AH said:
Yes I know how an option years work. Some teams can walk away from an option year without penalty, but other contracts have a penalty clause (as in the case of Belfour). I believe his option year "penalty" for the Leafs is $2 million. Since this would be outside of the one time 2/3 buyout eligible from July 23 2005 to July 28 2005. walking away from Belfour's option year would count against the Leafs cap for 06-07 (the penalty amount). .
Firstly that is a rumour .. No way to confirm it as Leafs never release contract details .. That simply could be a rumour spread in the media ..The NHLPA site never lists things like this only base contract ..
However lets assume its true .. Buyouts are at 2/3 's payable (which this really isn't a true buyout) but these are also spread out under the old CBA and payable at twice the length of the contract .. So you have $ 2 mil X 2/3 = $1.3 mil over 2 years =
$667K cap hit and payout ..
So you see the cost of nearly the league average 450K being a big concern to a cap hit for the Leafs that they wouldn't do it ..
Further complicated by the fact we don't know if the Cap itself will rise or fall next year so it could be absorbed ..
Then again with only Mats($ 6.8) and Tucker ($1.6 mil) and Belfour buyout($ 667K) tied up in cap space.
You see this as a problem when Thornton or Vinny or Hossa etc hit the market next year ?.
AH said:
Sure it's an advantage, but you are assuming that the zeal of big markets will NOT keep them from maxing out their cap right away in the new CBA and that they will continue to have cap room to play with year in year out. You are giving guys like JFJ and Holland and Armstrong and Sather too much credit. They have shown ZERO creativity since they have become GMs of their respective teams..
Isn't this a contradiction to all the doom and gloomers for the Leafs ..
Leafs already have $27 mil allocated for this upcoming year. Even if they max out the best strategy could be give Roberts, Newy, Domi and Leetch 1 year deals for next year and then not only do those players come off the books but also most of that $27 mil as well .. Leafs don't have a lot of wiggle room this year which might be a blessing in disguise in fact ..
Also who said part of the team building puzzle could not be to get a Scott Niedermayer signed this off season rather then wait for next .. "A bird in the hand is better then two in the bush" .. Now one knows who will be available for sure right now..
Think about this years crop of UFA .. Some teams have only 4-6 players under contract .. Are they going to be able to lure prize UFA to town on one year deals ?? Not likely, so that basically is filling next years cap space on multi year deals NO??. In turn become less competition next year as well in the process.
Leafs have the ideal opportunity to give 39 year old players like Roberts and Newy 1 year deals as they want to stay where they are .. but that is perfect for next year again ..
No doubt Leafs face the same team building challenges under a cap system .. However I am suggest Leafs have also are positioned to take advantage of the new UFA age them many teams ..
Ottawa and TB will struggle to keep teams together, Calgary will focus on keeping its own Star and max out the 20%. Not all teams will have a Cap ceiling as their own budgets either .. Joe Thornton is an Ontario boy not a Mass. How much will that influence decisions no ones knows as of yet ..
All advantages to the Leafs in the New NHL despite a Cap world ..