2014 Free Agent Frenzy Thread: FA News, FA Rumors and FA Speculation

[Caged Great]

Honestly, I don't see the Flames doing anything of significance to make the team better this offseason other than token things to hit the floor.

With the possibility of getting one of McDavid/Eichel/Hanifin next year, and the fact we're bottoming out, it makes a lot of sense to hedge a bit for the year.

[Lanny'sDaMan]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

What's uber curious is the little to no (maybe i missed it in this thread) rumours/tweets about cammalleri thus far.

Solstice UthBaradin ‏@Baradinthebard
@RogMillions Have you heard any rumours/info about @MCammalleri13? Really hoping Flames brass can work something out with him.

Roger Millions ‏@RogMillions 45s
@Baradinthebard I have heard he wants to see other offers. He would like to play for a playoff contender. At his age he has earned right.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Honestly, I don't see the Flames doing anything of significance to make the team better this offseason other than token things to hit the floor.

With the possibility of getting one of McDavid/Eichel/Hanifin next year, and the fact we're bottoming out, it makes a lot of sense to hedge a bit for the year.

I really think they'll be players in the RH D department. At least we'll hear their name circling some if not most of them. And possibly aggressive enough to reel one in.

And I think they'll be active on the draft floor when it comes to trading. Shuffling the roster a bit to better fit their view on things.

And maybe a sneaky under the radar type signing like Peter Mueller.

[mrdonkey]

Out of curiosity what is the penalty for not meeting the cap floor? If it's just a fine or a payout to the PA for the dollar amount you're under by, I could maybe see Flames brass rolling up to the draft, making their picks, and packing it in for the summer without reaching the floor.

Perhaps not likely, but a possibility. I'm not seeing a whole lot this summer the Flames can or would want to do in terms of bringing in new players. The veteran presence on the team is already fairly well established.

[Oil Stain]

Originally Posted by mrdonkey

Out of curiosity what is the penalty for not meeting the cap floor? If it's just a fine or a payout to the PA for the dollar amount you're under by, I could maybe see Flames brass rolling up to the draft, making their picks, and packing it in for the summer without reaching the floor.

Perhaps not likely, but a possibility. I'm not seeing a whole lot this summer the Flames can or would want to do in terms of bringing in new players. The veteran presence on the team is already fairly well established.

It's not really an option to not hit the floor. The penalties for nit hitting the floor would be more severe than overpaying some plugs to reach the floor so the Flames and every other team will do it. Guaranteed.

[getbak]

Dave America Lozo ‏@DaveLozo

I'm hearing Mike Cammalleri is looking for a deal in the five-year, $25 million range. Considering what Gaborik got today, it seems fair.

He'll probably be able to get that from someone. If he re-signs with the Flames, I'd rather pay him a little more and get a three-year term.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by mrdonkey

Out of curiosity what is the penalty for not meeting the cap floor?

A lot of it is league discretion but I would imagine fines in the millions of dollars and forfeiting draft picks at least. Not to mention the social pressure of the ire of the players union and the ire of other franchises (who end up paying for you via escrow).

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

It's not really an option to not hit the floor. The penalties for nit hitting the floor would be more severe than overpaying some plugs to reach the floor so the Flames and every other team will do it. Guaranteed.

Unless I misremember, the penalty for being over is that the team can not play.
It's possible the penalty might be the same for being under?

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

Brodeur nailed his sister-in-law?

His wife divorced him because he was doing her sister.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

His wife divorced him because he was doing her sister.

His wife's brother's wife. Martin is now married to his former sister-in-law.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

Unless I misremember, the penalty for being over is that the team can not play.
It's possible the penalty might be the same for being under?

In the new CBA they don't discuss penalties, they just say a club should not be permitted.

Article 50.5(c) Accounting Practices for Lower and Upper Limit.

Accounting Practices for Lower and Upper Limit.
(i) Lower Limit. No Club shall, after commencement of the regular season,
be permitted to have an Averaged Club Salary that falls below the Lower
Limit for that League Year.

[DOOM]

Originally Posted by getbak

He'll probably be able to get that from someone. If he re-signs with the Flames, I'd rather pay him a little more and get a three-year term.

Yea, I like Cammy and if he goes to free agency I hope he can get a deal like that. Just don't want the Flames to sign him to a deal like that.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

Unless I misremember, the penalty for being over is that the team can not play.
It's possible the penalty might be the same for being under?

You cannot make any deal that puts you over the cap

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

You cannot make any deal that puts you over the cap

No, but you can be over the cap during the offseason. No?
And then, if you don't have it back below the cap to start the season, the CBA used to read that the team can not play.

EDIT: From the CBA

Article 50.5(c) Accounting Practices for Lower and Upper Limit.
(ii) Upper Limit
(B) Nevertheless, in order to ensure that Clubs may have sufficient
time and flexibility to plan their rosters during the off-season, the
Upper Limit shall be temporarily raised by ten (10) percent to
permit Clubs additional flexibility with their Averaged Club
Salaries during the period from July 1 until and including the last
day of Training Camp. On the day following the last day of
Training Camp, the Upper Limit shall again be lowered to the level
as calculated in Section 50.5(b), and all Clubs must once again be
in compliance with the Upper Limit from the day following the last
day of Training Camp until and including June 30.

[sureLoss]

Exceeding the salary cap or not hitting the floor is considered CBA circumvention as defined by Article 26.3:

No Club or Club Actor, directly or indirectly, may: (i) enter into any agreements, promises, undertakings, representations, commitments, inducements, assurances of intent, or understandings of any kind, whether express, implied, oral or written, including without limitation, any SPC, Qualifying Offer, Offer Sheet or other transaction, or (ii) take or fail to take any action whatsoever, if either (i) or (ii) is intended to or has the effect of defeating or Circumventing the provisions of this Agreement or the intention of the parties as reflected by the provisions of this Agreement, including without limitation, provisions with respect to the financial and other reporting obligations of the Clubs and the League, Team Payroll Range, Player Compensation Cost Redistribution System, the Entry Level System and/or Free Agency.

(i) Any act by a Club Actor that, if committed by the Club would constitute a
Circumvention, shall be imputed to the Club and shall be deemed to be a
Circumvention by the Club.

The punishment the commissioner can give out for circumventing the CBA is spelled out in 26.13 (c).

• Impose a fine of up to $5 million in the case of a Circumvention by a Club
  or Club Actor, but in no circumstances shall such fine be less than $1
  million against any Club or Club Actor if such party is found to have
  violated Article 50 of this Agreement. If such a fine is assessed against a
  Club (except in the case of a financial reporting violation), that Club's
  Payroll Room shall also be reduced by such amount for the following
  League Year, and if such reduction of the Club's Payroll Room renders the
  Club out of compliance with the Payroll Range (i.e., the Club does not
  have sufficient Payroll Room to accommodate its Player commitments
  comprising Club Salary) for such following League Year, then the Club
  must take such steps as are necessary (e.g., Assignment, Buy-Out,
  Waivers, etc.) and as are permitted by this Agreement to ensure that the
  Club will be in compliance with Article 50 of this Agreement upon
  commencement of the following League Year;
• Direct a Club to forfeit draft picks (the number, placement, and League
  Year of which shall be determined in the Commissioner's sole discretion);
• Declare a forfeiture of any NHL Game(s) determined to have been
  affected by a Circumvention;
• Suspend any Club employee, Player, or Certified Agent involved in such a
  violation for a period of time determined in the sole discretion of the
  Commissioner, the System Arbitrator, or the NHLPA, respectively

Since there is no precedent of a club failing to reach the cap floor, there is no way to be certain what the exact punishment of not reaching the floor would be in terms of $ fine (other than it would be $1 million to $5 million) and draft picks forfeited.

[saXon]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Since there is no precedent of a club failing to reach the cap floor, there is no way to be certain what the exact punishment of not reaching the floor would be in terms of $ fine (other than it would be $1 million to $5 million) and draft picks forfeited.

We all know that draft picks don't matter. They will be given back at some point. Thanks to NJ, every NHL Prez and GM can bring up that little gem if a punishment is dished out.

[sureLoss]

Ren Lavoie reporting that the talks between Stralman and the Rangers are not going well

Renaud Lavoie @renlavoietva
Les négociations entre Anton Stralman et les Rangers ne progressent pas comme prévu. Les prochains jours seront déterminants. #tvasports

[sureLoss]

Nick Kypreos @RealKyper
"@JeffSammut590: At Rogers Center and Tim Leiweke is talking with Martin Brodeur. 4 what it's worth." Got that right #insider Sammy! #Devils

edit looks like he was there just for a charity golf tournament:
Tom Gulitti
@TGfireandice
@RealKyper @JeffSammut590 Brodeur in Toronto for charity golf torunament with David Clarkson.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Ren Lavoie reporting that the talks between Stralman and the Rangers are not going well

Renaud Lavoie @renlavoietva
Les négociations entre Anton Stralman et les Rangers ne progressent pas comme prévu. Les prochains jours seront déterminants. #tvasports

Good, I expected Stralman to be re-signed and thus concluded that the Flames would not be able to have a chance to speak with him prior.
The Flames can upgrade his pay by a fair bit over what the Rangers can pony up.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Nick Kypreos @RealKyper
"@JeffSammut590: At Rogers Center and Tim Leiweke is talking with Martin Brodeur. 4 what it's worth." Got that right #insider Sammy! #Devils

edit looks like he was there just for a charity golf tournament:
Tom Gulitti
@TGfireandice
@RealKyper @JeffSammut590 Brodeur in Toronto for charity golf torunament with David Clarkson.

Leafs fans would eat this up if he ever signed in T.O.
There'd be a marketing Blitz.