Will NHL investigate Canucks now too?
Posted by TimS on Wed, 09/02/2009 - 12:14
With the Vancouver Canucks announcing Wednesday they have signed goalie Roberto Luongo to a 12-year, $64 million contract extension, will the NHL look at this deal as closely as it is investigating Marian Hossa's contract with the Blackhawks?
I'm betting not.
The NHL didn't like the fact Hossa's 12-year, $62.8 million deal with the Hawks that is front-loaded took him past the age of 40.
Luongo's is 30, which means he'll be 42 - same as Hossa - when this contract expires.
And he's a goalie!
The Hawks don't think they have anything to worry about with regard to Hossa's contract, but who knows? This is the NHL and Gary Bettman we're talking about.
I see course has veered off to discussing the impending NHL Titanic known as the Phoenix Coyotes. It is obvious that the league and maybe Bettman personally has promised Phoenix people more than a few things over the years and they are bound and determined to keep the team in Phoenix. But Bettman has at least three major problems that are getting in his way:
1) The team is bankrupt. This brings the court and many lawyers into the mix which really clogs up the melted ice.
2) He has an able and willing buyer that wants to buy the team for far more than anyone else has committed to spending. This makes all of the people owed money in reason #1 drool and bring even more lawyers into the mix.
3) The Phoenix market in terms of overall economy is a complete disaster. This leaves even fewer fans with cash to support the team than they had a few years ago and there never were enough to begin with so the short and long range outlooks are not good for hockey in that area.
Hockey in the desert was never a good idea so it might be time for the league to give it up. Besides, they're going to need time to prepare for dealing with the next couple of teams that are hanging on by a thread.....probably starting with Atlanta, especially if they lose Kovalchuk in free agency.
DanfromVan - good to see you back after a long summer. Honestly, how do you feel about Luongo for 10 years? He's won exactly 1 playoff series. He's shown flashes of brilliance, yet this is a DiPietro length contract. Yes, the Hawks have their own anchor with the Hossa contract. Any hesitancy on this one? Where do you put the Canucks pre-season? Not a lot of additions up front, but it looks like their getting stocked on the D-line.
Khabby39
Balsillie financially is on top of the world right now. What happens to his promises when the I Phone gets done rocking his world. Everyone around here likes the I Phone a lot more than the Blackberry. He has been a liar & a snake for the last few years. Can't wait to see this guy in action if or when he starts to lose money. And I'm not saying this to back Gary Bettman.
I think Big Jim may have erred in his efforts to land a team but on the other hand he probably realized that no matter what he did or offered Bettman would nix it simply because he has a personal war going on with Jim and no offense but with canadian teams in general. It is obvious he wants to expand the us market. I would really like to see the Coyotes relocate back to Winnipeg where they came from. Also if JB got the franchise he could afford to lose millions every year and it would not hurt him financially. Bottom line his I am sure he would turn a profit immediately. Talk to you later.
It called the free market. The same free market that the Yotes Creditors should expect when they are trying to recover debt. Like Balsillie or not, he has presented the best bid to : 1. Give the Creditors the most back for their loss 2. Move the franchise to a market that MAY (I think will) support it better (Yotes never made a profit in AZ) I think if anyone looks at this situation from a business perspective, Jimmy should have the best shot.
I wonder if TSN et al will drag the Canucks through the mud like they did with the Hawks. The Hossa Non-Story (TM) was front page TSN.CA for days. What Hypocrisy!
Of course not.
Because the Canucks are a Canadian team. The Hawks aren't.
Nice try JJ. The Luongo deal was negotiated while he was under contract. Now if teams cannot talk to free agents till 12:00 on July 01 it seems pretty suspicious that Hossa was signed one minute into free agency with a contract that would have taken hours or days to work out. Big difference but some of you americans have this chip on your shoulder like us versus them and that is all wrong. Unfortunately there are canadians that have the same chip. I know deep down we stand united but when it comes to hockey anything goes!! For example the Flames/Oilers rivalry is insane. I have buddies that live in both cities and they absolutely hate each other.
The Hossa deal was not announced until something like 10 AM. If you have PROOF that it was signed at 12:01 AM, I'll change my opinion. Maybe you do. Seriously, I'd love to see it. Because that would support your point.
I also know FOR A FACT (because to the best of my knowledge I posted it first on my blog before TSN and the Trib had it) that the Hawks went into that day with their sights set on Hossa (a source spoke with someone in Buffalo that very morning who I need to leave anonymous, but you figure it out), but there was no mention of a "deal being worked out at that time" Those are just the facts as I KNOW them, not made up, not to win any argument or "nice try." Still not sure what you mean by that. Whatever.
Dude, Darren Dreger, Pierre Maguire, many at TSN and most of the Toronto media have a hard bias toward Canadian teams. You'd have to be BLIND not to see that. Please. As a result, because there is no Canadian team that is a legitimate Cup contender (including the freaking Canucks), they (especially Dreger) have tried to over-report and over-hype every bit of bad news that's come out about the Hawks this offseason.
Why? Because the Hawks are, and are going to be a very good, Cup-contending team for years. And it's happened faster than any of them thought it would. And they, frankly, don't like it.
The NHL would have a rough time overturning or even penailizing the Hawks on the Hossa deal now...having just approved the Luongo deal
More fuel for them to show they aren't doing anything wrong. In this deal I think that Luongo makes 10 million next season, and then something like 6.7 the year after that. After that first year 10 mil, he makes an average of about 4.9 per year... I kind of feel bad for Luongo now that he will be stuck with a second rate team like the Canucks for so long.
Bottom line is you are just frustrated we have Huet and they have Luongo. Let's face it the canucks are not second rate. Second rate is something your hawks will be next season. As far as these long term deals like Hossa's, Pronger and now Luongo goes there is nothing against the rules to prevent this from happening. There does not seem to be any consistency in Bettman's nhl right now. Why investigate Hossa's long term and let Pronger and Luongo go?? Why keep the coyotes in Phoenix where they keep losing big money and neglect a JB offer of financial stabilty?? Bettman is a sneaky dishonest weasel.
The Hawks will be second rate next season? What world are you living in, 39? Don't let your heart overshadow your head.
Pronger's deal is supposed to be investigated too IIRC. Luongo just signed. I agree there's a little issue with the NHL right now, but the league signed off. This is nothing but a little note to the NHLPA for the upcoming CBA.
As for Balsille, he's burned too many bridges. It goes beyond just moving the 'yotes. Lot's of hurdles need to be cleared as it pertains to the market affects of Buffalo and Toronto.
Now...while I personally believe the NHL needs more Canadian teams, I believe the way this is shaking out and whom it is shaking out with (Balsille) the 'yotes may not be moving any time soon, especially with the person wanting to own the team.
Get over it, please.
I am over it. Mark my words and copy and paste this so you remember what I said. The Hawks will not be as good this year as the chemistry has been broken and the expectations are too high. First off you need a goaltender unless Niemi or Crawford surprise and secondly teams that go as far as the Hawks did last year expect to go farther the following year but it rarely happens. Remember JJ this is just my opinion and I believe I am allowed to have one so maybe you could get over it, please.
I agree with you on the backup goalie situation, that scares me a lot more than the negligible (if any) difference between Huet and Khabibulin
Check me if I'm wrong Sandy, but weren't you the guy who just last month on another Tim blog entry, swore he was done posting here FOREVER because of that pissing match?
Right you are Reg, I did say that and obviously you enjoy my playfullness. You, me and all the other posters have the right to agree or disagree with other opinions. I got a little fire in me over that one comment and went overboard, sorry about that but I am over it and hold no grudges with anyone. So I am back and will be cheering for my Hawks and in particular Andrew Ladd. It is okay to ruffle a few feathers once in awhile but life goes on I do enjoy the opinions of all the Hawk bloggers. My keeper hockey league has existed for 30 years now and you would not believe the heated arguments that go on once in awhile but we all like each other and get over it so hopefully the slate is clean until we agree to disagree on future blogs. Looking forward to another great season and thanks for holding me accountable. I'm back and will not make that statement ever again Reg.
Glad you reconsidered. Nobody should quit posting due to a disagreement or comment on this or any other blog. Game on Hawks!
This guy isn't worth 5+ million a year to me, especially not at age 30, but its the Canucks money so its their problem. The more I think about today's cap the more I think there isn't a goalie in the league I'd pay 5 million a year for, at least not for more than 2-3 years at a time. For every Brodeur you could name a dozen or more guys who had one or two great years then vanished....or whose teams wished they would have vanished. Luongo has been good for a few years but he's now 30 with zero Stanley Cups on his resume and soon his skills will start to erode while the Canucks pay him huge bucks.
However, this Luongo deal only helps the Hawks and Flyers with the foolishness surrounding the Hossa and Pronger deals. Just because guys changed teams shouldn't cause an alarm to go off in the league office.
Of trying to talk down one of the best goalies in the league, some of you Hawk fans just do not get why the NHL is investigating the Hossa deal.
It has nothing to do with term... It has to do with the fact that this long and complicated deal was signed at like 12:01 of the FA period. That happened with Ohlund in TB too...so...so what.
But the other sticking point for the league was that they had, or must have had, info that the team and the player discussed when he would retire. On negotiating a FA deal. Not an extension with his existing team.
There is a difference between a huge FA deal and an extension, as ALL the other long term deals have been.
Also, in the last 4 years, the Canucks are paying 3.6/1.5/1/1 mil.
Hossa's deal is 1.5/1.5/1/1 mil.
A bit different there too.
Personally, I don't care. If the teams can use this to save a few bucks on the cap, so what? It will probably be a negotiating point in the next CBA though...
Can't wait for the puck to drop.
One final thing. Our goalie is now basically the same Cap hit as Huet.
Putting your homer caps on the hook, who would you rather have?
Honestly...
Taking off my Blackhawks hat for a minute I'd take Loungo over Huet. For our sakes I hope Huet has a breakout season but I'm not optimistic on that front. The hope that I have is that the five skaters out in front of him make him a better goalkeeper than he really is. On the contract issues there is a loophole in the CBA that probably will be closed with the next CBA agreement. Don't teams have to submit contracts for approval by the NHL? That being the case why did the league allow it at first and decide to investigate later. My guess is other GM'S complained and the NHL is doing it to satisfy them. It sure is taking them a long time to render a decision. The contract was signed in July and the NHL is still looking in to it.
when the 'Hawks made your boy cry, I don't know. Seems like when even a good goalie is peppered, he weakens. I don't see too many Norris Trophy candidates playing in front of your goalie...Your starting goalie may be better but what about the other 19 guys on the squad any given night? Think there's just a little difference there? Be honest now.
As for the deals, they're nearly identical. 12 years, low $60M's, deal goes to about age 42. The last 4 years really doesn't matter. If you want to compare, how 'bout the 1st year? Hossa's is $7.9M, Luongo's is $10.0M. But does any of that matter? No.
What the NHL is doing is a smoke screen. I don't care Hossa's deal was on the 1st day of FA. Doesn't matter one bit. The league approved it, period. The clown that is supposed to be the commish can't handle teams found a minor but obvious loophole in the CBA.
If this was such a big thing, why didn't they do anything when the Wings signed Zetterberg and Franzen earlier this year. Zetterberg's deal is $10M more than either Hossa or Luongo for the same 12-year term (Franzen's is $43.5M for 11 years). And both the Wings players contracts go to just past age 40.
This is all about nothing until the next CBA has to be negotiated. It's simply the league firing a shot over the bow of the NHLPA's ship to simply say, "we're renegotiating this in the next CBA".
And the worst thing that can come out of this is what's been happening in MLB for decades. In the MLB it's NOT players vs owners. It's BIG market owners vs SMALL market owners. The NHL still has a chance to limit that affect and not let it get to what's happened in MLB.
I'd also much rather have Toews and Hossa than the Sisters.
I'd rather have any of our top 3 over any of your defensemen.
In fact, I'm not sure I wouldn't rather have a 20 year old Niklas Hjalmarsson with a great career ahead of him than most of your defense.
I'd rather have Kane, Byfuglien, Sharp or Versteeg than most of your forwards. Especially that hair pulling PANSY, Burrows.
So Dan, keep celebrating staying at par.
Lets see....you like The Hawks...so the Canucks must suck right? LOL
I would rather have Luongo too. And Toews and Hossa are pretty good...but for the contract stability and talent...I'll take the Wonder Twins...Toews will need a BIG raise very soon....you can't pay everyone.
But then you get crazy my friend!!!Nikky Hammer over most of our D'? Geez...Edler is waaaayyyy ahead of that guy, in talent, scoring and everything else. He is more on a par with say...Obrien or Lukowich.
The forwards? We are pretty happy with Samuelsson, who I would put in front of Sharp and/or Versteeg.
Bernier lost 20 pounds, got faster and harder, just to get in Buf's grill! (just kidding....but he will be quite the better player, I think)
I see the Canucks in 2nd or 3rd overall, with the Hawks there close by with the Flamers.
Celebrating will remain at a premium!
Hey Jacukel, don't forget Burrows only pulled Keith's hair because Keith "fishhooked" him AND pull his trunks when the ref wasn't looking!
Needs a haircut anyway.
I agree 100% and I get the feeling many hawk fans are plain pissed that they got Huet and nucks have Luongo. Canucks are cup favourites this year and Hawks will struggle to make the playoffs. Sorry Hawk fans but my two favourite Hawks have been run out, Havlat and Khabibulin. These two guys were the team leaders last year and management forced them out. I think Tallon wanted them and that cost him his job too. Now you have to deal with the little hoodlum Kane all year, what a joke he is! I feel for my two favourite hawks JT and Andrew Ladd, maybe you could see about trading them to a contender like Vancouver.
Your 2 favorite hawks, ha ha...... you sound like a 10 year old, got posters on the wall of um' too..... go blog on Minnesota, and Edmontons sights so you can talk up you favorite players....ya clown!!
I think most of us would rather have Habby or Loungo over Huet. I don't think Habby was run out of town. Tallon never should have signed Huet in the first place. Once that happened Habby's fate was sealed so were stuck with Huet. As far as Marty goes I think it came down to health concerns more than anything else although don't you find it ironic that the guy they sign to replace him is hurt and on the shelf until December?
you really need to share the stuff you're smoking.
Your two favourite 'Hawks players are probably 2 of the worst teammates that were on the squad.
Havlat can always be exciting, if healthy. But there were too many issues surrounding him behind the scenes here in his 3 years (it's why Lang and Koci were cut loose earlier). Those contributed to him not re-signing as well as the health issues; don't forget he got his clocked cleaned TWICE in the conf finals. The 2nd hit - after coming back missing a game - may not have been nearly as bad as the 1st, but who knows the long term affects of a concussion. Concussions are tricky, very tricky. And let's face it, Marty just hasn't played any considerable amount of time since the injury.
I liked Khabi's ability to stand on his head, however he's approaching an age the 'Hawks simply were not comfortable with signing for 3-4 years. IIRC he got 4 years with the Oilers. With Huet already here and some good youngsters like Crawford and Niemi, Khabi had to be let go. The 'Hawks could not continue with 22% of their cap hit in the nets. I'm still not convinced he was the great teammate some people said he was. The 'Hawks did a good job keeping their "issues" INSIDE the locker room.
Funny on offence you don't mention Sharp, Bolland, Madden, Versteeg, Brouwer and Kopecky. Wasn't Mats Sundin key to the Canucks late season push? Is he still there???
And as far as Kane being a hoodlum, how 'bout that hair-pulling sissy you guys have?
Funny you don't mention defence. Care to compare any of your boys up there to Keith and Seabrook? Those 2 guys on your team are an automatic 1-2 punch, no doubt. Ah, don't forget Barker, Hjalmarsson & Campbell.
One last thing. Is Luongo going to play all 82 games? Perhaps go out and begin the challenge of Glenn Hall's 502 consecutive complete games he compiled with the Wings and 'Hawks? So who's your back-up? The guy who's gonna play 15-20 games? Care to compare your back-up with Crawford or Niemi?
Daddio you can't see the forest because of the trees and that is okay because you gotta love your team. Bottom line the canucks don't need a back up, unlike the Hawks who will have to rely on inexperienced back ups. I am not sure about Crawford but I think Niemi could really surprise and take over #1 early in the season as soon as Crystal gets injured or booed out. Keep in mind I am not a Canuck fan. I am a Hawk fan and a Flyer fan and my opinions are what I think and not what I hear. Bottom line is your goalie is the most important player on all teams and I think the Hawks would rate somewhere between #20 and #25 of all teams while Vancouver is #1 to #3. The Hawks just had a streaky run last year and the nucks were injured just like the Wings. It will be hard for the Hawks to find that same groove this year.
I would want Luongo, of course.
No "homer" here - don't like Huet, don't particularly care for Kane - although I must confess that that hat trick against . . . oh yeah, the Luongo and the Canucks, was pretty good.
The charge of homerism goes both ways though Dan. If I recall, you weren't always the most objective observer last spring, no?
We try to be smart and make our points of course...but come playoff time? Naaahhh...we are down to "Yo Mamas"....and "(insert team here) sucks."
I don't think the Hawks will be quite as good this year, just from losing Bulin. I mean, Huet may prove me, you, and everyone else wrong. If that happens, the Hawks battle the Wings for 1st in their division, and maybe win it I think.
Huet gets inconsistent and the Hawks are in that 6-8 spot pretty quick.
You'll have to excuse us 'Nuck fans right now...we are feeling like the "JuggerNucks" and puffing our chests out a bit.
It has been, without a doubt, one of the best off seasons for the team ever. Started with stealing Schroeder (Kane II, new and improved...so far, no record!) at the draft. Signing the Sedins, pillaging the Sharks for D'...signing a PP QB...
All because Mike Gillis came in with a plan and stuck to it. He's made a team players like Loungo and others want to play for. And he insists on character and community guys. No real controversies here for a while...
Can't wait for camp to begin. They televise even pre-season games here, how about there? That Versus/Direct kerfuffle a big deal in Chicago, or can you still get puck on the TV? Can someone explain to me why the NHL can't follow the NFL path and get the NHL Network on your basic package?
Drop the puck!
They lost Sundin and Ohlund. What are you talking about? They are the same team they were last year!
You set yourself up as a hockey expert, all you did last season here was lecture us silly Americans about how none of us has ever been within a mile of a rink, yet you have no objectivity when it comes to the Canucks.
None.
I would never "lecture" you silly Americans Jac. I find most of the posters here to be very knowledgable.
Its why I keep coming back!
Not an expert...just a fan...but let me try to help you.
We gained Samuelsson, we gained Shirokov, we have Bernier coming back in the best shape ever...same as Wellwood. We have a LOT of players that will be fighting for spots up front, and enough depth that another deal is coming...count on it. A lot of the young guys , like Shirokov and Hodgson, will be fighting for spots this year.
Sundin got married...if he comes back, we will welcome him...I think with a full season and training camp he could be a 70 point player. The only team he wants to sign with is the Canucks...
We locked up our best two forwards in the Twins.
Now, as to Olie...he was getting too old and slow, and decided to retire to TB...happens with Snowbirds all the time! I guess we will somehow replace him with Ehrhoff, Scneider and Lukowich.
Should be a fun season Jacukel...
and yes, Kieth is looking s little shaggy...get him to get it cut before we play next time...might want to trim those fingernails too. Burrows had to get a shot after that brouhaha...(great word...should be in the official hockey dictionary!)
Keep your stick on the ice...
You are so wrapped up in your little world that you don't even notice what other teams have been doing, especially the Canucks. Vancouver and Tampa have made the most improvements this off season and the Hawks have made the most news. (Mostly all negative) Losing Sundin was a blessing. Suggest you go to the canucks website and see all the additons, all good moves. How can you suggest they are the same team????? And you call yourself a hockey buzz expert??
Except I don't call myself an expert. I get paid to write about hockey. So someone values my opinion. As long as that's the case, that's enough for me. ;)
Funny, you defend your right to have an opinion but you are always one of the first to take personal shots at people.
I'll agree with you on Tampa.
Schneider, Ehrhoff and Lukowich are decent additions. I had to go check, in fact, because adding Ehrhoff and Lukowich (while I now recall it, didn't exactly rock the hockey world— except Dan from Van's little world). Their defense is deeper and maybe better. But sorry, pal. Ohlund is a top pairing guy, and a big part of TAMPA'S improvement (yeesh). And Sundin made a big difference for them last year, especially the latter half of the regular season.
Here's a fact you need to wrap your head around. Kane's arrest, the RFA flap, the Hossa contract investigation are all farts in a stiff breeze. Temporary, with no lasting effect. NONE. Ginned up by Dreger and the like.
It matters on the ice.
Adding Madden, Hossa and Kopecky (even while losing Bulin, Havlat and Pahlsson) quite possibly makes the Hawks a better team. Better team defense, more goals. On the ice. And they were a better team than Vancouver last year.
Cool. I got hired to write for a website this year too...but I aint getting paid until the site makes money! But someone values my opinions too!
Come on by ...we start Sept. 7th, Fanhuddle.com
Getting a little sick of the little shots though bud. Your opinion is not any better than anyone else's. I add to the conversation as much as anyone ( more, as I don't have the obvious homer bias your posts have. Sticking your head in the sand and ignoring that you have two rookies fighting for the backup spot...MAY be a weak spot...yet you refuse to even say anything bad about it!)
Lets actually get some facts to go with your fantasy writing.
Ohlund hasn't been a top pairing D'man for 3 years. He was our 4-5 guy last year. ( I love the guy...met him a couple times...one of my fave guys ever on the team...but he had to move on...it was time.
The 3 D guys are far more than "decent'....especially Ehrhoff ( who actually WAS a top 4 guy in SJ and had 42 points) and Shneider, who will help our middling Power Play.
With the additions, we have more guys that scored around 40 on the backend, or have the real potential to(Ehrhoff, Bieksa,Edler,Salo ) than most teams. Check Schneider's stats at the end of the season...Canucks PP will be waaay better!
Believe what you want about the Hawks...I never said they would suck. I did say that Huet's inconsistency will cost you guys some points. Khabby will be missed.
See you guys in the WCF...!
I do agree that Mr. Huet will cost the Hawks some games, regardless of what numbers showed up last year. He got outplayed a LOT last year in games by no name goalies, and while everyone loves to talk about how great he played in game 5 (he did).....he also was horrible in game 4. You can't make excuses for him not seeing ice time and then boast how great he was. Hopefully, without Khabibulin on the roster he will be more relaxed and sieze the opportunity to take this team all the way. He should know that HE is the wink link on this team as of now. If he proves it, we have to pray that the solution is in house, because god only knows that the cap situation will be and what alternatives will be out there.
Your Canucks are very good. Luongo might be the hockey equivalent to A-rod. Great regular season player, but until he wins a big game in a tournament (see Olympics) or gets past the second round I really don't fear the Canucks as much as I should. Roberto lost you that series in May. He let in goals that were inexcusable, and every goal got worse and you could see the Canucks deflate. I have also read articles on TSN stating how the Canadian goaltending might be the weak link. An old Marty Brouder, unproven Mason, and the enigma that is Roberto. If I'm a Canuck fan, I almost hope that Roberto DOES NOT start for team Canada. As the reward would be huge if he did lead Canada to gold, if he lost another big game, can he rebound? Doubtful.
IT's a long season, and unlike a previouis poster stating that this team will struggle to make the playoffs, I think the Hawks will be a top 4 seed. They are deep. They are young. They are hungry after getting bounced. They have some players in Rockford who can step in and play. Losing a 38 yr old goalie, with creaky groins, is not going to kill a team. Sorry.
Finally, I agree with your take on web blogging. No disrespect to anyone here, but the guys with press passes OR guys who have a MAJOR source inside a team are reliable. From there, the rest are opinions and to rip a guy for anything else is not right. There are some guys on here who probably have some connections, but lets not play the one up game. I enjoy all the takes, and try not to get personal when somebody doesn't agree with me.
Looking forward to October 2nd.
Puck him!
Getting your "chest all puffed up" over Mikael Samuelsson and Mathieu Schneider?
I'm sorry, I would, totally objectively, take Matthias Ohlund and Mats Sundin over both of those guys. OK, maybe I'd consider Samuelsson as a better third line add than a declining Sundin.
But . . . WTF?
That's JuggerNuck to you!
There have been other long term, front loaded contracts offerred that weren't investigated (i.e. Zetterberg). The NHL seems to let it go if a team is re-signing a player previously under contract with them. Hossa is an unknown entity for Chicago, and this, combined with the fact that there was some suspicion that the two sides spoke before the deadline makes the situation different. The whole CBA is a sham now with these ridiculous contracts.
is the 'Hawks talking retirement age with Hossa as part of the deal. Can't say it did or did not happen. IMO the league will be hard-pressed to prove that.
Also, I like the Luongo deal from a 'Hawks perspective. Here's the 'Hawks deal (don't forget Prongers' deal with the Flyers too) out there for 2 months and the Canucks basically do the exact same thing! Outstanding, for them.
Does anyone honestly believe that if the league had any bite to that bark, the Canucks would have done what they have done; in light of the 'Hawks deal out there for 2 months?!
So you're saying it's LESS likely the team quietly discussed a retirement clause with a player currently under contract, than a player from another team about to go into free agency?
I've got a bridge I want to sell you.