Ducks' Cap Situation a Blessing in Disguise

Considering the current economic situation that's going around along with the abundance of dead weight that the Ducks are just dying to get rid of, I think it's fair to say that the cap may decrease which, in turn, forcing teams with high cap numbers to sell off some of their players. Plus all the potential salary that the Ducks may be getting rid of, I think the Ducks will have a field day come July 1st. Thoughts?

I don't think the cap will decrease enough that teams will have to sell off their players. It probably just decreases so that teams with space can get FAs cheap.

Considering the current economic situation that's going around along with the abundance of dead weight that the Ducks are just dying to get rid of, I think it's fair to say that the cap may decrease which, in turn, forcing teams with high cap numbers to sell off some of their players. Plus all the potential salary that the Ducks may be getting rid of, I think the Ducks will have a field day come July 1st. Thoughts?

By my calculations, the Ducks could have a decent amount of money come free agent time. Even if Pronger stays and the cap goes down to $50M, we'd have about $12M to get a top line winger, 2 3rd liners and 2 3-4 type Defenseman. If Pronger goes, we'd have some serious cash to chase after the likes of Bouwmeester and have plenty leftover for a Kunitz replacement.

ya and the heart of the team will still be in place with Getz, Perry, Ryan Giggy/Hiller and I guess you can put in Whitney now.....? and still possibly having Pronger

I thought the cap won't be coming down next year but maybe the year after that. Anybody hear a figure where the budget ceiling will be? If it's around 50 we'll be fine, less than that it'll be hard to compete.

Going with a budget of 50M, we know goaltending will eat up 7.4M next year leaving 42.6 for the skaters. About 17 for defence and 25 for offense.

I'd say it's pretty much a given one of Scotty or Prongs will be back next year so we know Scotty/Prongs + Whitney will take around 10M leaving about 7 for the bottom-4. Assuming Brookbank stays that's 6.5 left for d-men #3, #4 & #5. Not an easy task if you want quality and certainly no Bouwmeester.

On offense Getz-Perry-Ryan-Selanne-Ebbett-Parros-Carter get a total of 16.7M which is great for that group of guys leaving around 8.3M to sign a 1st liner, whole third line and a fourth liner. Fourth liner is going to be a cheap mikebrown so 7.7M or so left for 4 players. Again, not easy.

Murray needs to find some cheap talent to get those holes plugged. If Salsa, Mikkelson or Mitera can be a reliable #5 next year and Miller or Beleskey can get a job on the 3rd line it'll be a lot easier.

I'd say it's pretty much a given one of Scotty or Prongs will be back next year so we know Scotty/Prongs + Whitney will take around 10M leaving about 7 for the bottom-4. Assuming Brookbank stays that's 6.5 left for d-men #3, #4 & #5. Not an easy task if you want quality and certainly no Bouwmeester.

On offense Getz-Perry-Ryan-Selanne-Ebbett-Parros-Carter get a total of 16.7M which is great for that group of guys leaving around 8.3M to sign a 1st liner, whole third line and a fourth liner. Fourth liner is going to be a cheap mikebrown so 7.7M or so left for 4 players. Again, not easy.

Murray needs to find some cheap talent to get those holes plugged. If Salsa, Mikkelson or Mitera can be a reliable #5 next year and Miller or Beleskey can get a job on the 3rd line it'll be a lot easier.

You leave Anaheim with 6.5 million to sign three defensemen and call it "not that easy." In other words, an average of a little over 2 million a defenseman in the #3, #4 and #5 spots on the team.

Prior to the Whitney trade, every Ducks defensemen not named Pronger or Niedermayer made less than 2 million this year. Unless the Ducks decide to really beef up their defensive core (which is unlikely, considering that's what they'll be paying Whitney and Niedermayer/Pronger for), I wouldn't be surprised to see the three spots you identified filled by players making less than 4 million combined (so an average of 1.3 million).

Keep in mind that Festerling is an RFA defenseman currently making less than 500k/season. He's likely to be in the mix (at least as much as Salcido(also an RFA, making 850k this season), Mikkelson (signed for just over 800k) and Mitera).

In fact, one of the main things to watch could be what Mitera's contract looks like in terms of bonuses. Comparables might be guys like Karl Alzner (1.65million cap hit) and Brian Lee (1.275million cap hit). Due to draft position, he shouldn't get anywhere near the bonuses like Schenn/Doughty/Bogosian (north of 2 million). However with a guy like Stu Bickel having a cap hit of 1.375million due to bonuses, I think it would be hard for the Ducks to give Mitera any less than that.

That extra 2.5 million that I saved the team on defense could easily go towards forwards and then you have thereabouts 10 million for four spots (or roughly 2.5million/player). Currently the third line is making around 4.5 million combined between the three of them and that's with Rob Niedermayer's 2 million salary. Let's assume with a bit more balanced spending across the board (1.5 million for each player), a third line making about that is doable.

Assuming that fourth liner is making less than 1 million (assuming it's filled internally, by a guy like Miller (525k) or Beleskey (670k) or Brown (arbitration eligible RFA making 523k this year) or by a free agent making similar amounts), that leaves 4.5 million or so for a top six forward.

For reference sake, if Anaheim had 4.5 million for a top six forward at last year's offseason, they could have sat at the table with Michael Ryder (4 million to the Bruins), Cory Stillman (3.5 million to the Panthers), Markus Naslund (4 million to the Rangers), Vaclav Prospal (3.5 million to the Lightning), Ryan Malon (4.5 million to the Lightning), Miroslav Satan (3.5 million to the Penguins), Niklas Hagman (3 million to the Leafs), Pavol Demitra (4 million to the Canucks) and yes even Sean Avery, who Dirk assures us is a top line talent and is current making 3.875million to not play for Dallas.

The situation certainly isn't as dire as you're trying to say.

Testify!

You leave Anaheim with 6.5 million to sign three defensemen and call it "not that easy." In other words, an average of a little over 2 million a defenseman in the #3, #4 and #5 spots on the team.

Prior to the Whitney trade, every Ducks defensemen not named Pronger or Niedermayer made less than 2 million this year. Unless the Ducks decide to really beef up their defensive core (which is unlikely, considering that's what they'll be paying Whitney and Niedermayer/Pronger for), I wouldn't be surprised to see the three spots you identified filled by players making less than 4 million combined (so an average of 1.3 million).

The situation certainly isn't as dire as you're trying to say.

1) I wasn't trying to say the situation is dire. Just adressing the way people seem to think we have a lot of money available to throw at guys like Bouwmeester when we don't. Not after the Whitney trade.

2) Isn't the reason our d-men after Nieds and Pronger make less than 2M a) they're kids b) they aren't that good? I'd actually like to see an improved defense next year, not the same cheap crap we have this year. 4 Mil total for two top-4 d-men and a #5 gives us just that, cheap crap. I'm sure you're aware of the premium d-men get on the market, Jeff Finger got 3.5 and he's barely a #4, Mike Commodore 3.75 and he's not exactly top pairing material either.
Of the 6.5 i have allocated for those 3 sports, i'd give #3 3.5M, #4 2M and #5 1M. That might get us guys like Leopold, O'Donnell and a kid. Hardly greedy to want guys of that caliber instead of Montador, Hedican and Huskins.

We have to count the Bertuzzi buyout at 1.3 as well, might make things more difficult wrt the budget

We have to count the Bertuzzi buyout at 1.3 as well, might make things more difficult wrt the budget

The buyout is just capspace, monies were already paid to Bert when he was bought out. If we're not spending to the cap it's not a problem.

We have to count the Bertuzzi buyout at 1.3 as well, might make things more difficult wrt the budget

I already figured that into it.

The buyout is just capspace, monies were already paid to Bert when he was bought out. If we're not spending to the cap it's not a problem.

That's cool, I followed the assumption that we would be paying the buyout amount as a salary

With Morrison, Marchant and either Pronger or Nieds gone after this season, you guys have enough money to play with for almost anything. However, Montador, Beauchemin and Huskins are all going to be getting substantial payraises, so...

However, Montador, Beauchemin and Huskins are all going to be getting substantial payraises, so...
I doubt any of them will be back next year. Huskins has done nothing to deserve a substantial raise and neither has Montador. Beauch will get his money but he'll be so overpaid i don't think he'll get it from the Ducks, especially having missed almost an entire season.

As per Kevin Forbes' wise suggestion on another thread, i did a little update on the teams financials going forward.

Forwards signed through next season:
Getz 5.325
Perry 5.325
Teemu 2.625
Ryan 1.921667
Parros .875
Nokelainen .85
Carter .625
Ebbett .5

RFA's current salary
Brown .5225
Christensen .75

Defensemen signed through next season:
Pronger 6.25
Whitney 4
Brookbank .5
(Mikkelson .821667)

RFA's previous salary
Festerling .473333
Wizniewski .9
(Salcido .85)

Both goalies are signed through next season, Giggy 6M and Hiller 1.4M

I see no reason Brown (.65), Christensen (.85), Wizniewski (1.2) and Festerling (.5) wouldn't be re-signed. Salcido too but he might get traded if there isnt a spot for him at Anaheim.

A lineup of:
XXX-Getzlaf-Perry
Ryan-Ebbett-Selanne
Christensen-Nokelainen-XXX
Brown-Carter-Parros

Prongs-Whitney
Wiz-XXX
XXX-Brookbank

Giggy
Hiller

Comes in at just under 38.9M cap dollars. Assuming a budget of 50M (Might be less) that's 11M left with not that many holes to fill.

Should those XXX's on defence be Nieds and Festerling/Mikkelson for a combined ~6.5, we'd have 4.5 left to play with on forward.

I still think the Ducks will end up with either Pronger or Niedermayer on the blue line next season. Not both.

And if S. Niedermayer is returning, I think R. Niedermayer would be as well.

On the blue line, I could see another veteran signed for that bottom pairing or with Wisniewski (half related note, O'Donnell re-upped with LA yesterday). Then one of the kids for the other spot. Or maybe two kids and Brookbank as the 7th d-man.

Up front, I think that top-line left wing spot is going to be interesting. Part of me wonders if Anaheim is going to try out Christensen as a scorer, either on the first or second line. I guess we'll see soon enough.

Something else is that both Christensen and Nokelainen have experience as center and each isn't too bad on the faceoff dot (Christensen has 54.6% on 427 faceoffs, Nokelainen has 62.1 on 87 faceoffs). This actually is better then any other Ducks player this season (including Pahlsson). While looking at the faceoff stats, Ryan Carter has apparently forgotten how to win one, going from a 61.5 on 299 last year to a 46.7 on 289 this year).

Here's the trade rumours board list of upcoming UFAs = http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=578768
Not too much there in the area of top six LW or #4/5 dman for the money Anaheim has to play with.

You know, that's really not bad at all.

Up front, I think that top-line left wing spot is going to be interesting. Part of me wonders if Anaheim is going to try out Christensen as a scorer, either on the first or second line. I guess we'll see soon enough.

Murray said specifically that he'd get a shot at a top 6 spot, so...you're right.

Murray said specifically that he'd get a shot at a top 6 spot, so...you're right.

Wow, I need to start reading press releases more. Pair that with my faceoff stats and maybe he'll be given a shot at 2nd line centre.

Murray said specifically that he'd get a shot at a top 6 spot, so...you're right.

That lineup was for next season.. I have faith Christensen will be in and out of a top-6 spot by then.:)

I agree, it'll likely be Scotty or Pronger, but you never know. I wonder if Beauch will still be a Duck next season, he'd be a great #3 after CP/SN and Whitney. That would also leave some more dough to get a forward.

While I don't think we'll have both Pronger and Niedermayer back, I don't think it's unfeasible. My guess is that Niedermayer will come back and take a hometown discount. I don't think he wants to go to another team with his family all settled and he likely wants to play in the Olympics in his home province. I doubt the Ducks will give him a whole lot, so I could see the Niedermayer brothers signing for a fairly decent amount, like $4-5 million combined. That would be nice. And if we traded Pronger after that, we'd definitely have quite a bit to play with for next season. Things are definitely looking up for us. I definitely want to see what this Kontiola can do, he'd probably come cheap and it could be a very nice addition for us.

does anyone think anaheim will try to bring moen or pahlsson back?

does anyone think anaheim will try to bring moen or pahlsson back?

Not me. They'll re-sign Rob Niedermayer and go with the younger guys from the trades.