Comments for July 09, 2012 at http://hockey.dobbersports.com , comment 1 to 11 out of 11 comments http://hockey.dobbersports.com Thu, 20 Jun 2013 08:24:14 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/other-features-mainmenu-89/archived-ramblings/4759-july-09-2012#comment-21729 on hte topic of front loaded contracts, its all a time value of money thing. a ollar now is likely to be worth more than in 10 years due to typical inflation, along with that you can invest a dollar now and have say 2 dollars in 10 years vs. that same one dollar of pay 10 years from now. - jimywho1 Mon, 09 Jul 2012 13:49:51 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/other-features-mainmenu-89/archived-ramblings/4759-july-09-2012#comment-21728 As hard as it maybe to believe, those players might need to make money during those years. I know its silly but taxes, agent fees, divorces .... how many athletes get ripped off by their financial advisers? They might be on dr phils couch like terrel owens but locked into a low paying contract when they need to take advantage of being able to make big money to retire and pay their bills. - pattywins Mon, 09 Jul 2012 12:50:04 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/other-features-mainmenu-89/archived-ramblings/4759-july-09-2012#comment-21726 Tim Connolly started off the season injured. When he came back to the lineup, he was able to step into a Top 6 role due to injuries to Grabovski and later Bozak. He played roughly 30 games with a Top 6 role before seeing his role decrease in early January. In that time, he scored 22 points, a 60 point pace. The fact is that Connolly slightly outperformed Bozak when he got the chance to play with scoring line players. Once everyone was healthy, they had to choose a guy to demote and they picked Connolly. He proceeded to put up 14 points in the next 40 games playing on the 3rd line. I don't think Connolly was a failure, he was simply not used in a situation where he could be successful for half of the season and it took a toll on his scoring totals. That being said, I don't think there's a point to buying out Connolly, he's an injury away from being an effective top 6 player for them, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if he gets a fair shot at one of those top 6 centre roles, as well. Remember that Bozak is also a UFA next year. I assume they intend to upgrade the top line centre, so Connolly and Bozak are in the same boat. There is no reason to favour either guy since both are unlikely to be longterm solutions on this team. - ChicagoChief Mon, 09 Jul 2012 11:40:50 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/other-features-mainmenu-89/archived-ramblings/4759-july-09-2012#comment-21725 Dobber, you've presumably seen Elliote Friedman's article from yesterday about keeping L/T contracts in order to prevent teams from continually paying max value for players through short 3 yr contracts (he uses the Lebron James example). Any thoughts? I am more inclined to the opposite approach: better to have those shorter deals and have players paid their true value at the time. However, many of Friedman's commenters complained about players switching teams too aften, and L/T contracts address that to some degree. - Mark Moosier Mon, 09 Jul 2012 10:35:03 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/other-features-mainmenu-89/archived-ramblings/4759-july-09-2012#comment-21724 If the report above is correct, that the Leafs would have to eat $3.3M in cap space to buy out Connolly, then they might as well pay him his $4.0M and keep him. Many players struggle when arriving in a new environment. A bounce back is not completely out of the question. Some teams have a fair bit of CAP to fill. A Connolly may look reasonably attractive, with the contract ending in 2013. Thus, they might in fact, be able to secure a low round draft pick. - JHM Mon, 09 Jul 2012 08:28:33 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/other-features-mainmenu-89/archived-ramblings/4759-july-09-2012#comment-21721 That's some silly thinking about the contracts. Money now = much better. I think you've got Jay Harrison under the wrong group. Carolina played him 20min/game last season... up from 15min/game the previous year. Improved scoring too. He actually led the Canes D in SOG. "Strong group" please. - Pengwin7 Mon, 09 Jul 2012 05:08:53 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/other-features-mainmenu-89/archived-ramblings/4759-july-09-2012#comment-21719 Front-loaded contracts are a wise choice for a player. Take the money while you are healthy and invest it early. Returns on investments could easily offset the difference in paycheck you are referring too. Risk is very low to the player in this case. Injury and general decline in play with age is reflected in a decline in salary, as well (although most vets are overpaid for their performance). - Rad64 Mon, 09 Jul 2012 04:18:36 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/other-features-mainmenu-89/archived-ramblings/4759-july-09-2012#comment-21718 jer - yes, of course. My point is that will all be forgotten 11 years from now when he's used to paycheck X and starts getting paycheck Y...which is the smallest paycheck on the team. Hell, the NHL minimum may be $2.5 million in 11 years and he'll be under it! eyemiss - there is a second buyout period related to arbitration, and with a new CBA hopefully late September, I'm sure a new buyout window opens up as well. - Dobber Mon, 09 Jul 2012 02:15:33 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/other-features-mainmenu-89/archived-ramblings/4759-july-09-2012#comment-21717 Damn rights - the power of compound interest. - Shoeless Sun, 08 Jul 2012 22:45:53 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/other-features-mainmenu-89/archived-ramblings/4759-july-09-2012#comment-21716 Isn't the buyout period over? Leafs already bought out Armstrong during it. - eyemissgilmour Sun, 08 Jul 2012 20:42:52 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/other-features-mainmenu-89/archived-ramblings/4759-july-09-2012#comment-21715 Front-loaded deals are the norm, because money in hand is always better than "future earnings". You're always better off taking the money now - as the future is far too unpredictable. - jer_33 Sun, 08 Jul 2012 18:55:34 +0100