LOCK HIM UP NOW

[Edmonton Fan]

The last 2 games Hemsky has been even more spectacular than usual. In Pittsburgh he had atleast 2 highlight reel dangles that would've been talked about for a long, long time if he had scored. Love his physical play lately as well. Last night in New York on the breakaway he scored another beauty, stopped on the first shot but had the presence of mind to stay with the puck and roofed it on the NY goaltender. All he needs to do is be more selfish and shoot the damn puck more..

K Lowe you better lock this kid up to a long term deal soon because his talent is being recognized by teams around the NHL. If we lose him I wouldn't be surprised to see riots in the streets of Edmonton. If I didn't know better I would think that Hemsky is a Jarri Kurri clone.

[moontoscott]

Re: LOCK HIM UP NOW

I agree with you completely about Hemsky (he's the most exciting player we have had in many years) but the bottom line is that the Oilers have to compete financially with the bigger teams in order to keep their stars.

People think that the financial game has changed in the NHL but really it hasn't changed all that much. Look at the Oilers, yes the cap is 39 million dollars but the Oiler budget is 34 million so they have a self imposed cap of 34 million. In addition, they have one of the oldest buildings in the league with no real plans for a new rink and the ownership group has a $30 million debt.

So if you are an Oiler owner you are still asking "can we really plan on being around for another 10 years" and that statement alone makes it difficult to lock down any players for the long term.

Looking ahead to next year the cap seems to be on the move upward again. You can bet that the Leafs and Flyers are licking their lips when they think of Hemsky.

How long does it take before the same financial conundrums of the small market teams re-emerge? I say 2 years unless somebody learns some lessons from the past and that seems unlikely given what we have seen in the past 6 months. Look at how much money the owners gave away to guys well past their prime, only to realize that they were done? These managers are supposedly hockey experts but apparently most of them couldn't see how the rule changes would effect the older players who had sat out a year. What kind of expert management is that?

Let's face it, the NHL is not run by the sharpest businessmen on the planet. They are playing to rinks that are half full in at least six cities and yet they are still paying out money to some players that would make the NFL blush-and talk of increasing the salary cap is getting a very friendly reception amongst the owners. Scary stuff and how can you blame a level headed guy like Cal Nichols from rolling his eyes in disgust at this lack of business savy.

These are the real challenges that the Oiler owners face and how could you blame them if they said enough is enough, fools never learn. If you tried to run an oil service company or a restaraunt business like this you wouldn't last a year

[earl2]

Re: LOCK HIM UP NOW

Excellent post.

The NHL has made some huge steps forward, but they're not out of the woods yet.
As for Hemsky, the Oilers NEED to be able to keep this kid. Besides being an unbelievable talent, if they were to lose him for financial reasons it would show the world that it's business as usual for the NHL and small market teams are still the ugly step-sisters.

[Angelus]

Re: LOCK HIM UP NOW

Hemsky is young. He would not be a UFA. No worries.

[moontoscott]

Re: LOCK HIM UP NOW

Hemsky is young. He would not be a UFA. No worries.

Under the new NHL rules he will be a UFA within 3 years. After 7 years you can go where you want.

[Angelus]

Re: LOCK HIM UP NOW

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENCY -- The age of unrestricted free agency remains 31 (with four accrued seasons of 40 or more games on an NHL Club's roster) for 2005-06. It will drop to 29 (with four accrued seasons) or eight accrued seasons -- regardless of age -- in 2006-07. The following season, the age drops to 28 (with four accrued seasons) or seven accrued seasons, and falls to 27 (with four accrued seasons) or seven accrued seasons in 2008-09.

This is Hemsky's third season and he's only 22. So it'll be a minimum of 4 years before he'd be UFA. A lot can happen in four years...not something to really worry about at the moment IMO.

edit: Man, the NHL got hosed when it comes to free agency in this CBA.

[moontoscott]

Re: LOCK HIM UP NOW

This is Hemsky's third season and he's only 22. So it'll be a minimum of 4 years before he'd be UFA. A lot can happen in four years...not something to really worry about at the moment IMO.

edit: Man, the NHL got hosed when it comes to free agency in this CBA.

Yes, I also think they got hosed. They are still spending a huge amount of money that they don't have and now fans will see players disappear after five years of top level service because most players don't come into their own until age 22. Then at 27 you are free to go elsewhere. So teams draft and develop you and when you enter your prime there is a bidding war for your services.

I have never understood how this was much of a victory for the NHL. The salary cap should have been 25 million with free agency at 29 or 30. IMHO nothing has really changed, all the cards still belong to the rich owners.

[Angelus]

Re: LOCK HIM UP NOW

Yes, I also think they got hosed. They are still spending a huge amount of money that they don't have and now fans will see players disappear after five years of top level service because most players don't come into their own until age 22. Then at 27 you are free to go elsewhere. So teams draft and develop you and when you enter your prime there is a bidding war for your services.

I have never understood how this was much of a victory for the NHL. The salary cap should have been 25 million with free agency at 29 or 30. IMHO nothing has really changed, all the cards still belong to the rich owners.

It's not perfect, but you have to admit it's a lot better. Do you think there's a chance in hell we would have Pronger if it wasn't for the new CBA?

[moontoscott]

Re: LOCK HIM UP NOW

It's not perfect, but you have to admit it's a lot better. Do you think there's a chance in hell we would have Pronger if it wasn't for the new CBA?

Yes it is marginally better than what we had but I believe that the real reason we have Pronger is the difference in the exchange rate on the U.S. dollar.

3 years ago, if you wanted to buy 35 million American dollars (to pay the player contracts) it would have cost you about 54 million Canadian dollars. This assumes that the Canadian dollar was worth 65 cents U.S. which is approximately what it was.

While the strike was on the Canadian dollar appreciated substantially to the point where it was worth 85 cents American. So that same 35 million dollars American now costs you approx. 42 million dollars.

So, in effect you have the same budget in American dollars as you did before the strike but now it costs you 12 million less to buy those dollars. Those 12 million extra dollars are almost exactly what Peca and Pronger make. This is the real difference and the reason that the Oilers have been able to sign a few higher profile names.

Conversely, if the exchange rate had gone the other way and the Canadian dollar went to 50 cents it would then have cost 70 million Canadian to buy those same 35 million American dollars and that would have effectively put the Oilers out of business, no matter what the official salary cap is now or will be in the future.

The good news is that I believe that the Canadian dollar is headed for par so that will increase the competitive balance for Canadian teams .

[crocodilejock]

Re: LOCK HIM UP NOW

Darn I thought this was a football thread.