Joffrey Lupul tweeted Wednesday that he will not pursue a second opinion to challenge his failed physical with Toronto. The question now becomes: does the NHL ask him to see a doctor for its own ruling?
It’s not unprecedented. During the 2008-09 season, other clubs complained after Calgary placed Rhett Warrener on waivers, then put him on long-term injury, where he spent the season. The defenceman was examined twice, the second time when the Flames were forced to play with just 15 skaters because of salary-cap problems. Philadelphia was on LTIR for almost a decade and, while no one would confirm it, word was there were several occasions where Flyers players had to see league-appointed physicians.
As a couple of Lupul’s former teammates indicated, he still wants to play. That’s different than say, Andrew Ference/Edmonton or Chris Pronger/Philadelphia. As you all know, if you don’t live in Toronto, you hate Toronto; certainly opposing teams wouldn’t mind seeing the Maple Leafs with a deeper cap crunch. But, how many really want tougher policing?
Interesting that CBA requires prorated repayment of signing bonus.
http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/repayment-shipachyovs-signing-bonus-delicate-negotiation/
Interesting wrinkle in Shipachyov saga. VGK want signing bonus repaid, and Ship willing to pay. But NHLPA doesn't like repayment if claimed or signed (to cheaper deal) by other NHL team, don't want to set precedence.
The Admirals in the KHL have released a bunch of players, or they left since they wasn’t paid or something like that. Anyway there are some contract less KHLers out there.
These guys have to pass through waivers if brought in on a NHL SPC. However — would there be anything stopping a team with some resources to sign like ex-Admiral Vladimir Tkachev to an one year AHL SPC for like 3m per along with a NHL ELC that will enter into force next season?
There is no maximum salary in the AHL, however there are two issues with your idea:
a) Tkachev would not be eligible to sign an ELC for next season right now. The earliest he could do so is March 1st.
b) The highest paid players on AHL-only contracts maybe earn $100k-$150k.** If a team wanted to pay a player significantly more on an AHL deal then the typical rates--as you suggest in your scenario of $3m--as an inducement to sign an NHL contract, then the league could view that excessive payment as a circumvention of the CBA. Both substantially compensating the player outside the restrictions of an SPC, as well as circumventing the ELC salary cap.
** There are many players making $250k-$300k on NHL 2-way contracts playing in the AHL. However those are NHL contracts, not AHL-only contracts.
I actually think it would be hard to make a circumvention argument that would hold up simply because you would pay what it takes to get something done.
Thanks Mouser!
Why cannot a NHL deal be signed now, without the player being called in/it entering into force before next season?
I understand the circumvention problems, but I don’t think it’s clear cut. 3m is a bit over the top maybe, but a number way over the average AHL salary is market price for Tkachev. As a NYR fan I can honestly look at our farm team with especially many really good PMDs on it, and these kids would benefit greatly from playing with better forwards. Further the NHL team that signed him can argue that it’s worth a lot to get the kid into the system this year already — and for that they are what it take to get the player to the AHL.
I actually think it would be hard to make a circumvention argument that would hold up simply because you would pay what it takes to get something done.
So if A franchise is at the 50 contract limit and both tenders go down in the same game
then what?