Trade Rumors and Free Agent TalkTrade rumors, transactions, and free agent talk. Rumors must contain the word RUMOR in post title. Proposals must contain the word PROPOSAL in post title.
Armstrong has a slight chance of being bought out, imo. I'd also give an even slighter chance of Lombardi (better chance of being sent to the minors though)
that's if you can't trade those players obviously.
Rick Dipietro (If the out-clause becomes a reality)
Unfortunately, that would actually require that DP be healthy and cleared to play during the buyout windows (48 hrs after cup final thru 6/30, 2nd 48 hr post arbitration window, or any hypothetical Compliance Buyout window after a new CBA is signed) - and, really now, what are the odds of that.
Injured players cannot be bought out - unless they consent and forego their right to file a grievance a la Drury.
If Leafs are actually serious about rebuilding then they'd buy out one of Lombardi/Connolly/Armstrong and free up that roster spot for a prospect or for them to be called up and rotate. I'd take Armstrong out from that group.
Armstrong has a slight chance of being bought out, imo. I'd also give an even slighter chance of Lombardi (better chance of being sent to the minors though)
that's if you can't trade those players obviously.
Leafs won't be buying out anyone unless there is a window in the new CBA. Buyouts count against the cap. If needed the Leafs will park salary in the minors.
Dipietro, my personal opinion. There has been almost no mention of this guy. He got surgery and we don't know when it was or how it went. At the deadline and when he got signed, it was said Snow envisions going forward with Nabokov and either Poulin or Nilsson. His insurance is up which means if he gets hurt the Isles pick up the tab. It saves Wang 13.5 million.
It all makes sense. Just need to see what happens.
Dipietro, my personal opinion. There has been almost no mention of this guy. He got surgery and we don't know when it was or how it went. At the deadline and when he got signed, it was said Snow envisions going forward with Nabokov and either Poulin or Nilsson. His insurance is up which means if he gets hurt the Isles pick up the tab. It saves Wang 13.5 million.
It all makes sense. Just need to see what happens.
Was his deal front loaded at all? If it was I can't see Wang buying someone out (for lots of money) when he has already spent more than what appeared as the cap hit. Judging from his acquisitions this year I really can't see Wang ever paying someone without it going on the cap.
Leafs won't be buying out anyone unless there is a window in the new CBA. Buyouts count against the cap. If needed the Leafs will park salary in the minors.
Burke won't put someone he signed in the minors. (if they don't deserve it)
Unfortunately, that would actually require that DP be healthy and cleared to play during the buyout windows (48 hrs after cup final thru 6/30, 2nd 48 hr post arbitration window, or any hypothetical Compliance Buyout window after a new CBA is signed) - and, really now, what are the odds of that.
Injured players cannot be bought out - unless they consent and forego their right to file a grievance a la Drury.
I would expect that when the new CBA is signed, there would be window where teams could exercise the buyout option to get to the revised cap number. It wouldn't be like the 1 time non-cap hit charge after the last lockout, but I could very much see the NHL fight to have the buyout percentage reduced from the 2/3 rate that it is now.
If the NHL could get it down to 1/3, you would see more players get bought out. I think most teams won't do the buyout in June. I think most teams will wait until the new CBA is signed before the do the buyout.
I'm sure Gomez is gone, but the Habs may want to wait until the CBA is signed to see if they need to pay Gomez less than the 2/3 rate they would owe him if they buy him out in June.
I don't see the players union agreeing to buyouts while a player is injured, no matter what the circumstances are.
For DP a buyout probably makes sense. But for some 3rd/4th liner who's barely hanging on to his career by a thread and has an injury? No way. That guy gets cut and his agent has to work months on the phone to try and find a team to take him and give him a fresh new contract.
Don't see a DP buyout happening for that reason. The players union represents the whole, not specifically Rick Dipietro and the New York Islanders.
If Leafs are actually serious about rebuilding then they'd buy out one of Lombardi/Connolly/Armstrong and free up that roster spot for a prospect or for them to be called up and rotate. I'd take Armstrong out from that group.
Or they could just let them play out the final year of their respective contracts and not have them on the cap for two years instead of one. They'd be best to just send one to the minors.
