Did the Blackhawks Screw Up Hossa's Contract?
by Killion on Jul 31, 2009 12:18 AM CDT
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PrintDid you think this was finally that part of summer where you could relax and just wait for training camp to start?
Guess again bitches. We've already heard that people like Burke are concerned about the idea of long-term contracts but now we've got this.
The NHL is going to look into if the Blackhawks discussed retirement with Hossa, which would negate his cap hit. If they did, I guess it's against the collective bargaining agreement and could cost the Hawks $5 Million and draft picks. This post-season is just one douche chill after another, isn't it?
Here's the money quote from NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly:
"We’re trying to understand how it was negotiated and whether the intent and effect is to circumvent the cap," wrote Daly.
Well of course the deal was structured to circumvent the cap... that was the whole goddamn point. Similar deals were given to Henrik Zetterberg and Johan Franzen. So why is the Hossa deal so much different? Well two things really.
- Hossa is older than either of those players, if only by a couple years. But his deal does take him well into the time when most players have retired.
- The Hawks may have gone a bit overboard in the last few years of the deal.
Zetterberg gets $7+ Million for 9 of his 12 year deals, then he gets $3.35M, $1M and $1M.
Likewise Franzen gets $5+ Million for 7 years then $3.5M, $2M, $1M and $1M.
Hossa on the other hand $7+ Million for 7 years followed by $4M, two years of $1M ending with two years of $750,000. So while the deal is similar to the deals the Hawks were trying to imitate, it takes it to a new level.
If the NHL is looking to end these long-term contracts it seems like they may try to make an example out of the Blackhawks, which is obviously annoying as fuck. How easy will it be to prove that the Hawks discussed retirement? I'm guessing damn near impossible but at this point nothing is going to surprise me.
Can we please just quit all this and start the season tomorrow?
UPDATE: It apears the Blackhawks aren't alone in this. Craig Custance is reporting the NHL is also looking into the deal the Flyers gave to Captain Elbows himself, Chris Pronger. At least this makes it seem that the NHL is looking into all of these types of deals, not just the Blackhawks.
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To answer the title:
no. Theres too many similar contracts in the league now for any consequences to come about now. I feel like the league, by waiting four weeks, is trying to show the league that it isn’t going to turn a blind eye to ridiculous contracts, which the Hossa deal sets the bar for.
And why does this shit need to come out at midnight? Doesn’t Bill Daly hold normal business hours? Some of us get very drunk at night and have a hard time figuring out what this all means.
twitter.com/kaner88
I agree about the many similar contracts, but if the league is looking for a way to stem the tide, the recency of the Hossa contract makes it a viable target. If we did talk to him about retirement during the negotiations—and if there’s a way short of going to court to find that out—I can see them following through with a thorough investigation. The league is just that fucked up.
I swear to God
that Bettman just loves to pucker the Chicago asshole. If you look at the Hossa contract, the values are equal to what the cap hit would be should we buy him out after seven years; it was done not to screw over the CBA but to ensure that Hossa gets his checks at the same value regardless of him playing after 38.
And fucking Burke should shut his mouth. In a league where a passionate and rich (although a bit crazy) hockey fan is denied buying a team because of some “quesitonable” comments (e.g. “Hockey does not belong in Arizona; I said it ten years ago and I am still right”), the fact that Burke can do anything just shy of breach of contract with the Ducks and still gets the golden boy treatment from the head office is a step past hypocritical.
I’m really happy to see Hossa still holding the #81. =]
And I really hope they didn’t screw up his contract. But I think the NHL is willing to screw over anyone who isn’t a Penguin right now.
It should be really interesting to see a Wings vs. Blackhawks game, I’m looking forward to it.
(Kopecky looks adorable)
"Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them." - (Twelfth Night; Act II, Scene V).
Like a bad burrito
This will pass with some intestinal pain but no long term damage. A 5MM fine would not kill us, but loss of draft picks would really hurt. With the Hawks just now beginning to poke their head above the water and become legitimate, I just don’t see the league hitting us for doing what others have already done, especially when I think the Hawks could get real loud and ugly about it. Whipping the Hawks and letting others go would not be good for the league. I do totally agree that Bettman is sending a message to the rest of the league that he wants them to stop using a loophole that they undoubtedly created on purpose.
loss of draft pics might actually help. Its likely (hopefully) the hawks will be drafting late for the next several years. This means they’d be getting late 1st round picks. That means crapshoot players who will demand to be overpaid since they were “1st round” The loss of those players could actually help the future cap, in a twisted way..
Why doesn't the NHL just set a salary scale???
40 goals = $$$$ blah blah blah…
35 to 40 yr olds = $$
Because that would be retarded !!!
To think that any team would negotiate a contract that would put any player in the "retirement age bracket" and not discuss retirement sounds like a bad business model to me.
So what once you get to age 35 its all 1 yr deals until you retire? Stupid!!!!
"The only thing worse than making a mistake is justifying it!"
I had the same question
I get why they owners want a cap, they want to limit payroll. But then it seems they went out of their way to specifically circumvent the spirit of the cap by allowing for long terms deals like this. Whether intended or not, it makes me think that over time, this will create an elite level of “locked up” players who make most of the teams payroll while creating an enormous pool of journeyman talent that teams can bring in and spit out year to year while committing comparatively little money on them. It’s great for the elite I guess but it sure seems like a lot of decent but not elite talent guys will make less to start and be kicked out much sooner for younger guys who aren’t as good but make less money.
Real life...
Yeah great. That’s exactly what I want represented in my escape from real life.
NKLHD,
Lets hope they pick the right group of elite players. I mean look at the NFL, kind of the same setup over there, they have a large number of real douche bags for elite players creating marketing nightmares. Not mentioning any names… Mr. I Love Dogs and Miss. I shot my self in the leg.
"The only thing worse than making a mistake is justifying it!"
"We’re trying to understand how it was negotiated and whether the intent and effect is to circumvent the cap,"
What the hell does this mean? By circumvent does he mean “stay under the cap while keeping as many good players as possible”? Because that’s the fucking point, isn’t it?
HOCKEENIGHT.COM
Are they just making this shit up as they go?!?!
Why the fuck would they agree during the CBA negotiations to make the cap hit the average yearly salary if they were just going to bitch about it down the road? I just don’t get it. Was it not obvious that that was going to be a loophole (if you can even call it a loophole) that the GMs would take advantage of? Sure the contract is ridiculous and obviously done to circumvent the salary cap, no fucking shit, but where (short of Hossa agreeing to retire) did they break any CBA rules? And how can Daly say that this is the first contract that is taking a player into his 40s? Both Zetterberg’s and Franzen’s deals take them past age 40.
Also, why in hell does it seem like the league is so intent on trying to destroy an Original 6 franchise in an important US market that was in the shitter for so long and just starting to become relevant again? Oh wait, I forgot we were talking about the NHL.
I’m getting so sick of all this drama.
"So, the third largest market is back and pumping money into the league...
let’s fuck with ‘em." You’re just starting to come back from a debilitating lockout, and now some GMs panties are fiercely lodged in their cracks (cough Brian Burke cough) and will forget everything they learned from that lost season and subsequent fans by splitting hairs. Wow…just, wow.
Not to say we have carpe-launch to do whatever we want, but…I mean, come oooooooooon! A big market team is getting real good (and could be good for a while) and you’re going to be that one R.A. that NO ONE liked on their floor because he would write people up for farting in his presence.
Brian Burke – the kid who didn’t get any candy, and is CRYING about it.
And short of a Nixon-like recording coming out, they won’t prove dick about retirement discussions.
Dear Season,
Please start. Now.
Sincerely,
EVERYONE
"What the hell, let's review it." - Dale Tallon
"They are!" - Pat Foley
"What a farce." - Dale Tallon
I HATE the NHL BRASS
Hate, Hate, Hate, Hate, Hate, Hate, Hate!!!! Fuck! I usually like to make poignant and tasteful comments, but I am sick of them beating us down! What are the Wings? They have a bunch of these! Also, Fuck Burke and the Leafs! I hope they stay on the bottom of the barrel! Why are they trying to break our legs, when we just learned how to walk again? And give Balsillie the god damn Coyotes! AZ is a dumb place for a hockey team. It’s like having a 2 hockey teams in Southern Florida…oh…wait…..
Tampa
is central Florida, but yeah there should be no NHL teams south of Washington or St. Louis aside from maybe the Stars although they never should have been allowed to keep the Stars name because the Minnesota North Stars was one of the best franchise names ever. Give the Coyotes back to Winnipeg and Hamilton can have one of the Florida teams and Quebec can have the other.
by Crease Monkey on Jul 31, 2009 9:55 PM CDT up reply actions
i’m a caps fan (and personally, i’m glad the NHL is looking into these contracts), but to me it does smack of hypocrisy that the hawks and flyers are investigated while the red wings are not. as matthew dirt points out, holland orchestrated two of these contracts. part of me wonders whether the NHL has something concrete re: hossa…could the hawks have been dumb enough to put something on paper? have there been any quotes from official sources alluding to hossa’s retirement? and is it possible that since hossa was a UFA (while zetterberg and franzen were signed during the season), he was receiving competing bids that also included this tapered-off salary structure? if hossa went back and forth between the wings and the hawks, saying basically “here, this is what chicago is offering,” then maybe a source within another org can testify that hossa had a deal in place to retire before the contract was up.
by Natty Bumppo on Aug 1, 2009 12:23 PM CDT up reply actions
Burke is a GD tool. This guy will do whatever he feels is right, including offering someone a multiyear deal which has been the Normal since Holland started it with the Wings. And for a guy that like to yap in Bettmans ear all the time, just remember what he did and how he got Pronger from the Oilers. Go look it up, ugly to say the least. The thing I worry about is next year and him going after Toews with an outrageous offer sheet, one he says he never uses…. um ok Brian, you tool.
Speaking of Pronger
Sporting News says the NHL is investigating THAT contract as well:
First off I like long term contracts. It shows a willingness for a franchise to build around certian players. You know when you watch them year after year there is a good chance you’ll be cheering for the same players. I don’t know why they would be trying to curb such actions.
As previously stated I am sure that retirement was talked about. You would be silly not to sign a contract of that length and not show the foresight to think he might consider retiring before the contract is up.
If they were truly concerned about these types of contracts they should have started with zetterberg. At least hossa’s contract tapers off more gradually than zetterbergs which I think the later years of zetterbegs contract would leave him over valued at that age.
Regardless this all reeks of an another agenda. What it is I don’t really know.
Pain is a good reminder you are alive
by Bad Ass Burish on Jul 31, 2009 11:39 AM CDT reply actions
Tallon is sitting somewhere with a grin on his face
….’cause he had NOTHING to do with this.
Take the $5 mil directly out of Bowman and McD’s salaries and then kick them in the ass for being stupid.
Bowman: “Why’d you kick me?”
me: “Where’s your brain?”
Bowman: “Why’d you kick me?”
me: “Where’s your brain?”
by surveyor on Jul 31, 2009 11:42 AM CDT reply actions 2 recs
Did you hear Adam Burish called Marian Hossa a pussy?
Got more soul than a sock with a hole.
by chrome on Jul 31, 2009 2:37 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Marketability
Pussy sells better then Dick!!!
"The only thing worse than making a mistake is justifying it!"
That’s it, I have officially had it.
Where is the count down until the Hawks first preseason game?
I know there has to be a clock around here somewhere…
SHOOOOOOOT IT!!!! Anon
by burpchelischili on Jul 31, 2009 7:15 PM CDT reply actions
Wow
This is like the silly season in F1. But not as fun.
If I can't be a good example, I'll just be a horrible warning
As an unrelated note, the Arrested Development reference made me fall a tiny bit in love with you Sam. It’s just a shame that it had to happen in conjunction with something so decidedly terrible. I suppose it’s the equivalent of meeting the woman of your dreams at a funeral. But since this is much ado about nothing, let’s just call it your 95 year old grandmother’s funeral (you knew she was gonna go soon anyway) and the girl is a second cousin
http://accordingtwomey.blogspot.com
Oh shit, just realized that Matthew wrote this, not Sam. Rookie mistake. I wasn’t even drunk. Apologies to all involved.
http://accordingtwomey.blogspot.com
Speaking of Arrested Development
… this is the <a href=“http://This might be the funniest video in the history of the internet! ”http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/4f551b0252/will-arnett-human-giant-sex-tape-from-human-giant-and-will-arnett" target="_blank">http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/4f551b0252/will-arnett-human-giant-sex-tape-from-human-giant-and-will-arnett" target="new">funniest Will Arnett video I’ve ever seen. I know it’s old, but it’s still funny after the 10th viewing!
Ugh. Link FAIL
<a href=“http://This might be the funniest video in the history of the internet! ”http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/4f551b0252/will-arnett-human-giant-sex-tape-from-human-giant-and-will-arnett" target="_blank">http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/4f551b0252/will-arnett-human-giant-sex-tape-from-human-giant-and-will-arnett" target="new">Trying again.
Fuck this.
What the hell is wrong with the link function?
This might be the funniest video in the history of the internet! http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/4f551b0252/will-arnett-human-giant-sex-tape-from-human-giant-and-will-arnett
ESPN reports
that the NHL is investigating whether or not the Blackhawks circumvented the salary cap.
Is this what Boman meant when he said he was a “capologist”? Well played, sir (douchbag).
Who cares?
Hossa’s on the team. Apparently nobody wants to play with Burke, so he is trying to bother other people. I say send Kevin Lowe over to his office and let them finish it then and there. My money is on Lowe.
The other teams are a little bit worried about our Hawks. We have a full stadium, marketing $$ pouring in, and even when players have the opportunity to leave, the only one to do so is the an oft injured (I like to say it that way) Havlat. Pay the 5 million, and then let’s kick everybody’s arse come October.
Frankly, I could care less about these things. I watch the games. I don’t care who the GM, Owner, President (as long as it’s not MCDONKEY) are, so long as they put a good team out there for me to watch. Have they? YES.
"Stay thirsty my friend"
10 to 1
I’ll take Lowe too. Plus, he’s absolutely chomping at the bit to meet the loser’s loser in a dark alley some night. All this shit Burke’s stirring is making me very excited about the simply ominous (if you’re a leafs fan) date of Friday the 13th of November match-up on our home ice. You know… the one where we undoubtedly kick there arses with or without the Hoss!
"Call Detroit, tell dem... BULLSHIT!"
Like normal, when they decide they have found somethiing wrong.
SHOOOOOOOT IT!!!! Anon
by burpchelischili on Aug 2, 2009 10:39 AM CDT up reply actions
Or does he just blopw that good?
SHOOOOOOOT IT!!!! Anon
by burpchelischili on Aug 2, 2009 3:21 PM CDT up reply actions
For what it's worth, Barry Melrose says the Blackhawks are screwed on this one
He says they will lose draft picks and be levied a significant seven-figure fine. Lovely. The Stan Bowman era just keeps getting better and better.
Cubs will win 79 to 83 games. Season has been over for weeks. St. Louis will eventually run away with this division. And you can print it. BLou (7/21/09)
So, don’t they need to go back and do the same for Detroit?
SHOOOOOOOT IT!!!! Anon
by burpchelischili on Aug 3, 2009 4:33 AM CDT up reply actions
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