It's Official: Caps working on deal to move Nylander to Europe
Michael Nylander has arrived, according to Coach Bruce Boudreau. But how long the veteran will remain in Washington is unclear. Boudreau acknowledged that Nylander and the Caps are actively seeking a deal to send the 36-year-old center to Europe.
"I hope it doesn't become a distraction," Boudreau said.
I just felt there was too much smoke for there not to be a fire; Nyls not being at the morning skates, his house up for rent, his calls to Jags. Looks like it may finally happen.
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Seems like a good a time as any to make sure folks read this again.
"Why the [frak] would I live to 100? I'm 73 and [stuff's] starting to get boring. By the way, there's no money left when I go, just FYI."
by Bald Pollack on Sep 12, 2009 11:27 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
It feels to me that this is still a long way from actually happening.
by mechanicsville on Sep 12, 2009 11:42 AM EDT reply actions
I agree. I think the biggest stumbling block is that he has to be waived before he can go to Europe. I’m not sure Nyls is comfortable going through NHL waivers because he could potentially end up anywhere. In reality nobody is going to take him on with that contract but he negotiated for the NMC and it appears he wants to keep control over where he ends up.
A man must have a code.
So, let’s say the Caps waived Nyls, and he was claimed by whoever (name a team). I suppose that he can still invoke his NMC if he doesn’t care for the new destination. Would this kind of situation count as clearing waivers, thus paving the way for a one-way ticket to Omsk?
by mechanicsville on Sep 12, 2009 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions
No, he waives the NMC the second he agrees to go on waivers. Once that happens he can’t invoke it, which is the problem. He can’t retain a NMC option once he goes on the waiver wire, as I understand it. To go to Omsk he has to waive the NMC, clear waivers, then work an agreement with Omsk (that the Caps agree to as well).
A man must have a code.
Thanks. OK, so Nylander really has to be willing to roll the dice with waivers, doesn’t he? I have to think he wants out of DC quite a lot. The current situation’s doing some real damage to his career. How much of his salary do the Caps have to pick up if he’s claimed off waivers?
by mechanicsville on Sep 12, 2009 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions
If he’s claimed off of normal waivers the Caps don’t pay anything and there is no cap hit. Hypothetically, if Nyls cleared waivers and went to Hershey, then the Caps decided they wanted him back he’d have to clear re-entry waivers. If a team picks him up off re-entry waivers the Caps pay half the salary but the cap hit comes off the books. That obviously won’t happen because Nyls won’t be playing in Hershey. If/when he clears waivers he’ll just go to Europe. I think if Nyls goes on waivers any GM that was interested would probably be smart enough to talk to GMGM and Nyls’ agent first. When the agent tells the prospective GM that Nyls wants to go to Europe instead most GMs probably wouldn’t bother picking him up.
A man must have a code.
Thanks for the edification, F&B. With this sounding like a pretty realistic scenario, maybe that “stumbling block” you mentioned earlier isn’t all that big?
by mechanicsville on Sep 12, 2009 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t know how big a deal is. I’m sure Nyls has thought about it and probably doesn’t want to expose himself to waivers if he isn’t sure he’ll get through, but I really don’t know what the deal is with NHL GMs and the waiver wire. I suspect they have unwritten rules about grabbing guys off of waivers but I’m not entirely sure. The Isles tried to bring Dubliewicz back from the KHL last year and CBJ snatched him off of wires so it’s not like the player/team’s wishes are paramount. GMs are still going to do what they need to do to make the team better. The question is, does Nyls (at 4.5 per) make any team better?
A man must have a code.
I’ve got a question. If being claimed by another NHL team is a fear of Nyls, then what teams do you see potentially having the ability or desire to claim him off waivers?
Not as many teams have the cap space either
by red army line on Sep 13, 2009 4:45 AM EDT up reply actions
Not as if many teams have the cap room either
by red army line on Sep 13, 2009 4:45 AM EDT up reply actions
wont they only get half the salary on their cap since it is off a waiver?
by hockeyman33 on Sep 13, 2009 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions
I don’t know who would want him at that salary, but there are several teams that could afford him. The problem is that the teams that can afford him aren’t really contenders so I don’t know if he’d want to play there. I have to think that playing is better than being a healthy scratch, even if it’s for a basement dweller. I also think that family decisions are extremely important for him at this point and he’s not willing to just go anywhere (but somehow Russia is still an option).
A man must have a code.
i’ll actually agree with tyler here (with no comment on his tone) that i find it off-putting when fans speculate as to a player’s motivations, particularly where money is concerned. sure, there is some circumstantial evidence. but at its base, to compare the relative importance of “family decisions” vs. friendships vs. location vs. money strikes me as idle guesswork, and can’t possibly capture the complexity of what is ultimately a personal decision for the player.
by Natty Bumppo on Sep 13, 2009 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions
I don’t necessarily disagree with what you’re saying, but this is a hockey blog. We have an MVC poll, a debate about the Captain, and endless other discussions, all of which are ultimately nothing more than idle speculation. As far as I can tell nobody here thinks they’re saving the world, we’re just trying to pass some time talking about hockey. When a player bargains for a NMC, has a bunch of children, and has a public perception that his wife was a reason that he ended up in DC instead of EDM I don’t think it’s ridiculous to assume family is a motivating factor for him, even if it is still guesswork.
A man must have a code.
Omsk would be a good fit...
…he certainly would help them and Jagr really likes playing with Nyls. There is still a ways to got on this but there are 3 weeks to get it done. I suspect Nyls will want to do this too, as opposed to sitting at home waiting for something to happen. He’d want to prove he still belongs in the NHL (which he probably does, but not at $5.5M/year and not with Washington with the glut of talent up front.)
Let's go Caps!
Seems to me to be a similar deal to Heatley and the Senators, except the Caps front office didn’t announce to the media that he said he wanted a trade.
It’s possible that some team will pick him up – wonder if the Devils might be interested? But, realistically, at 4.5 per, it’s more likely that he’ll end up in Europe where he wants to be.
Speaking of trades and Heatley – Heatley to SJ for Cheechoo, Michalek, and a 2nd round pick. Just in case it hadn’t been posted.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
Should be interesting. I have a Sharks fan friend on Twitter (and yes, she’s an old friend from years ago) and she is NOT happy.
BTW – I mis-spoke, slightly. It’s Heatley and a 5th to SJS for Cheechoo, Michalek, and a 2nd.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
I’d be real happy if I were SJS (other than Heatley being a D bag). They definitely got the better end of this deal.
A man must have a code.
I’m not so sure of that. Michalek is a really good player. Kind of like Brooks Laich in that he can do anything for you reasonably well (though his style of play is different). Cheechoo still has a lot of talent too, though he’s had trouble with consistency to say the least.
Michalek especially was a fan favorite. Sharks fans are very loyal, and if Heatley pulls any nonsense out here he’s in for a bad time. I can definitely understand Sharks fans being unhappy with this.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 12, 2009 9:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Michalek doesn’t have the leadership qualities or toughness of Laich. He’s about a 60 point player making 4.33 through 2013-14. He could get better, but I’m not sure how much better. He’s already 25, this is his game.
I just googled “Milan Michalek” and it suggests results for “Milan Michalek Injury.” Seriously. That can’t be good.
A man must have a code.
But he’s got more pure skill than Laich. And the comparison that I was really trying to make is that he seems to have been the “odd jobs” guy over the last couple of years. The guy you plug in where you need someone, and he fills that role competently. Anyway, he’s definitely very popular out here.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 12, 2009 9:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Glad to hear. With Backstrom’s and Semin’s contract negotiations coming up the prospect of eating Nylander’s 4.8m for 2 more seasons was concerning me.
Hopefully they work out a good deal.
Well this year Backstrom and Semin are under the same contract as last year so it’s not a big deal. Next year is the problem because they will both get raises but if Ted is willing to eat the salary Nyls can be stashed in Hershey and we can clear the cap. This year Nyls kills GMGM’s ability to make a significant move at the deadline (or any point really) without giving up rostered players so freeing that up is probably the biggest reason to get rid of Nyls.
A man must have a code.
and Semin indicated (via Dimitri translating) at media day that he really likes being a Cap and doesn’t want to play elsewhere. So, really, anything that makes the contract negotiations go easier is cool by me.
We’ll see how badly he wants to stay when they start negotiating. It will be awful hard for GMGM to keep Semin and build a solid team long term if Semin insists on getting every dollar his skill and production would warrant.
A man must have a code.
Very true, but watching Ovechkin and Semin together suggests to me that Semin may well be willing to take a significant discount to stay in Washington with Ovi. Washington’s known to be a Russian-friendly team, and his friends are here. I think that means a lot to Semin.
I certainly hope so.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
Really? What evidence is there that suggests that? You don’t cite any and Semin has said nothing of the sort.
I mean, Is Semin skating around with a sign on his butt saying, “I’m having so much fun that I’d take 30 percent less to have this much fun?” How do we know he’s having more “fun” with AO than he might have with, say, Anze Kopitar?
Would you take a 30 percent discount to have the same friendly officemate you have now instead of going to a better-paying job, one with more responsibility?
by TylerG on Sep 12, 2009 8:22 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
AO and Semin have said they are like brothers. Semin has made comments that indicate that he likes being settled and comfortable. The two were seen together throughout the last two off-seasons.
She also never said anything about 30%. I don’t know where you are pulling that from. DET is the model for the “keep-the-band-together-home-team-discount” behavior and none of those guys are taking 30% discounts. If Semin will take a 10% discount that takes his salary from 6 mill per to 5.4 per. That is significant in the cap era.
A job in the NHL is not analogous to an office job.
A man must have a code.
We have played together from the very young age. And it’s just so awesome that he was drafted to my team. He is my greatest friend. I would say he is like a brother already. We constantly communicate, always together on the road.
A man must have a code.
Nothing there says he’d take less to play in WSH, which is more often a fan-fantasy than it is pro athlete reality.
First of all, even if you disagree with her assessment there are polite ways of voicing that. For instance, you could ask “Where did you read something that led you to believe that?” If you wanted to be really polite, you could even feign interest by saying “I’d like to read up on it a little bit.” There is no reason to be condescending and treat her like an idiot.
Secondly, as rare as it may be, there are athletes that take less money to stay on competitive teams or in comfortable environments. Semin appears to be comfortable in DC, and based on everything he’s said he seems very happy playing with AO and the current Caps. That’s the kind of scenario that makes a hometown discount more likely, if still unlikely. But instead of addressing what you see as flaws in her argument and advancing your argument respectfully, you chose an insulting tone and a straw man to argue against.
I don’t presume to speak for more than myself, but I gather that the regular Rink Rats enjoy the level of respectful, rational debate that takes place in these comment sections. When I’m roaming the other SBN blogs on occasion I even feel a sense of pride that over here we can engage in discussions as though we aren’t actually on the internet. I’d hope everyone would want to keep it that way.
A man must have a code.
I don’t presume to speak for more than myself, but I gather that the regular Rink Rats enjoy the level of respectful, rational debate that takes place in these comment sections.
I totally concur. In fact, respectful, rational, and scholarly debate is one of the main reasons I come here. Instead of repeating memes, it cracks them open and examines them for truth, and I like to think that most Rink Rats understand that none of us knows everything and that there’s room for a range of opinions and a respectful discussion.
I should say that it isn’t rare at all to consider situation and who you’d be playing with when negotiating a new contract, as much as money. True, there are some players like Phil Kessel who chase the money, but what about BMo, who’s <a href="http://www.faceoff.com/hockey/teams/vancouver-canucks/story.html?id=1930264&add_feed_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.faceoff.com%2Fscripts%2FSP6Atom.aspx%3Fid%3D894638">openly said that the chance to play with AO factored into his interest in Washington.
Players are human too, and their motivations vary just like ours do. Not all of them are motivated solely by money, and as F&B points out, Semin has said in interviews that he is settled and comfortable and loves DC.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
Bah, the link broke, let’s try again.
<a href="http://www.faceoff.com/hockey/teams/vancouver-canucks/story.html?id=1930264&add_feed_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.faceoff.com%2Fscripts%2FSP6Atom.aspx%3Fid%3D894638" >Brendan Morrison has openly said that getting the chance to play with Ovechkin factored into his decision.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
I’d submit that BMo and Sasha Semin are in different places in their career trajectories, and that BMo had a lot less upside to bargain with. Injuries, age, etc. Not that he isn’t legitimately thrilled to be playing for the Caps and playing with AO and AS and MG and NB, etc., in front of a full building and a solid wall of red.
IS PAЯTY NOW
Sure, but Semin’s got his share of problems in bargaining – injury question marks and high cap hit count for something.
I’m not saying and have not ever said that there’s no way he won’t bolt for more money elsewhere. I’m ust saying it’s by no means a foregone conclusion as some have claimed.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
Morrison’s also said he’s using this opportunity to secure more money on his next contract, so let’s not cite one without mentioning the other.
"Why the [frak] would I live to 100? I'm 73 and [stuff's] starting to get boring. By the way, there's no money left when I go, just FYI."
by Bald Pollack on Sep 12, 2009 10:33 PM EDT up reply actions
True, but he could do that anywhere, but Washington was his first choice. My point is not that Semin would never consider bolting, but that it’s not a foregone conclusion that he will and that such considerations do count for something.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
Link...
BMo talks about it a little more on Caps Insider this morning.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
I don’t think he’d have the opportunity to put up huge numbers anywhere like he can with the Caps. The Caps have to elite scoring wings. Not many teams can say that. No matter what it looks like BMo will have a great finisher on his wing, and I suspect some of the other offers would have put him in a 3C role (though I obviously have no proof of that). I can’t think of another team that needed a top-2 C that would have given BMo the same production potential.
A man must have a code.
If he wants to win, he knows all the great teams don’t have room for him (at least in the NHL) besides really Washington and dark horses like Los Angeles
by red army line on Sep 13, 2009 4:50 AM EDT up reply actions
Boston is hard up against the cap even if they don’t keep Kessel, so I’d say that’s moot.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
So Boston’s hard up against the cap, yet Kessel is chasing money? What was Mike Green doing last year?
"Why the [frak] would I live to 100? I'm 73 and [stuff's] starting to get boring. By the way, there's no money left when I go, just FYI."
by Bald Pollack on Sep 13, 2009 9:15 AM EDT up reply actions
It’s not the same. BOS has approximately 2 mill of free cap space, that’s not enough to sign Kessel. The Caps had the space to sign Green, so it was more about settling on a number than finding the roster room. Green was also the highest scoring D in the league in his RFA year and Kessel is at best at top-10 wing. BOS being hard up against the cap is the reason Kessel is probably moving.
A man must have a code.
Agreed that BOS’s cap situation makes a Kessel move a likely one, but in the comments earlier, I see Kessel “chase the money,” when simply put, he’s trying to get a second contract resembling what others have gotten. The market should bear that out, much as it did Green’s second contract and much as it will with Backstrom’s second contract.
"Why the [frak] would I live to 100? I'm 73 and [stuff's] starting to get boring. By the way, there's no money left when I go, just FYI."
by Bald Pollack on Sep 13, 2009 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions
It’s a question of the size of a discount. For Kessel to be signed under the cap, he’d have to take about a 50% discount. Even if he was willing to give the home team a break, that’s way too much to ask.
I see Semin the same way. I predict he comes in at the low end of market price for several years. Not below market, but not testing the limits either. Call that a discount or not as you will.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 13, 2009 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions
You know, like DMG already said…
(reading the very next post fail)
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 13, 2009 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions
and you have nothing to back up your rock-solid belief that Semin will bolt DC for cold hard cash.
I wouldn’t say it’s a rock-solid belief that’s being thrown out there, just a reminder that fans like to think players will take less money to play for their team when that hardly ever happens.
I could see it happening with Semin but I think it’d be more like the lower end of market value than a really significant drop off.
That’s not the way the opinion was phrased. Also, nobody takes a “really significant drop off.” The home team discounts everyone can think of are all basically “lower end of market value” deals, not “holy shit how are they getting away with paying that little for him” deals. That’s all we’re talking about.
A man must have a code.
yes, actually. Does that better-paying job involve up-rooting my life? Does it involve going to a strange city where no one speaks my language? Maybe I don’t want more responsibility.
Exactly. Money isn’t everything in a job, and that’s as true of an office job as it is of the NHL. If players always wanted to follow the money and make as much as possible, NTC’s and NMC’s wouldn’t exist. Remember if you will that BMo had offers that paid more than the Caps, and chose Washington. Why? Because with Washington, he’s got a shot at Lord Stanley’s chalice. If you think that the chance to play with certain players and the chance to hoist the hardware doesn’t hold weight with free agents, think again, because it DOES.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
it isn’t rare for someone to refuse a transfer to a different part of the country that comes with a raise in favor of staying where you are settled and comfortable.
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
by Sombrero Guy on Sep 12, 2009 8:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Here’s a question: If you’re GMGM, do you start contract negotiations (this goes for both Baxter and Semin) before or after the Olympics? Start pre-Olympics, you may end up with an injured, exhausted player on the other side of Feb. Wait ’til post-Olympics, you may have to factor for a gold medal premium.
IS PAЯTY NOW
I start with Backstrom and make that happen ASAP. Then I see what I can realistically budget for Semin and go from there.
A man must have a code.
I negotiate hard for the next three weeks. Then I ease off because I don’t want negotiations to be a major distraction during the season.
Of course, this really depends on how active the player is and how much is delegated to an agent.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 12, 2009 9:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Bluntly, if the higher-paying job meant a nasty commute, moving, a boss I hated, and a team I hated working with, yes, yes I would. I’ve been faced with that decision, and I can and will take less money to stay where I am happy. I don’t know if you can appreciate that kind of situation, but there really is more to life than money, and money cannot buy happiness. A player who is not happy does not produce, it is human nature.
Otherwise, what F&B said.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
Ovechkin has already taken what will likely turn out to be a huge a discount to stay here and build the franchise for years and years to come. I’d imagine that carries a lot of weight.
Speaking of a 10% discount, that’s at least what Ovechkin saved by using himself (and his mother) as his agent. Perhaps that negotiating team would be willing to come out of retirement to help Semin out with his contract.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 12, 2009 9:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Along those lines, I was wondering what’s in store for Crosby’s contract. He’s signed for 5-6 years (IIRC) for $43M or so. I’m curious if the new CBA will magically include some sort of “Face of the Franchise” clause that will allow the Pens to keep him forever and give him a ginormous raise.
IS PAЯTY NOW
Yeah, similar but MLS has a maximum salary in addition to a cap. MLS lets you pay two players over the maximum salary but only take the cap hit of that maximum salary.
I’d like to see something where teams are allowed to do something similar, except for players that they developed in their system or for guys that have been around for 10 years or something.
I like a discount for guys that are homegrown. The ten year exception is a benefit for PHI and NYR and other teams that want to sign away established vets. I think the reward should be for drafting and developing well.
A man must have a code.
MLS lets you pay two players over the maximum salary but only take the cap hit of that maximum salary.
If you’re referring to the Designated Player rule, I think it’s one per, but I might be mistaken.
In related (but OT) news, their CBA talks are next year, so that should be fun.
"Why the [frak] would I live to 100? I'm 73 and [stuff's] starting to get boring. By the way, there's no money left when I go, just FYI."
by Bald Pollack on Sep 13, 2009 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions
I thought they made it two so that LA could keep both Beckham and Donovan. I could have just made that up though.
No worries. Donovan’s making a ton by MLS standards, but LA counteracts it by signing retreads and rookies to minimum contracts.
"Why the [frak] would I live to 100? I'm 73 and [stuff's] starting to get boring. By the way, there's no money left when I go, just FYI."
by Bald Pollack on Sep 13, 2009 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions
No question if he reached RFA two years ago teams would’ve offered him close to max salaries.
by red army line on Sep 13, 2009 4:52 AM EDT up reply actions
this is very cool. somehow i missed this.
by mechanicsville on Sep 12, 2009 9:52 PM EDT up reply actions
GMGM video from today. second question is about Nyls, he says they’re in discussion, but hedges it with “if something comes up, it comes up.”
My optimism and prediction I had this summer of Nyls coming to camp fully healthy and regaining to form this season is obviously kaput.
After Saturday’s news that the Caps are trying to accommodate Nylander to find a European team is a head scratcher to me on one level, but ultimately makes sense.
If the Caps can find any way to get compensation, then this is the best route. Maybe an NHL team can be suckered into taking his salary via trade even while he’s Euro-bound. Who knows who will give you a few bucks for a sack of rocks.
I had spent time looking up what the Caps can do to just end the contract because a part of me wants to just leave him out on a cold doorstep.
We don’t know a couple things, like did the Caps give Nylander permission to find a deal overseas, or did he already take that step without consent? It appears the two sides are being amicable to find him a place, but I wonder if he had actively searched before the Caps and his agent discussed this move.
I’d imagine he’d be willing enough to play and participate in training camp to make himself appealing to other clubs (or just drive his stock way, way down), so voiding a contract for not fulfilling duties is hard at this point.
But some void options exist if no options for Nylander can be found. Let’s hope it never reaches that point.
I’m wondering if the CBA’s Defected Player definition would do the trick saying that under Article 10.2 (b), saying that a player who had a standard contract with a team and have not “completely fulfilled, contracts for a period including any part of unfulfilled portion of his [standard player’s contract] with a club in a league not affiliated with the NHL …”
Granted, it’s in the Free Agent section, so I don’t know if I’m misinterpreting it. There is an entire section regulating defected players and how they’re treated on the free agent list.
Another option is in the standard contract, which includes language saying that players must “refrain from conduct detrimental to the best interest of the Club, the League or professional hockey generally.”
And Section 14 of the standard contract provides an option to terminate a contract if after the team obtained waivers from other teams, the player “fail, refuse or neglect to render her services hereunder or in any other manner materially breach this SPC.”
Nylander showing up to training camp shows that he’s willing to somewhat fulfill his obligations, so it’s a hard sell, but maybe he’ll act up.
The CBA also has other guidelines, too, like not doing radio and TV interviews and public appearances without the consent of the team. As for articles, like that Swedish one, he couldn’t “write or sponsor newspaper or magazine articles” — doesn’t say anything about being interviewed. Again, it’s unclear that the Caps didn’t give him permission to do that interview.
Also, if the Caps would attempt to void the contract, I’d imagine a grievance would be filed and it would turn out to be more of a soap opera than the Coyotes’ auction.
I don’t think voiding or getting out of the contract is an option. The two most likely scenarios are that he comes back to the team and fulfills his contract as a healthy scratch most nights, or that he goes to play in Europe and the Caps receive some compensation (less than his salary) in return. The latter is very attractive because his salary is essentially a sunken cost at this point, and that result gives the Caps both salary cap relief and a little bit of a return.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 13, 2009 12:30 AM EDT up reply actions
this actually perked my interest because i think you stumbled on a loophole.
Based on your findings, “And Section 14 of the standard contract provides an option to terminate a contract if after the team obtained waivers from other teams, the player "fail, refuse or neglect to render her services hereunder or in any other manner materially breach this SPC."”… If we wait for the season to start when the rosters are set, using the presumption stated earlier – the good teams will be up against the cap and the bad teams will have space/ What if we then put Nylander on waivers (assuming he waives his NMC) and a bad team claims him and he does not report , then his contract can be terminated and he’ll be free to walk away and sign with any team in any league(?).
But this leaves me with 2 questions 1) who is responsible for terminating his contract, the claiming team? (which opens up a few other questions/scenarios) 2) Is this a feasible scenario?
This is sort of unrelated, but I had an idea for a cross-blog discussion reading this. The topic of the discussion is this:
Who’s on your team’s power-play squads this year? What are their strengths and weaknesses? Why will they post the best numbers in the league this year? Why won’t they post the best numbers in the league this year?
When everyone writes that post up, fans can read all the posts and then vote for who (on paper) has the best PP in the league this year. Maybe the same can be done for the PK. I think it’d be interesting to see what every team’s got on special teams that ew who don’t follow the teams that closely might not know about.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
More on Nylander from Tarik:
Michael Nylander considers himself a husband and father first, and a professional hockey player second. So when the 36-year-old center arrived from Sweden without his family, speculation about his tenuous relationship with the Washington Capitals grew considerably.
Nylander is negotiating with a number of teams in Europe, team officials said, and if a deal is reached, he might not play another game for the Capitals, despite having two years remaining on his contract.
If I’m Chris Bourque, I’ve got to be thinking that my make or break chance has finally arrived.
Keith Aucoin isn’t unhappy with this news either.
from the house that Red Jesus built
by bigonetimer on Sep 13, 2009 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions
My mom was complaining about how Aucoin pronounces his last name. Apparently, his name is French, but he pronounces it like English.
"Baseball is drama with an endless run and an ever-changing cast." - Joe Garagiola
Chowdah Chatter - an outlet for my random thoughts and such.
French version would be “Oh-kah”, right?
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 14, 2009 12:38 AM EDT up reply actions
From @cmasisak22, Nylander isn’t seeking a deal with any Euro teams, if the Caps came to him with a deal in Europe, he wouldn’t accept it, and he was misquoted by Swedish media over the summer.
Yep, saw that. Apparently Nylander is hell-bent on being an albatross, which fits with his “husband and father first” quotes. He says he’s got two more years on his contract? Well, buddy – you’ve only got one more year of that NMC ….
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
To play devil’s advocate, what’s he supposed to say. If he says he wants to play in Europe, he lessens his bargaining power with the KHL when it comes to a contract. OTOH, if he says I want to play in the NHL, he sends a message to Russia that if you want me you’re going to have to pay. In addition, he’s telling every other team in the NHL that “Hey, this is where I always wanted to be and if you make a trade for me, I’ll give 100% for you”. Of course his desire is to still play in the NHL. It’s the best league in the world and by saying he wants to play for the Caps, he showing that he’s not a disgruntled employee. It’s all win/win for him. What I do think is that if the Caps don’t give him a chance to play, he’ll find a place somewhere. Either he’ll waive his NMC and go on waivers and some NHL team might pick him up at half the salary or he’ll go the KHL. Of course, the other option is he returns to his Rangers form and the Caps will have three quality centers.
If he says he wants to play in Europe, he lessens his bargaining power with the KHL when it comes to a contract.
But what’s he going to be bargaining about? The Caps are committed to pay him 5.5 Million this year, and anything a european team pays for him will go to the Caps first to offset that salary. The odds of him getting more than that in europe (and therefore being able to pocket the difference) are vanishingly small.
Since he’s got no financial interest (the question of money is between the Caps and whoever takes him), seems to me the only interest Nylander has in this is deciding where he’s going to go. So if he says “sure, I’m willing to go to Omsk” then the Caps take over and construct some deal with Omsk.
To me, his current behavior is consistent with only one thing — someone who really wants to stay and play in DC.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 14, 2009 9:30 AM EDT up reply actions
Really?
Not to me.
“Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over again, but expecting different results”.
Nylander needs to change his game to get playing time. If he doesnt, he will add to his summer weight gain because all he will have to do is eat nachos in the press box on game nights.

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