Central Division Summer: Colorado Avalanche Free Agency
Over the last week, we have looked ahead to the summer free agency issues looming for the five playoff teams from the Central Division.
Now let’s turn our attention to the two teams in the Central who failed to qualify for the playoffs. We’ll begin with the Colorado Avalanche.
Colorado Avalanche
2015-16 Regular Season: 87 points — 39-39-4 — 6th place in the Central
2016-17 Salary Commitments: $52,650,593 to 15 NHL players.
Unrestricted Free Agents
Mikkel Boedker ($3,750,000)
Shawn Matthias ($2,300,000)
Jack Skille ($675,000)
Andrew Agozzino ($600,000)
Zach Redmond (750,000)
Andrew Bodnarchuk ($650,000)
Jesse Winchester ($900,000)
Patrick Bordeleau
Nate Guenin
Ben Street
Maxim Noreau
Restricted Free Agents
Nathan MacKinnon ($925,000)
Andreas Martinsen ($742,500)
Mikhail Grigorenko (675,000)
Tyson Barrie ($2,600,000)
Calvin Pickard ($850,500)
Joey Hishon
Taylor Beck
Duncan Siemens
Brandon Gormley
Sami Aittokallio
Borna Rendulic
Garrett Meurs
Dennis Everberg
Trevor Cheek
Gabriel Beaupre
Roman Will
Looks like the Blues are gonna have Dough Boy behind the bench another year
Looks of interesting players on the Avs, Barrie is a nice player but reportedly his number is starting at 6 million. (Let’s call him Saad Jr minus the rings). I also like Boedker and Grigorenko at the right prices
Agreed on Grigorenko. Boedker meh.
Big news today. The NHL salary floor has been lifted, which means expansion is likely. The question now is 1 team or 2. We should know about the expansion draft in a few weeks, which should allow the Hawks to free up some salary. I’m sure Stan already has a plan in place to beat the cap. The guy is a cap genius!
Just to follow up before the crazy starts. All the HOF Hawks have full NMC attached to their contacts. Seabrook has a full NMC (no movement clause) until 2021. Hammer a limited NMC. All NMC guys will likely not be available in expansion.
Kruger and everyones favorite punching bag Bickell have Modified NTC (player provides list of 8 teams that he can be traded to) Not sure how expansion factors in. This players may be available.
The Hawks are going to end up losing a nice player. Teuvo, Panarin, Desi, TVR, Gus, Svedberg or Darling are likely all going to be players left unprotected or maybe unprodected due to the Hawks gluttony of NMC
Here is what the league has proposed;
Teams will be able to protect seven forwards, three defenseman and one goaltender. Alternatively, they can take an option to protect any mix of eight total skaters and one goaltender. First or second year pros will be exempt from the process, as will unsigned and drafted players within two years of their draft year. There is no option to protect two goaltenders.
Sshm, you got a link to this? Hearsay? Last year cap ceiling and floor was announced June 23rd.
Regarding expansion. I’m not sure why you’re including Bickell on this list. It’s been said before any expansion will be for the 2017 season after his contract expires. NTC’s don’t mean anything. NMC’s are what matters. This was talked about months ago and have seen nothing new regarding it lately.
Protect 19,88,72(sorry Rufus), 86 if he’s here(sorry Rufus) 16,15. There’s 6.
A decision will be made formerly June 22 which would probably also be when the floor and ceiling is announced. It’s expected to be announced then whether expansion happens in 17/18, 18/19 or pass all together. And whether it’s one or two teams.
In other news, former Hawks Tom Lysiak passed away yesterday.
Is was being discussed on TSN radio so no link. Alot of these rumors came out of a Bettman Q & A prior to game 1 of the SCF, and lifting of the salary cap floor was being viewed as a precursor to an expansion draft. Also Craig Custance some ESPN hack was reporting this.
http://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/hockey-vegas/nhl-expansion-decison-set-june-22
Not a ton in the link we didn’t already know. It’s interesting there’s almost zero talk of the Quebec City bid.
When you say “lifting” the floor, I’m assuming you mean no floor? I don’t see the NHLPA going along with that unless it’s an exemption to the expansion team(s).
Grigorenko would probably frustrate the hell of most Hawks fans. I saw him play many times in the QMJHL with the Remparts. Very talented but lazy and doesn’t play a two way game. I haven’t seen him play since making the NHL maybe his game has changed and is a more complete player now.
NHL expansion is a bad idea all the way around. There are too many teams struggling with viewership and finances. This is a major reason why there is a salary Cap. The last thing the NHL needs is another team or two that struggles to attract a substantial audience.
Hockey is different from most sports. There is not the tremendous popularity of the game that the MLB, NFL and NBA have. Hockey is truly a “local” sport. By that I mean that success does NOT translate into a huge fan base.
Sure, The Hawks have fans across the continent. As do the the other original 6 and maybe 3 or 4 other teams. But success in the NHL does not lead to popularity…..see the Lightning. Basically, 20 miles outside of Nashville, Denver, San Jose, Phoenix, etc etc, there is ZERO following.
Expanding will not help. I would rather see fewer teams, an increased Cap (but keep a Cap) and a season shortened to 72 games.
If the SCF was TB and SJ I’m not sure anyone outside those cities would watch. At least the Pens have a “face of Hockey” player.
Lightning- attendance 19,092-100% capacity
Nashville-16,971- 99.2 % capacity
Colorado- 17,032- 97.0% capacity
San Jose- 16,746- 95.4% capacity
26 of 30 teams had 90% plus capacity. The almighty NFL had 29 of 32 teams reach 90% or more. NHL had 13 teams at 100% or more, NFL had 11. Bigger crowds sure. But 33 fewer games and games primarily on Sunday when everyone can go. NBA who has a schedule similar to the NHL had 9 teams at 100% capacity. and had 22 of 30 teams surpass the 90% capacity mark.
When you hear owners talk about losing money, take it with a grain of salt. Stadium capacity is a mere sliver of revenue for teams. If I had to guess I’d say stadium crowds pay for the stadium itself. Media is where money is made.
The cap works by Hockey related revenue, not profit. If you remove 5 teams, you have lost ways to gain revenue. Now while Florida doesnt create revenue like Toronto, its revenue nonetheless. By removing teams there is no way for you to increase cap, unless the players share is increased to more than the 50% it is now.
The league is full of businessmen. These guys made money elsewhere, and didnt get to be rich by making rash decisions just to make rash decisions and see what happens. They’ve weeded out the bad owners, the Spano’s, Pocklington’s,Mcnall’s etc. The expansion fee of 500 million does not go into HRR, rather these owners pockets. Its the fee to join their exclusive club, but also when an individual or group can drop that kind of coin assures the other 30 members of said group, they’re going to be around a while. 500 million split 30 ways is 16 million. A nice chunk of change, but for a Henry Samueli who has a net worth of 2.4 billion, a drop in the bucket. A good week at the track…or Vegas.
Yes Ernie, I made the point that teams generally get very good attendance. The problem is that the NHL has very little “reach” outside their respective cities when compared to say the NBA.
BTW, if you are worth 2.4 billion and you spend 500 million that is over 20% of your net worth…..hardly a drop in the bucket.
I live on the east coast in the largest metro area in the country without a pro team. The area leaders believe that the only pro sports teams it can support are the NBA or NFL. Pro soccer and the WNBA (say what?) were both listed above the NHL in support-ability…….and our area leaders are desperate for a pro team.
I didn’t say 500 million is a drop in the bucket. Rather the 16 million each owner gets as an expansion fee is.
NBA had revenue of 4.8, NHL of 3.7 the year prior to that.
My point is how concentrated revenues are to the big market teams in the NHL. Great case in point. Pens / Sharks pulled a 2.8 in game 1 on broadcast TV. Golden State / Oklahoma pulled an 11.2 on TNT.
SSH, there won’t be an expansion draft this summer. Earliest a new franchise would be put in place is 2017-18. Your facts be wrong.