IT’S mind-boggling that neither general manager Paul Holmgren nor the alleged cap expert within the Flyers organization — whomever that isn’t — understood that the seven-year Chris Pronger extension that begins in 2010-11 would be treated as an over-35 contract, applicable against the cap under essentially all circumstances as defined by the current Collective Bargaining Agreement.
And yet, Philadelphia likely will never suffer the consequences for the massive blunder in which management agreed to pay $33.4 million of the total $34.9 million within the first five years of the extension. And thus would be on the hook for a $4.921 million cap hit in 2015-16 and 2016-17, even with the defenseman in expected retirement.
The Flyers will not take the hit because the CBA will be long extinct by that time, with another round of rollbacks and amnesty buyouts expected to bridge the gap between the current labor agreement and whatever comes next.
There are no guarantees, of course, but no one knows the fate of contracts that run beyond 2011-12, which is when the CBA will expire once the NHLPA exercises its pro-forma option to extend the deal through that season.
It would, however, be a shock if the league doesn’t recalibrate as part of a battle that’s certain to include a laundry list of givebacks from the union intended to shrink the cap. Indeed, several general managers have told Slap Shots they believe a rollback of up to 15 percent plus a round of amnesty buyouts will be necessary at the end of next season in order to accommodate a decrease in the 2010-11 cap that is expected to be meaningful.
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Chicago GM Dale Tallon’s blunder in not getting qualifying offers to his restricted free agents in the timely manner mandated by the CBA, however, is likely to mortally wound the Blackhawks next summer. That’s when they’re going to have to re-sign Group II linchpins Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Duncan Keith.
That’s because — in being forced to give Cam Barker and Kris Versteeg multi-year contracts of nearly $3.1 million per season in order to keep them from being declared unrestricted free agents as a result of management’s negligence — the Blackhawks will not have enough space to remain intact while accommodating Kane, Toews and Keith.
Chicago will have to choose between losing one of those three to an offer sheet, or trading Patrick Sharp, Dave Bolland or Brent Seabrook, none a good option, but necessary because of the general manager’s error.
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It would be so tempting, wouldn’t it, for the Rangers to offer 23-year-old Brandon Dubinsky and his $698,000 qualifier to the cap-stressed Bruins for 32-year-old, all-world playmaking pivot Marc Savard, who has two years at $5 million remaining on his contract?
Uniting Savard with Marian Gaborik — pencil in Sean Avery on the left — would give the Blueshirts a first line the equal of essentially any in the NHL. It would transform the team. But the Bruins probably would demand Marc Staal or Mike Del Zotto be included as part of the exchange … and the Rangers might not go for the one-for-one, anyway.
But shouldn’t GM Glen Sather make an inquiry into a deal for Savard that would allow the B’s to keep restricted free agent Phil Kessel?
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So if the Islanders had gone into the second week of July without a head coach — after their previous coach walked out on them with a year remaining on his contract only to immediately agree to take over another NHL team — would or would they not be subject to ridicule?
But the Devils suffer through this folly and escape scorn because of their track record. Except you know what the Devils’ track record is since winning their third Cup in nine seasons in 2003? It’s winning two playoff series.
You know what the track record is since the lockout? It’s winning the same number of playoff games — 14 — as the Rangers.
Remember this about defensive despot Jacques Lemaire, their once and perhaps future coach. The last time he was behind the Devils bench, Game 6 of the first round in Ottawa on May 20, 1998, he thought it was a good idea to play Scott Niedermayer at left wing.
Come to think of it, perhaps that’s when John Muckler gained the inspiration to use Brian Leetch as a checking left wing to shadow Pavel Bure in Florida on Feb. 16, 2000.
Yes, it’s “only” $325,000, but why on earth did Sather feel compelled to give Chris Higgins a one-year deal for $2.25 million instead of sticking to the qualifier of $1.9 million? That $325,000 equates to approximately $1 million of space at the deadline, by the way.
Finally, that ought to be some fun reunion in Montreal between Scott Gomez and newly hired assistant coach Perry Pearn, don’t you think?