grim
7-04-05, 3:57 PM
2005-2006 Thrashers?
Are missed years' contracts valid?
By JOHN MANASSO
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 07/03/05
If the conventional wisdom proves correct and the NHL lockout ends in the next several weeks, it actually will be time to examine what the 2005-06 Thrashers will look like.
One provision reportedly being negotiated between the league and the NHLPA in collective bargaining discussions is whether contract years wiped out by the canceled season would be valid for the upcoming season.
Some players have advocated that, but many owners are eager to have big contracts off the books and start with a cleaner slate once the league resumes operations.
Should those contracts be wiped out, the Thrashers would have 11 players on NHL contracts for 2005-06, totaling about $17.5 million in salary and bonuses.
It has been rumored that a 24 percent rollback on existing contracts is part of the deal being negotiated. That would leave the Thrashers with $13.3 million committed.
The team's key restricted free agents are wingers Dany Heatley and Ilya Kovalchuk, who could get deals approaching Marc Savard's $3 million for this season. Goalie Pasi Nurminen ($1.5 million) also is restricted, as are defensemen Andy Sutton ($900,000), Ivan Majesky ($950,000) and Daniel Tjarnqvist ($1.2 million).
With four defensemen ? Jaroslav Modry, Niclas Havelid, Garnet Exelby and Braydon Coburn ? already under contract, it is possible that only one of that trio would return (most likely Sutton), especially if the Thrashers make a play for a big-time defenseman in what should be a buyer's market.
The team also will have to make a decision on captain Shawn McEachern, who will be 37 this season. The team holds a $2 million option on McEachern, whose 38 assists in 2003-04 were the second-highest season total in his 14-year career.
Asked if he wanted to return to the Thrashers, McEachern, who makes his offseason home in his native Massachusetts, said, "Absolutely."
"I want to go back to Atlanta," he said.
The league has often stated its desire for a salary cap in the mid $30 million range per team, and that appears to be the way negotiations are leaning. A new cap should severely depress salaries, making teams choosy about deciding to spend $2 million on a player like McEachern.
"I think everything weighs into the decision," McEachern said. "It depends on how they plan on building the team. Money always come into the decision."
For his part, general manager Don Waddell did not want to discuss roster moves until the CBA is done.
"I can't even speculate on stuff like that," he said. "I can't deal with players. We don't know what the CBA is."
With 11 players on NHL contracts (and several other fourth-liners on two-way or NHL/AHL contracts), the Thrashers are way ahead of some teams. If one reported provision of the negotiations is correct, teams will have a one-time opportunity to buy out players on existing contracts (they must pay two-thirds of the existing total) without the salary counting against the cap.
That could leave a glut of players ? likely hundreds ? available.
"We're hoping we can strengthen a few spots," Waddell said. "We'd like to be active shoppers come free agency or trades."
Ticket prices
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has often stated that if the league got "cost certainty" ? a salary cap ?ticket prices could be lowered. It will be interesting to see if that happens in Atlanta, where Waddell said ticket revenue failed to pay for 100 percent of the team's payroll.
"First of all, we were one of the lowest in the league the last year we played," he said. "We're way below the league average to start. Factor in discounts and $10 tickets, and we're one of the lowest in the league."
http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/thrashers/0605/03nhlnotes.html
Are missed years' contracts valid?
By JOHN MANASSO
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 07/03/05
If the conventional wisdom proves correct and the NHL lockout ends in the next several weeks, it actually will be time to examine what the 2005-06 Thrashers will look like.
One provision reportedly being negotiated between the league and the NHLPA in collective bargaining discussions is whether contract years wiped out by the canceled season would be valid for the upcoming season.
Some players have advocated that, but many owners are eager to have big contracts off the books and start with a cleaner slate once the league resumes operations.
Should those contracts be wiped out, the Thrashers would have 11 players on NHL contracts for 2005-06, totaling about $17.5 million in salary and bonuses.
It has been rumored that a 24 percent rollback on existing contracts is part of the deal being negotiated. That would leave the Thrashers with $13.3 million committed.
The team's key restricted free agents are wingers Dany Heatley and Ilya Kovalchuk, who could get deals approaching Marc Savard's $3 million for this season. Goalie Pasi Nurminen ($1.5 million) also is restricted, as are defensemen Andy Sutton ($900,000), Ivan Majesky ($950,000) and Daniel Tjarnqvist ($1.2 million).
With four defensemen ? Jaroslav Modry, Niclas Havelid, Garnet Exelby and Braydon Coburn ? already under contract, it is possible that only one of that trio would return (most likely Sutton), especially if the Thrashers make a play for a big-time defenseman in what should be a buyer's market.
The team also will have to make a decision on captain Shawn McEachern, who will be 37 this season. The team holds a $2 million option on McEachern, whose 38 assists in 2003-04 were the second-highest season total in his 14-year career.
Asked if he wanted to return to the Thrashers, McEachern, who makes his offseason home in his native Massachusetts, said, "Absolutely."
"I want to go back to Atlanta," he said.
The league has often stated its desire for a salary cap in the mid $30 million range per team, and that appears to be the way negotiations are leaning. A new cap should severely depress salaries, making teams choosy about deciding to spend $2 million on a player like McEachern.
"I think everything weighs into the decision," McEachern said. "It depends on how they plan on building the team. Money always come into the decision."
For his part, general manager Don Waddell did not want to discuss roster moves until the CBA is done.
"I can't even speculate on stuff like that," he said. "I can't deal with players. We don't know what the CBA is."
With 11 players on NHL contracts (and several other fourth-liners on two-way or NHL/AHL contracts), the Thrashers are way ahead of some teams. If one reported provision of the negotiations is correct, teams will have a one-time opportunity to buy out players on existing contracts (they must pay two-thirds of the existing total) without the salary counting against the cap.
That could leave a glut of players ? likely hundreds ? available.
"We're hoping we can strengthen a few spots," Waddell said. "We'd like to be active shoppers come free agency or trades."
Ticket prices
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has often stated that if the league got "cost certainty" ? a salary cap ?ticket prices could be lowered. It will be interesting to see if that happens in Atlanta, where Waddell said ticket revenue failed to pay for 100 percent of the team's payroll.
"First of all, we were one of the lowest in the league the last year we played," he said. "We're way below the league average to start. Factor in discounts and $10 tickets, and we're one of the lowest in the league."
http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/thrashers/0605/03nhlnotes.html