Extended vacation time allows for the mind to ponder many things. All hockey related, of course:
The NHL is either dumb or bluffing. There is no way they are going to void the contract of Marian Hossa or any other player signed this side of Ilya Kovalchuk. If they want to continue to make a statement with the New Jersey Devils and Kovalchuk, fine, but leave the contracts that were signed last offseason alone. Only a Mickey Mouse operation would void a deal a year later, and in Hossa’s case, a year into the contract. It’s not going to happen. My guess is they are rattling some cages so this kind of cap circumvention comes to an end. It certainly will when the next CBA is negotiated. “We’re still investigating,” the league claims. Please. How long does it take? The statute of limitations is over.
The NHL will have a slight change to how it breaks ties at the end of the regular season. Currently, if two teams are tied in points, the team with more total wins gets the higher seed. The new rule will eliminate shootout wins from that total and only take into account regulation and overtime (four-on-four) victories. It reduces the importance of the shootout, which is a good thing. Now if they can just get rid of the shootout completely, and play four-on-four for 10 minutes, overtime would be perfect.
After watching HBO’s “Real Sports” recently, it’s good news that the NHL is addressing the head shots. The show featured new science linking concussions to Lou Gehrig’s disease. Interestingly, the study did not include hockey players who probably take as many head shots as any athlete other than boxers and possibly football players. The new rule basically states that blind-side hits to the head will be penalized. Last season Willie Mitchell’s big hit on Jonathan Toews was legal. This season it won’t be.
I’m still bothered by how entry level deals work in the NHL. Shouldn’t veteran deals conceivably count more against the cap than a rookie who has never played a game? Even worse, on good teams that spend money, high draft picks -- such as Jack Skille last season -- have a harder time making a team than lower picks such as Bryan Bickell. Skille made too much money while Bickell made just the right amount. It got to the point where Skille openly wished he made less. That’s un-American! My solution -- which I’m sure has many holes in it -- is to basically make all entry-level deals count against the cap at the same cost or close to each other. Kyle Beach might have bonuses that get him over $1 million but his cap hit would only be, say, $750,000. Meanwhile, a third- or fourth-round pick would make less but still have a similar hit or a little lower but not a huge difference. Maybe $750,000 is the max hit. It actually allows for the better player -- at least on paper -- to make the team. Isn’t that why he was drafted higher? Now that his entry level deal is over, Skille is now Bickell and Beach is now Skille. Skille has a better chance at playing while making $600,000 without any bonuses. Beach could be on the outside looking in. Maybe it all works out in the wash, and it’s the price you pay for being a good team but something doesn’t feel right about it.
The Hawks will introduce Marty Turco at a news conference on Aug. 31. All eyes will certainly be on him as the only major veteran newcomer to the team. He said from the moment the Dallas Stars season ended he thought of playing for the Hawks, and now it’s a reality. Here’s a prediction: Turco will approach the all-time assist record for a goalie in one season. Not surprisingly, it’s held by Grant Fuhr, when he tallied 14 in the 1983-1984 season. The Edmonton Oilers scored about seven a game so he was bound to get a few. With the Hawks’ puck-moving style, especially from defense to offense, Turco gets at least 10 helpers.
[+] Enlarge
Bill Smith/NHLI/Getty ImagesMarian Hossa doesn't have to worry about the NHL voiding his contract.
Bill Smith/NHLI/Getty ImagesMarian Hossa doesn't have to worry about the NHL voiding his contract.[+] Enlarge
Manny Flores/Icon SMIMarty Turco won 262 games in nine seasons with the Stars.
Manny Flores/Icon SMIMarty Turco won 262 games in nine seasons with the Stars.
Jesse Rogers
Chicago Blackhawks beat reporterJesse joined ESPN Chicago in September 2009 and covers the Chicago Blackhawks for ESPNChicago.com and ESPN Radio 1000.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Jesse Rogers
Jesse Rogers covers the Chicago Blackhawks for ESPN 1000 and ESPNChicago.com.
ESPNCHICAGO.COM HAWKS ON TWITTER
TEAM LEADERS
| POINTS | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Marian Hossa
|
|||||||||||
| OTHER LEADERS | ||||||||||||
| Goals | P. Sharp | 33 | ||||||||||
| Assists | M. Hossa | 48 | ||||||||||
| +/- | P. Sharp | 28 | ||||||||||
| GAA | C. Crawford | 2.72 | ||||||||||
You must be signed in to post a comment