Yesterday Jason Chimera and the Washington Capitals agreed to a two-year contract extension. The deal keeps Chimera in town till the end of the 2013-14 season and will pay the vet $3.5 million (1.8 next year and 1.7 in 13-14). This is a great decision by George McPhee and company. Mike Knuble doesn't have much gas left in the tank, Brooks Laich is being tossed around between wing and center and there aren't really any aggressive forwards (of theKnuble, Brouwer, and Chimera type) in the minors.While Chimera isn't young, 32 years old, he is 7 years younger than Knuble, which in turn gives the Caps time to find a young kid to fill the void.
Consider this, the Caps signed Joel Ward (a similar player just not as fast) to a 4 years $12 million deal and he is only two years younger than Chimera. Getting Chimera at such a low price is a steal. Considering Chimera, unlike Ward, can play on all four lines. Chimera played well while lining up with Ovechkin and Backstrom last year and gave that line a dimension that Knuble could not, speed. Plus, as all Washington sports fans have learned, you have a much better chance at scoring big by re-signing your own free agents than bringing in a new one (see the Washington Redskins). All in all, thank you George McPhee for re-signing a player that most us fans love to watch and thank you Jason Chimera for putting ink to paper and staying put here in Washington for a few more years.
Ovie's amazing goal
Friday, September 30, 2011
Capology III
So it took me a little longer than I would have liked but here we got with the panel I listened to at the Caps Convention. Don Fishman was very informative and enlightened me, and many others, on the nuances of the NHL salary cap. One thing that I was unaware of was the growth of the salary cap. In 2005 the minimum number was $21.5 million and the max was only $39 million. Today as it stands the minimum is $48.3 million and the max is $64.3 million. There has been a significant increase in these six years and even more so considering that from the 08-09 season to the 09-10 season the minimum and maximum cap only increased by $.1 million. The Caps need to fit under the $64.3 million max with 23 players. Overall they are allowed to have 50 players under contract (they currently have 48) but this includes junior players and such.
The Caps, and all NHL teams, can draft a player at the age of 18. They generally reach their entry level contract around age 20, after juniors. Of course the likes of Ovechkin, Steven Stamkos, and Sidney Crosby skipped juniors and jumped straight into their entry level deal. All entry level deals are three years in length and are all 2way contracts. A player does not have any restricted rights until after their entry level deal is over (usually around the age of 23). Within these restricted rights, the players are not allowed arbitration. This is a one year deal and then the next year (age 24) the player is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights. Most players do not become unrestricted free agents until the age of 27-28 years old. Clearly the listed players above buck the trend and would be eligible at the age of 25-26. No extension can be made to the player until after their entry level deal. Ovechkin signed a 13 year contract and Backstrom signed a 10 year deal after their initial entry level deal was up. This then skips through any restricted free agency and arbitration rights.
An example of a current rookie/entry level deal is that of Marcus Johansson. Marcus was given a three year deal for 900K. The Capitals do not include any performance bonuses in their rookie deals. They do this in order to always know the cap number. They instead increase the players overall salary and use that as the compensation for those bonuses. If Marcus was to play juniors, the caps could still have him under contract but the contract can slide two years until he comes to Hershey or Washington that was when he arrives he keeps his entry level deal length. Marcus can not become an unrestricted free agent until after the 2018-2019 season.
A player like Mathieu Perreault is still in an entry level deal, but because of his tenure in the league he still has a two year contract but has to pass through waiver in order to play in Hershey. Don gave an example of player salary between Hershey and the NHL. If Perreault is with the Capitals he will make the 82 game avg of $810K. If he is dropped down to Hershey he will only make the avg of $67,500. As we were informed, Hershey is one of the few teams that pay their players a higher salary due to the profits they earn during their season. Most minor league teams could not afford to pay a Perreault that amount of money. The players are lucky to have the opportunity to play in Hershey and the fact that it is so close to Washington DC, we the fans can attend and help these young players succeed.
This was a good basis for the panel. I don't want to repeat myself with the deals and structures as they are pretty much the same with the other examples of Alzner and Laich. This panel was fun and interesting as far as learning the nuances of the NHL salary cap. As I finish this up, the Caps have re-signed winger Jason Chimera to a two-year extension worth $3.5million...
The Caps, and all NHL teams, can draft a player at the age of 18. They generally reach their entry level contract around age 20, after juniors. Of course the likes of Ovechkin, Steven Stamkos, and Sidney Crosby skipped juniors and jumped straight into their entry level deal. All entry level deals are three years in length and are all 2way contracts. A player does not have any restricted rights until after their entry level deal is over (usually around the age of 23). Within these restricted rights, the players are not allowed arbitration. This is a one year deal and then the next year (age 24) the player is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights. Most players do not become unrestricted free agents until the age of 27-28 years old. Clearly the listed players above buck the trend and would be eligible at the age of 25-26. No extension can be made to the player until after their entry level deal. Ovechkin signed a 13 year contract and Backstrom signed a 10 year deal after their initial entry level deal was up. This then skips through any restricted free agency and arbitration rights.
An example of a current rookie/entry level deal is that of Marcus Johansson. Marcus was given a three year deal for 900K. The Capitals do not include any performance bonuses in their rookie deals. They do this in order to always know the cap number. They instead increase the players overall salary and use that as the compensation for those bonuses. If Marcus was to play juniors, the caps could still have him under contract but the contract can slide two years until he comes to Hershey or Washington that was when he arrives he keeps his entry level deal length. Marcus can not become an unrestricted free agent until after the 2018-2019 season.
A player like Mathieu Perreault is still in an entry level deal, but because of his tenure in the league he still has a two year contract but has to pass through waiver in order to play in Hershey. Don gave an example of player salary between Hershey and the NHL. If Perreault is with the Capitals he will make the 82 game avg of $810K. If he is dropped down to Hershey he will only make the avg of $67,500. As we were informed, Hershey is one of the few teams that pay their players a higher salary due to the profits they earn during their season. Most minor league teams could not afford to pay a Perreault that amount of money. The players are lucky to have the opportunity to play in Hershey and the fact that it is so close to Washington DC, we the fans can attend and help these young players succeed.
This was a good basis for the panel. I don't want to repeat myself with the deals and structures as they are pretty much the same with the other examples of Alzner and Laich. This panel was fun and interesting as far as learning the nuances of the NHL salary cap. As I finish this up, the Caps have re-signed winger Jason Chimera to a two-year extension worth $3.5million...
Sunday, September 25, 2011
I stand Corrected!
As a great tweet from @Jenstatz8 (an avid caps fan) here is a link to pre order the Caps 24/7 DVD.
http://store.hbo.com/247-penguinscapitals-road-to-the-nhl-winter-classic-dvd/detail.php?p=300305&v=hbo_dvds#tabs
It was to my knowledge it still wasn't available but as I said I stand corrected. I wish they would have said that at the convention yesterday! But thank you Jen!
http://store.hbo.com/247-penguinscapitals-road-to-the-nhl-winter-classic-dvd/detail.php?p=300305&v=hbo_dvds#tabs
It was to my knowledge it still wasn't available but as I said I stand corrected. I wish they would have said that at the convention yesterday! But thank you Jen!
Capitals Convention
Unfortuantely I have a good 90 plus minute drive to DC so i was a tad late to the convention. I arrived around 1015-1030 and liked what I initially saw. I wasn't able to go last year (attended a wedding) but went to the first convention and I did notice some differences. There were only two downsides that I saw to yesterday, one was the alumni were done signing and all but gone before noon, the first convention they were signing most of the day to my recollection. Secondly, aside from Ovechkin and Holtby playing hockey with the kids, I saw zero player interaction with fans. Troy Brouwer slapped a high five to a fan or two waiting in line for the next autograph session but that was about it. Someone approached Joel Ward and he said he wasn't allowed to sign. I understand we purchase the tickets and are to get two autographs, I am not complaining about that. Just suggesting maybe something like have Ovie or Semin play vs some fans at random with the accuracy game or Carlson and Green at the fastest shot. Just something small, hopefully this trickles back to someone about it.
I did enjoy the one panel that I watched, Capology III. Don Fishman was very insightful and answered all questions thoroughly. It really put in to perspective the hockey cap system and how the caps are able to sign the likes of Ward, Brouwer, Hamrlik and Vokoun and extend Alzner and still have money for Semin, Backstrom and Ovechkin's big contracts. I won't get to deep into it as I took notes and will write another blog on Capology later in the day.
I will say, I can see why George McPhee went out and traded a first round pick for Troy Brouwer. He is a big guy, looks (as Chimera does) like someone you don't want to deal with. Joel Ward is another guy, he just looks like an intimidating force sitting up at the table next to Ovechkin during autographs. Granted the preseason games haven't been on TV at all and I haven't been able to watch, I will say they fit the profile the Caps have been missing.
Hearing the interview of the 24/7 crew was quite enjoyable. The looks on Ovechkin and Boudreau's faces during the scenes were priceless. I especially liked when Bruce stated that he had no friends in the Penguins organization. It was also interesting to hear how the players and coaches reacted to the cameras in their face for that month. Now can I ask, why in the hell are they not making this into a DVD? I am sure it would be a best seller, especially since there is no other 24/7 like the hockey one. PLEASE HBO MAKE THIS A DVD!!!!!
The Capitals convention was great, some slow moments but overall its nothing like any other team in the DC area does. The fans get to see their favorite players and coaches and it gets you ready for hockey season. We are 13 days away from the opening game at home vs Carolina and I believe the Caps fans finally have that itch of we are almost there and ready to rock the red.
I did enjoy the one panel that I watched, Capology III. Don Fishman was very insightful and answered all questions thoroughly. It really put in to perspective the hockey cap system and how the caps are able to sign the likes of Ward, Brouwer, Hamrlik and Vokoun and extend Alzner and still have money for Semin, Backstrom and Ovechkin's big contracts. I won't get to deep into it as I took notes and will write another blog on Capology later in the day.
I will say, I can see why George McPhee went out and traded a first round pick for Troy Brouwer. He is a big guy, looks (as Chimera does) like someone you don't want to deal with. Joel Ward is another guy, he just looks like an intimidating force sitting up at the table next to Ovechkin during autographs. Granted the preseason games haven't been on TV at all and I haven't been able to watch, I will say they fit the profile the Caps have been missing.
Hearing the interview of the 24/7 crew was quite enjoyable. The looks on Ovechkin and Boudreau's faces during the scenes were priceless. I especially liked when Bruce stated that he had no friends in the Penguins organization. It was also interesting to hear how the players and coaches reacted to the cameras in their face for that month. Now can I ask, why in the hell are they not making this into a DVD? I am sure it would be a best seller, especially since there is no other 24/7 like the hockey one. PLEASE HBO MAKE THIS A DVD!!!!!
The Capitals convention was great, some slow moments but overall its nothing like any other team in the DC area does. The fans get to see their favorite players and coaches and it gets you ready for hockey season. We are 13 days away from the opening game at home vs Carolina and I believe the Caps fans finally have that itch of we are almost there and ready to rock the red.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Sorry its been so long
I had some internet issues and then switched internet providers so I have been away. Sorry for the lack of blogging.
The only thing I have to say in the post is my thoughts and prayers go out to all the families, friends, and players in the KHL after the devestating crash of the team plane of Yaroslavl Lokomotiv. Being a Caps fan, Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom I am sorry that you have lost friends, I feel for you. I have lost friends as well and it is horrible, especially to this magnitude.
I will be getting back up to speed here soon, stay tuned!
The only thing I have to say in the post is my thoughts and prayers go out to all the families, friends, and players in the KHL after the devestating crash of the team plane of Yaroslavl Lokomotiv. Being a Caps fan, Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom I am sorry that you have lost friends, I feel for you. I have lost friends as well and it is horrible, especially to this magnitude.
I will be getting back up to speed here soon, stay tuned!
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