jul 10, 2009 7:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Juice is considering walking away after this opening salvo
Milan Jurcina is a borderline NHL-caliber defenseman
.
Russian Machine Never Breaks
by macvechkin on Jul 10, 2009 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Good thing he’s considering walking and not skating, as he’s probably better at it. Zing!
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jul 10, 2009 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Mr. Jurcina, Mr. Phee…your mediator is waiting:
Russian Machine Never Breaks
by macvechkin on Jul 10, 2009 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I agree with this sentiment.
oh, and hello from a train somewhere in Conneticut. SB Nation now allows mobile commenting, in case you weren’t aware.
I have as many wins in a Capitals uniform as Michael Belhumeur does.
by marky narc on Jul 10, 2009 11:39 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe Tampa could use him, or NYI.
by red army line on Jul 10, 2009 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
seems like a good mark for Juice, though a little higher than the 1.3M I think he will get….
from the house that Red Jesus built
by bigonetimer on Jul 10, 2009 7:54 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Throwing that number at capgeek.com...
I made a few assumptions based on what we’d likely expect to see, but …. (ignore the lines, they’re auto-generated and silly)
AUTO-GENERATED CAPGEEK.COM LINES
FORWARDS
Alexander Ovechkin ($9.5m) / Michael Nylander ($4.9m) / Alexander Semin ($4.6m)
Mike Knuble ($2.8m) / Chris Clark ($2.6m) / Nicklas Backstrom ($2.4m)
Brooks Laich ($2.1m) / Matt Bradley ($1.0m) / * Eric Fehr ($0.7m)
Tomas Fleischmann ($0.7m) / Dave Steckel ($0.7m) / * Boyd Gordon ($0.7m)
- Chris Bourque ($0.6m) / Keith Aucoin ($0.5m)
DEFENSEMEN
Mike Green ($5.2m) / Tom Poti ($3.5m)
Brian Pothier ($2.5m) / * Shaone Morrisonn ($2.0m) - Milan Jurcina ($1.5m) / John Erskine ($1.2m)
- Jeff Schultz ($0.8m)
GOALTENDERS
Jose Theodore ($4.5m) / Simeon Varlamov ($0.8m)
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS
ROSTER: 23; PAYROLL: $56.299m; CAP ROOM: $2.151m BONUSES: $1.650m
The numbers kinda work – if we get a bonus cushion this year (do we?)
But … is it worth keeping Alzner down in Hershey another year because of a crowded blueline? I’m assuming in this that we can’t get rid of ShaMo somehow.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Jul 10, 2009 8:01 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think the lines are ordered in terms of cap hit
Also, the fact that Nylander has the second-highest cap hit on the team is just…
ZING! ZANG! ZUNG!
by crabchowdah on Jul 10, 2009 8:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I know :) They’re still silly :)
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Jul 10, 2009 8:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Geez, let him walk and go try to sign Dennis Seidenberg, who likely can be had for less than the $2.45 request. Even if they don’t sign another player, if Alzner can play those minutes (or Pothier, who missed almost the whole season), the Caps have saved quite a bit of money.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Jul 10, 2009 8:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
…but I want to say, too. Great job on the “mock.”
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Jul 10, 2009 8:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks, P. It was actually a heck of an effort – finding comparables ain’t as easy as one would think.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jul 10, 2009 8:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The only concern I have with letting Jurcina walk is, can Alzner or Carlson or whoever effectively replace Jurcina’s physical game? Physical game isn’t something we’re exactly drowning in on this team, and Jurcina’s got a pretty good one when he chooses to use it.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Jul 10, 2009 8:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Who. Cares.
If they can prevent pucks from entering the net as well or better than Jurcina could, who gives a toss if they’re not physical?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jul 10, 2009 8:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Fair enough, but can they, especially in a playoff situation?
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Jul 10, 2009 8:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, presumably there’s a reason they were first round picks, and it wasn’t their respective offensive abilities. There’s no reason in my mind to doubt that either one of them can’t be a better defenseman than Milan Jurcina real soon.
More to the point, the physicality that Jurcina brings isn’t going to win or lose any playoff series. Ever.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jul 10, 2009 8:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sasha Pokulok.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Jul 10, 2009 8:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, I don’t see him replacing Juice’s physicality on the blue line any time soon….
;-)
by David M. Getz on Jul 10, 2009 8:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
My point :) First round pick &neq; readiness.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Jul 10, 2009 9:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Carlson will lay an opportunistic hit, like Green does. Alzner has that reputation too, though we didn’t see it in the NHL last year
by Gould Old Days on Jul 10, 2009 9:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
What about him? Have Alzner and/or Carlson had similar health issues? Was either drafted before the “new” NHL?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jul 10, 2009 8:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Just because they’re a first round pick does not necessarily mean that they’re ready to replace Jurcina on the blueline :) They may be, but the fact that they’re first round picks doesn’t necessarily make them so.
Jurcina does bring a physical game to the table. If you’re okay without that, then by all means bring Alzner / Carlson/whoever up and let Jurcina walk. As I’ve said many times, I’ll go with what works.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Jul 10, 2009 9:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m not 100% sure that Alzner (and certainly Carlson) are better than Juice and that they can replace him right now. But physicality has nothing to do with it – it’s an overall package.
But don’t forget that even without Juice, there’s 2, 3, 4, 26 (perhaps), 52 and 55 on the roster before we even get to the kids.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jul 10, 2009 9:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Liklihood of ShaMo waiting until the results of Jurcina’s abritration before signing a contract? If the Caps were to let Juice go because of the award, that could open up a few extra bucks for him. Also, if Juice signs before the hearing, it could affect the negotiations.
by gfcaps fan on Jul 10, 2009 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Morrisonn really doesn’t have any bargaining power right now, though. Either he signs the contract the Capitals offer him (which will be the minimum they can to retain him, $1,975,000) or he holds out/theoretically signs a contract in another league.
by David M. Getz on Jul 10, 2009 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
don’t QO’s have to be accepted by the 15th? And if he doesn’t, don’t the Caps then have the option to try and sign him at a reduced rate?
by RedBirdie on Jul 10, 2009 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
All the more reason for him to re-up now…
by David M. Getz on Jul 10, 2009 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
does it seem curious that NONE of the Caps’ RFA have signed?
by RedBirdie on Jul 10, 2009 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not really. They might be negotiating longer deals.
by David M. Getz on Jul 10, 2009 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah. The way the system is set up, there’s really no reason to sign before July 15. And you might be able to work out something better for both player and team.
by Gould Old Days on Jul 10, 2009 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Didn’t say he’d be worth it. Just that if you’re strategizing, it’s a thought. Although he’d also run the risk of being offered less, I guess.
by gfcaps fan on Jul 10, 2009 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow. That second sentence is like a triple negative. Yikes. But you know what I mean.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jul 10, 2009 8:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Here’s a way to think about this… find a calendar. Count the days in a season. If Alzner plays Jurcina’s minutes, the Caps save on the cap the differential in each of those days leading up to the trading deadline (since the cap is basically a daily computation matter). At the deadline, presumably, the Caps could pick up the remainder of a contract on a bruiser defenseman (if need be) at a fraction of the cap hit and have him for the playoffs.
As far as I’m concerned, I’m more concerned about what this team looks like on April 1st rather than on October 1st, because this year, only the spring matters.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Jul 10, 2009 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
although Alzner’s cap hit is bigger than the “settlement” here, so there is the matter of who — and at what cost — picks up the bottom part of the defenseman roster.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Jul 10, 2009 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Alzner’s contract is also bonus-heavy if I remember correctly. Anyone know how to find out how likely it is that Alzner hits his bonus numbers?
The salary cap effectively went up this year by the amount of bonus money that isn’t going to get paid, since there was no bonus cushion last year.
by Gould Old Days on Jul 10, 2009 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jeff Schultz, eat your heart out.
by :hsughrofl: on Jul 10, 2009 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think the likelihood of an unfavorable award in arbitration should keep GMGM busy trying to move him between now and then. Can’t let an asset walk for nothing.
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by J.P. on Jul 10, 2009 8:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Does a pending arbitration make him more difficult to move?
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Jul 10, 2009 8:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not necessarily – the logic would be that the acquiring team would work out a deal and avoid arb.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jul 10, 2009 8:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Already asked below, but this seems like a better spot for the question….If the caps accept the arbitrators decision, are they still free to trade him after that? Or is the arbitration award similar to matching an RFA offer sheet, where the team is compelled to keep the player on roster for given period of time?
by GusDaMan on Jul 10, 2009 9:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
They can move him at any time, as far as I know.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jul 10, 2009 9:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If the caps accept the arbitors decision, are they still free to trade him after that? Or is the arbitration award similar to matching an RFA offer sheet, where the team is compelled to keep the player on roster for given period of time? If they are still free to trade him, I can’t imagine GMGM walking away from any award under 1.7…he’ll want to get at least “some” return I would think, even if it’s only like a 5th round pick or something.
by GusDaMan on Jul 10, 2009 9:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’ve been thinking the same thing. Aren’t we deep enough to let the guy walk and save the money?
by mechanicsville on Jul 10, 2009 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sure, but why let that asset go for nothing unless you have a concrete plan for something to do with that money.
by David M. Getz on Jul 10, 2009 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I suppose I was thinking that we might have a concrete idea come Feb 2010 and that it would be nice to have some more $ available.
by mechanicsville on Jul 10, 2009 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It’d still be nice to get a pick or something rather than let an asset that you at least partially developed walk out the door for nada.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jul 10, 2009 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That makes sense. So, sign him, then trade him. It doesn’t seem to me that we’ll suffer from the loss of 23 from the roster.
by mechanicsville on Jul 10, 2009 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sure, but you’re losing an asset you have in order to potentially make it easier to acquire an asset that may or may not be available, that you may or may not be willing to pay for down the road, and that may or may not be needed dependent upon how the team performs. That’s a little bit of a gamble.
by David M. Getz on Jul 10, 2009 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He’ll get more than 1.5. Arb favors the player, as there are plenty of “mistake” signings out there to point to as comparables.
Going to arb with Juice would be a mistake, for that reason.
I’d let him walk.
by fat_daddyo on Jul 10, 2009 8:41 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Most of the “mistake” signings are totally inapplicable and irrelevant, as they’re mostly UFA signings (evidence of which can’t be used in arbitration).
All of the comparables DMG used played more minutes and more important roles than Juice has. I don’t doubt Pepper’s award number, but I could earily see it coming in under.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jul 10, 2009 8:44 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Go to arbitration isn’t a mistake since the team can always walk away after the decision in rendered.
Still, I’d like to see the team try and move him now that it looks like Mo is going to take his QO.
by David M. Getz on Jul 10, 2009 8:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
(Caveat: this applies to player-elected arb only – the team can’t walk away when they’ve taken the player to arb, if I’m not mistaken.)
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by J.P. on Jul 10, 2009 8:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And there’s also a minimum salary from which they can walk away. Anything under 1.5ish (I think that’s the number for this season) and the team is locked in.
by brs03 on Jul 10, 2009 9:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I thought club-elected arb could be used to determine salary for the coming year and could be walked away from, but like you, I could be wrong.
"Yes, It is a 'Beautiful Game.' It's because we see something meaningful that we hope to someday, somehow, see in ourselves."
by Bald Pollack on Jul 10, 2009 9:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Interesting. Thought it was binding arb, but I stand corrected. If they can “let him walk” after arb, then there’s no downside to going through the process, other than transaction costs.
Will agree with you about trading him, on the theory (as noted above) that even a negligible asset is still an asset that ought to realize a return.
by fat_daddyo on Jul 10, 2009 9:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed DMG. And if Juice gets an arb. award in the neighborhood of $1.5m, I’d be much happier if the team let him walk/traded him and put that money towards Mo.
by grapejoos on Jul 10, 2009 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed totally. I’d rather have Mo at $2m than Juice at $1.5m any day.
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by J.P. on Jul 10, 2009 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
How would that work (excuse my ignorance)? Sign him after arbitration and then try to trade him?
by mechanicsville on Jul 10, 2009 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Juice seemed to play with so much confidence with the right defensive pairing last season. When partnered with Alzner and Fedorov for those brief times he looked like a completely different player.
by JSchon on Jul 10, 2009 9:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think it’s kind of hard to say whether that was because of who he was paired with or just that he happened to be with those guys while he was playing well. Juice has been inconsistent and shown flashes of real quality a number of times but he’s never pulled it all together for an extended period.
by David M. Getz on Jul 10, 2009 9:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Good job all around. The $1.5 number seems reasonable based on comparables from past seasons. However, I have to wonder that with the economic landscape having changed so drastically from last summer to this summer if arbitrators will not factor that into their decisions. Realistically, if business portfolios have shrunk on-average by 30-40%, NHL revenues are projected to fall 10-20% and a glut of more qualified FA defenseman are sitting unsigned, why should a player with marginal talent get a 50% raise? I don’t know if those factors are even considered by an arbitrator, but does it make sense to operate in a vacuum and ignore the current economic realities when rendering a decision? Stars will always get paid, but it’s the journeymen like Jurcina who often suffer. Should be interesting if this ever does get to an arbitrator.
by b.orr4 on Jul 10, 2009 9:07 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I don’t know about the arbitrator but I know the sides are expressly barred from mentioning either “The financial condition of the Club or the League” and “References to a Club’s Upper or Lower Limit, or to the Players’ Share”.
by David M. Getz on Jul 10, 2009 9:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
OK. That makes sense, sorta. But you have to wonder what the benefit is to the player if an arbitrator issues an award that economically is no longer feasible to the club. It’s like my going to my boss and saying I’ve been real productive and last year you gave Sally a big raise and I’m just as good as she is, so give me the same money. And the boss looks at me and says “Are you an idiot? Business is down 30% and you’re a mid-level manager and you want a big raise? I’ll just fire your ass and hire someone younger for less money.” If Juice gets a big award, I wouldn’t be surprised if McPhee reacts the same way.
by b.orr4 on Jul 10, 2009 9:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Given that...
I think that Juice, earned or not, is likely to get around $1.4M or $1.5M out of the arb process. I’d guess the Caps have thought of this.
So given that likelihood, should the Caps sign him to a two- or three-year deal at something approaching that cap hit? That would get the Caps (or, more likely, someone else) cap certainty and might make 23 a more attractive trade commodity. It’s pretty hard to trade guys without some cap certainty-attached in today’s - and especially 2010-2011’s - NHL.
by TylerG on Jul 10, 2009 9:14 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I did not intend to strikethru that. Not sure what happened there.
by TylerG on Jul 10, 2009 9:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If the team isn’t prepared to pay him more than that general figure (and they’re ready to walk away if he gets it) and they believe the award would be that number or higher, it shouldn’t be tough to get him signed to that amount for better term.
Just tell him "if the award is more than that number we’re walking away, but we’ll sign you to this deal right now if you give us an extra year or two.
If that’s what GMGM wants it shouldn’t be too tough to get done. Jurcina has no incentive to go to arbitration if he knows the team is going to walk away from a high award, unless his intention really is to become a UFA.
by brs03 on Jul 10, 2009 9:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes, that walk-away factor is why I raise the question, in part: It gives the team a threat, leverage…
by TylerG on Jul 10, 2009 9:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yep. Of course GMGM has to be willing to do it, and has to believe it’s a likely outcome, but I’m guessing both of those are somewhat reasonable assumptions at this point.
by brs03 on Jul 10, 2009 9:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Fantastic job all around gentlemen. I think the team brief was more harsh than the real thing would be; the player’s brief was more aggressive than the real thing will be (and I think Juice’s number will be lower); and the whole thing was perfect for this forum.
Before this Juice was slotted in at 1.2 or 1.3 in my mind, but now I’m not sure of that at all. I could see him anywhere between 1.1 and 1.7, with the higher end more likely.
by Gould Old Days on Jul 10, 2009 9:17 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Team briefs are usually quite harsh actually. Have you read Mirtle’s report on Mo’s hearing last year? There are also some quotes on Avery’s arbitration a few years ago that convey a similar sense. GM’s don’t pull any punches, they do everything they can to bring that award down.
by brs03 on Jul 10, 2009 9:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Any chance you’ve still got a link to that Mirtle article? I’d be interested to see it.
by Murshawursha on Jul 10, 2009 9:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I can’t find the article itself at the moment, but here’s where Mirtle talked about it on his blog, including a pull quote.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jul 10, 2009 10:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks… I found Avery’s if anyone happens to be interested. And how Larry Brooks can manahe to take himself seriously is a source of constant wonder to me.
by Murshawursha on Jul 10, 2009 10:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
According to arbitration documents obtained by The Globe and Mail, the Capitals offered several less than flattering assessments of Morrisonn, a stay-at-home defenceman who was fourth on the team in ice time last season. Calling him “one-dimensional,” Washington argued that Morrisonn received substantial playing time in 2005-06 and 2006-07 on a weak team as a result of being “at the right place at the right time.”
by David M. Getz on Jul 10, 2009 10:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Snap.
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by J.P. on Jul 10, 2009 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Aces. Wonder if that had any bearing on his decision not to do it again this year,
by Murshawursha on Jul 10, 2009 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’d think so. That and the reality that he had a bad year.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jul 10, 2009 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
didn’t Mo go to arbitration in 2007 and 2008? I can’t imagine doing it three years in a row. I’d think one would need years of intensive therapy after hearing your own team try and tear you apart that many times.
by RedBirdie on Jul 10, 2009 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yup. The club is deep enough at defense to walk away without blinking.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Jul 10, 2009 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thx, and I probably was a little harsh, but I had to have some fun with it (the “one-dimensional” line was an allusion to the Mo arbitration).
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jul 10, 2009 10:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I meant mainly that the team briefs aren’t uniformly harsh — they also say some nice things about the player. I think JP captured the essence of the harsh sections of those briefs, which is the part that we all care about because we’re interested in the points of disagreement, not on what the player and team agree on. In other words, given the space constraints of this forum, you guys hit it just perfectly.
by Gould Old Days on Jul 10, 2009 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thx.
FYI, each side is limited to 40 pages for their brief. If it was, y’know, my real job, I could write 40 pages on why Juice is worth less than $1.5m.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jul 10, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
40 pages? What do they do, a game-by-game breakdown of his entire career or something?
by Murshawursha on Jul 10, 2009 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Four words for you: Milan Jurcina centerfold pictorial
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by J.P. on Jul 10, 2009 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This was a fun exercise. I know it took a lot of hard work, and you have my thanks.
Has anyone forwarded this to GMGM yet?
by Your Nation's Capital on Jul 10, 2009 9:31 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
DMG, have you offered your services as a consultant to Juice’s agent?
by Gould Old Days on Jul 10, 2009 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
you guys have outdone yourselves. brilliant post. rec’d!
by Natty Bumppo on Jul 10, 2009 9:40 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Thx
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jul 10, 2009 9:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nyls
This was so much fun, I’m half wishing we had more guys going to arbitration. Just for giggles, you should do a mock case on Nylander. I’d love to see what the comps would be for him.
by b.orr4 on Jul 10, 2009 9:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The team submits the following comparable:
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jul 10, 2009 10:06 AM EDT up reply actions 6 recs
but how well does she skate in circles? All I’m seeing is some lovely single legged straight line skating!
by RedBirdie on Jul 10, 2009 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Surely, you’re not advocating someone pull a Jeff Gillooly?
by b.orr4 on Jul 10, 2009 10:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
or maybe the little bash brother, ken wu?
by Natty Bumppo on Jul 10, 2009 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Based on the hair, I’m thinking…
…Flesichmann?
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Jul 10, 2009 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Who, me?
Russian Machine Never Breaks
by macvechkin on Jul 10, 2009 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That’s mean. But very, very funny. Rec’d.
by gfcaps fan on Jul 10, 2009 1:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Great job guys.
I have to say, I think we should bring in Tyler Sloan to replace Jurcina and let Jurcina walk. I’d love to get an asset for him (hell, if we can get a 5th rounder for Lepisto, we ought to be able to get at least a 6th rounder for Jurcina ;-) ).
Jurcina played the fewest minutes and made the most mistakes. He plays hard, sure, but not smart, and he’s not fast enough to be able to make up for that. And what a great booming shot! 14 points tells me it’s worthless because he doesn’t use it enough.
I wouldn’t re-sign him for any amount, and if I’m McPhee, I’m busting my hump right now trying to move him.
I’d rather have Mo than Juice, even if he is a little more costly, because Mo actually plays.
So, per JP, we have Schultz, Poti, Pothier, Erskine, Green on the roster now, plus Juice and Mo potentially coming back. Alzner has got to be in the plans for this year, meaning one of those two has to go. I think Carlson will replace Pothier after this year and will see 30-35 games this year if we can call him up, but I don’t think he makes the roster out of camp.
I think Sloan could effectively replace Jurcina anyway, if we want, and for much less money, and I’d rather have Alzner up than either Mo or Juice. So if we dump Juice to bring up Alzner, I’m okay. Erskine is of course our seventh defenseman, and I’d be happy to have him in that role as long as he’s healthy and affordable.
My ideal 7 (based on what we have, of course)
Green-Schultz
Poti-Alzner
Pothier-Erskine/Sloan
by Marshall Pirate on Jul 10, 2009 9:50 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I like Sloan, but he is one of our 6th defensemen for most of the year, we need to do better with personnel.
by JSchon on Jul 10, 2009 9:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed.
Well, except for liking Sloan ;)
by brs03 on Jul 10, 2009 9:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Great job, I enjoyed it.
In sum, to call Jurcina one-dimensional would mislead the reader by implying there is an area of his game that is particularly strong.
With lines like these, it’s no wonder that Martin Straka reportedly started crying at the hearing after hearing the team carve his game up. Ouch.
Sometimes the best way to come out of an arbitration situation is to resolve it without needing the hearing.
Pensburgh.com -- it's like the Max Talbot of blogs*
*not just because we only work for 12 minutes a night
by Hooks Orpik on Jul 10, 2009 10:05 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
That’s probably why most players who elect arbitration don’t actually go through with it.
by David M. Getz on Jul 10, 2009 10:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
speaking of which…….is Hudler still going to go through arbitration with the Wings, despite the Moscow contract?
by RedBirdie on Jul 10, 2009 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think he told his agent to go ahead and go through with the case. I guess he’ll be “suspended” ala Radulov and Detroit will maintain his contractual rights. I wonder if the NHL will want to go through with awarding a contract to a guy who’s already signed
Pensburgh.com -- it's like the Max Talbot of blogs*
*not just because we only work for 12 minutes a night
by Hooks Orpik on Jul 10, 2009 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wingin’ it in Motown says yes:
FYI- ESPN.com reports that GM Ken Holland made Hudler an offer on Monday. Apparently, he gave his agent a number and then said that Detroit could do it in a three-year term or anywhere up to a five-year deal. But if Hudler ever decides to come back, he’s going to have to play under the contract decided on in arbitration.
by David M. Getz on Jul 10, 2009 10:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
great read...
I think you’ve covered all the bases on why an arbitration process is such a draining and potentially damaging (to one’s psyche) event and electing that route should not be made lightly. I would think a player would rather sign early than go through with it.
Anyhow, great job guys, well worth the visit.
"I'm not surprised in anything that has happened." - Brian Burke
by blindfolded tank driver on Jul 10, 2009 10:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Seriously.
See Witt, Brenden
Your favorite meme is dead
by Edanger6 on Jul 10, 2009 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
good job guys. Do any of you have a background in law?
by amkcaps on Jul 10, 2009 10:41 AM EDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs
All of us do, in fact – Pepper and I are both lawyers and DMG has been arrested eleven times.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jul 10, 2009 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
Twelve. I figured ‘Hey, right now I’m Jeff Halpern. One more and I’ll be Peter Bondra!"
by David M. Getz on Jul 10, 2009 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
I like where your heads at
by amkcaps on Jul 10, 2009 10:47 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
I was only counting felonies and not that misdemeanor stalking of Jeff Schultz, but I guess I should have included it. My bad.
And Andrei Nikolishin awaits his tribute arrest.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jul 10, 2009 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wonder if he will ever hit a milestone. Chris Clark?
by amkcaps on Jul 10, 2009 10:51 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t think he’d want to hit Chris Clark. Clark hits back. Hard.
BA DUM TSHHH
I have as many wins in a Capitals uniform as Michael Belhumeur does.
by marky narc on Jul 10, 2009 1:20 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
I was only counting felonies and not that misdemeanor stalking of Jeff Schultz, but I guess I should have included it.
Someone didn’t have Marion Barry’s lawyer on speed dial…
"Yes, It is a 'Beautiful Game.' It's because we see something meaningful that we hope to someday, somehow, see in ourselves."
by Bald Pollack on Jul 10, 2009 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Or to bring it full circle…
"Yes, It is a 'Beautiful Game.' It's because we see something meaningful that we hope to someday, somehow, see in ourselves."
by Bald Pollack on Jul 10, 2009 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Love it.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jul 10, 2009 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
We need a Loblaw law blog section here…
by brs03 on Jul 10, 2009 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bob Loblaw Law Blog .. I love it.
by :hsughrofl: on Jul 10, 2009 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No love for The Cochran Firm?
We cannot wait to arbitrate.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Jul 10, 2009 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
…don’t you mean Jackie Chiles?
Russian Machine Never Breaks
by macvechkin on Jul 10, 2009 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Do you know what’s in a “balm”?!? LMAO
by war_capitals on Jul 10, 2009 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
oops…not where it’s supposed to be… but you get the idea
by GusDaMan on Jul 10, 2009 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Great stuff...
The comparables are accurate and dead on, but I don’t think the Caps would use Morrisonn as a comprable again, because while they were comparable a year ago, they aren’t now. Exelby is a good choice of comparable, although Atlanta is paying him as a top 4 d-man because on that team he is a top-4 d-man (such is the sorry state of the Thrashers).
The arbitrator ruled to give 1.5M to Jurcina. At that point, if I am the GM of the Caps, I walk away from the ruling and make Jurcina a free agent. If he signs for less than 80% of that amount, he can be brought back, but any team signing him would make sure to offer over 80%….it’s not that he’s not an NHL caliber defenseman…he is. Just not on the Caps in 2009-10.
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Caps on Jul 10, 2009 11:36 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The comparables are accurate and dead on, but I don’t think the Caps would use Morrisonn as a comprable again, because while they were comparable a year ago, they aren’t now.
Maybe, but the issue is where the guy was in the ‘platform year’, not where they are now.
by David M. Getz on Jul 10, 2009 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
did someone say, "platform diving?"
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Jul 10, 2009 1:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
6.5. His form is just awful. I’ve seen “16 year old” Chinese girls with better form than that. He should take more pride in his work and show a better commitment to reaching his full potential.
by RedBirdie on Jul 10, 2009 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Having been a dive coach and dive judge, I give that a 5. Seriously, Sid, you’re not fooling anyone with the pained face BEFORE you’ve hit the ice. Nice skates in the air technique, though, and of course, home judging (Canada, Montreal by the looks of the writing on the wall), always gets you more…
by Marshall Pirate on Jul 10, 2009 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
really?! completely off topic, but I dove for a year in high school (like all the other burn-out gymnasts!) I daresay my diving was much better than Sid’s, but he’s got me beat, no contest, in the crying department.
by RedBirdie on Jul 10, 2009 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
For some reason, I’m not getting what everyone is looking at. Must be some reason my computer is blocking it. I feel cheated.
by gfcaps fan on Jul 10, 2009 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
In Exelby’s platform year – the year in which he earned his current contract – the Thrashers won the Division. And, fwiw, they’re not paying him squat now – he’s a Leaf.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jul 10, 2009 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Great post and fun to read, especially since each of you seemed to fill a role that matches your blogging personalities. Jurcina needed to be wary since J.P. doesn’t pull any punches but luckily he had DMG on his side, taking a measured approach with lots of trusty numbers and finally Pepper, who provided a lengthy and elegant ruling. I hope the Caps don’t have to make a real decision between paying Jurcina $1.5M or letting him go though. Not sure he’s worth that and it would be nice to give him another year to see if he can put it all together and consistently deliver in the regular season what he did in the playoffs.
by Lisita on Jul 10, 2009 12:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Couldn’t you have just done that, rather than a 300 word summary earlier?
"Yes, It is a 'Beautiful Game.' It's because we see something meaningful that we hope to someday, somehow, see in ourselves."
by Bald Pollack on Jul 10, 2009 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
you’re intimately familiar with Sloan’s small sample?
Russian Machine Never Breaks
by macvechkin on Jul 10, 2009 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m verbose, what can I say? I don’t get challenged enough at my job so I take out my literary and analytical frustrations here.
by Marshall Pirate on Jul 10, 2009 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No wonder I keep coming back here despite an utter dislike for Poti’s franchise; you guys do some amazing work. Great post.
One thing – in the playoffs he seemed to forget he was just Milan Jurcina and started playing like the Caps top defenseman, especially while Green choked, I mean, was hurt.
I have a blog too! www.scottyhockey.com
Let's Go Rangers!
by Scotty Hockey on Jul 10, 2009 3:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Thx, Scotty, and kudos on your Bashing Brash series – great stuff.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jul 10, 2009 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thank you kind sir. The series has certainly sparked some controversy; I love it, I just hate that I have had to do it in the first place…
I have a blog too! www.scottyhockey.com
Let's Go Rangers!
by Scotty Hockey on Jul 10, 2009 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
$1.4m for Brashear is insanity. But for two-years?! That takes it to another level entirely. Then you add in the baggage… It’s hard to envision a deal being more wrong on more levels (maybe if the Avs signed Bertuzzi to a Hossa-type deal).
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jul 10, 2009 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That was my point exactly. I mentioned in one of the comment threads that we booed Bertuzzi when he came to town solely because we had Steve Moore’s brother Greg. Brash headhunts one of our own players, and now we are just supposed to smile and take it? No thanks. Not this lifetime.
I have a blog too! www.scottyhockey.com
Let's Go Rangers!
by Scotty Hockey on Jul 10, 2009 11:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I just hate that I have had to do it in the first place…
Is that how you felt about the Gaborik post (which was teh awesome, incidentally)?
"Yes, It is a 'Beautiful Game.' It's because we see something meaningful that we hope to someday, somehow, see in ourselves."
by Bald Pollack on Jul 10, 2009 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
http://scottyhockey.blogspot.com/search/label/donald%20brashear%20is%20an%20animal
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jul 10, 2009 8:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
low blow on Green though.
Russian Machine Never Breaks
by macvechkin on Jul 10, 2009 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t think so. We’ve said much worse things about him as Caps fans.
by zephyr on Jul 10, 2009 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
bust on the guy as appropriate, but not for having a bum AC joint which still isn’t healed two months later as well as being ill.
Russian Machine Never Breaks
by macvechkin on Jul 10, 2009 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wah. =] Everyone gets injured. But seriously, Scotty corrected himself and said that Green didn’t choke, he was injured =] If you want to be Mike Green’s mom that’s cool though.
by zephyr on Jul 10, 2009 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
SIMMA DA NA.
Russian Machine Never Breaks
by macvechkin on Jul 10, 2009 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He can’t do that to our players!
Only we can do that to our players!
/re-purposed animal house quote of the day.
by RedBirdie on Jul 10, 2009 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Tomorrow, I challenge you to find a use for:
And without that Pledge Pin! Do you understand?!
by Gould Old Days on Jul 10, 2009 6:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
tomorrow, alas, I must spent the day with my mother. Joy.
by RedBirdie on Jul 10, 2009 6:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, asking where her pledge pin was would be kinda odd …
I have a blog too! www.scottyhockey.com
Let's Go Rangers!
by Scotty Hockey on Jul 10, 2009 11:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington
|
16 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 22 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
14 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 15 |
|
Atlanta
|
12 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 13 |
|
Florida
|
14 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 11 |
|
Carolina
|
15 | 2 | 10 | 3 | 7 |
(updated 11.7.2009 at 4:04 AM EST)
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