Trading a winger for Larsson is not something i expect to happen ever again

Maybe Oilers will keep on doing it, till they get it right

Now that Auston is getting paid what Auston believes he is worth, I'm of the belief that he needs wingers that can do something to help him live up to that number. Nylander is now the player most likely to provide value on his contract, assuming Dubas keeps handing out blank cheques, is he really the guy that should get moved?

This might be a good time to buy low on Larsson however. A change of scenery might be just what the dr ordered.

I believe nowadays, Larsson's value with his BAD playing throughout the whole season is likely a slight bit higher than Zaitsev's value especially if other team knows they are going to deal with Edmontons management.

Does anyone have any insight/clarification on the following CBA interpretation regarding 35+ contracts and retirement?


(iv) All Player Salary and Bonuses earned in a League Year by a Player who is
in the second or later year of a multi-year SPC which was signed when the
Player was age 35 or older (as of June 30 prior to the League Year in
which the SPC is to be effective), regardless of whether, or where, the
Player is playing, except to the extent the Player is playing under his SPC
in the minor leagues, in which case only the Player Salary and Bonuses in
excess of $100,000 shall count towards the calculation of Actual Club
Salary; plus

The part that says, regardless of 'where' he plays...i'm not certain if that is intended to mean minors, KHL, etc...or if it also includes other NHL teams...meaning...

even if Marleau retires, are the leafs on the hook for his cap regardless of where his contract goes? I was trying to look up what Detroit did with Datsyuk but it doesn't appear Pavel actually retired.

I wonder if Marleau can be "faked" to LTIR next year with some interim doctors to back his "injury" to relieve the cap and then come back from LTIR at TDL for the playoffs to maybe run for the ring ( which he came to seek with TML )

can things like that be doable ? Just a strategical thought tho.....

If he is a plus 35 signing the team is on the hook for his cap hit for the length of the contract. Doesn't matter if retires from hockey or just the NHL. The Wings were on the hook for his last year of Datsyuk's last year at 7m, regardless if he played or not. Hence the reason they made a trade with Arizona who take on the 7m cap hit, though it didn't cost them any money. IMO the Wings were unfairly punished. Datsyuk's contract was not front loaded, so it's not like the Wings were doing any cap "games" for the any of the three years of the contract.

The intent of the 35 clause was so teams like the Leafs could not do a Marleau deal, pay him all that upfront money, on a reduced cap for two years and then be cap free of his last year of his contract when he retired after two years.
I can't remember all the details but that is why the Devils were punished via cap and draft picks when Kovalchuk retired from the NHL. His contract went for what 12 years with just 1m being paid in the last five years. The nature of the front loading, and the length of the contract was obviously cap circumvention. That's why a team...believe it's Nashville will be "cap punished" if Weber retires early from his 12 or 14 year contract. The front loading and length of the contract is perceived as cap circumvention if he retires early.

oh I get that intent...but there's been some debate on here that...even if Marleau retires...do the leafs still get his cap hit if they trade his contract to another team?...since they were the ones that signed him to the +35 contract.

The term "where" in the CBA wording isn't defined properly. I believe its intent was to identify that...if the +35 guy retires...him playing in the KHL or burying him in the minors doesn't let you escape his cap hit. But can you trade him to another team if he retires and get the cap savings? I was under the impression that you could...but I'm not 100% on that

The Leafs can trade his cap hit....just like the Wings did with Datsyuk. In theory if Marleau wants his 1.5m for his third year of "playing" , without really playing Leafs trade him Arizona. Arizona sends him to the minors. He doesn't play but gets paid. Leafs would have to up their sweetener to Arizona.

ie..the workaround is that Marleau doesn't 'officially' retire....simply tells the leafs he's done and then they trade him + sweetener to a cap floor team?