Just a few of my own ramblings...

As we approach silly season I just can\'t help but wonder how long the madness will continue. If one of these big free agent centres does indeed sign for nearly 8 million, then what does it say for a guy like Crosby?

For once I would dearly love it if a player (will use Crosby for example) would sit back and look at the team around them. In Pittsburgh they could have one hell of a dynasty if everyone stays for a while. If Crosby took the max payout, how could they keep the team together? I know there is pressure from the NHLPA to keep salaries up, but why can\'t Crosby just say screw it I want the cup so I\'ll take \"only\" $4million or something like that. At what point does a player say look the Stanley Cup is why I\'m here, let\'s build a team that can get there.

I mean come on, I know the government takes about half, but surely $2 million is still reasonable.

Sorry as I say for the ramblings, I might continue later as I have to rush off to work.

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8 Team Full Keeper Pts Only
13F 7D 1G

F:Ovechkin/Oshie/Malkin/Getzlaf/Fleischmann/H.Sedin
St.Louis/Setoguchi/Plekanec/Ribeiro/Carter/Moulson/McDonald
D: Edler/Giordano/Letang/Yandle/Campbell/Pietrangelo/Shattenkirk
G:Lundqvist

Bench: Brassard, Dubinsky,Doan, Halak, Lehtonen

As long as the owners are willing to pay then any player would be a fool to not take whatever they can get. Ever player is one hit away from a career ending injury. I agree with you in principle, it would be awesome if Crosby could bilk the trend and say to Malkin and Staal and Fleury, we can be like Edmonton or the Islanders but I think, sadly, personal greed will overwhelm any desire to create a team for the ages. Time will tell.

Who\'s to say the team would take those savings and make a champion. Obviously Crosby has the young guys right now, but if Crosby plays for 4 mill then the team tells the other players you\'re not as good as he is so we won\'t pay you that and pretty soon people start leaving or get disgruntled. And owners of other teams will do the same and have no reason to put anything back into the team. It\'s the Gretzky factor during his Oiler years... or Gordie Howe back in the fifties. Their salaries were below what the owners could/should pay, keeping everyone elses in check. Not so the owners could win but to make more money. (yes I know both won where they were, but not because of salary structure as the Oilers soon proved)

It\'s a nice thought and this year\'s free agents are going to be overpaid, but there is fair market value and when a star takes less than that just to win, some owners will abuse that priviledge. Their greedy and stupid, so the players have the right to take advantage of stupidity. I know the argument is \'well I\'ll take 4 million to play a game.\' That\'s not the point, the point I\'m making is the star players need to be paid the most. It\'s the third line guys (the ones not putting asses in the seats) that need to take the pay cut to be on a winner.

Just my thoughts

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GWNHL Fantasy Cup Champs 06-07

So if Crosby was to take $4 million per year do they change Gonchar\'s contract aswell?? I think Crosby deserves to be the highest paid player on the team. And down the road do you think Malkin will play for under $4 mill. I think he would rather play on another team.

I know what you mean though, it would be great if everyone just for 2 or 3 straight years took a huge discount just so they could build a winner and eventually win the cup. It will never happen though...

Money is everything. The Stanley Cup is just a bonus for summer time parties..
Z..

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Zorro says "vote for Dobber"
Angus is my best friend at dobberhockey..
Bruins believer since BIRTH..
Fav player: Cam Neely..

In For a Penny - I\'ve been saying that for years. When my son, who hasn\'t even been conceived yet, gets into the NHL as a star I will be sure to instruct him to take less money in order to win the Cup!

Beaker - I laughed out loud. Love the handle and love the avatar! haha

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DobberHockey Rules
14 Team Keeper, points only, best 12 skaters 2 dman 2 G count. Playoffs count.
F - Crosby, C.Smith, Wheeler, Parenteau, Hudler, Clowe, Grabovski, Atkinson, Frolik, S. Kostitsyn, Marchand, Peverley, Tavares, Read, Brouwer, Bickell, Gionta, Setoguchi
G - Anderson, Hiller, Markstrom, Brodeur
D - Letang, Del Zotto, I. White, Kronwall, Brodin, Nikitin

Michael Jordan was underpaid for years so he could win... turned out pretty good!

He only went for the really big paycheques towards the end of his career.