Auf gefrorenem Blog

Hi, I don’t know what to say…
This is a “Lowe-blow” to say the least!
Maybe Lowe should just sign the Hanson Brothers now?:)
Like your July 4th blog entry, mine the same day had a pic of the SI cover with Hanson power…I hope Briere, Drury and Zubrus end up looking like the Hanson Bros. by the time their “new” deals are over!
Sincerely,
Ralph Hass http://www.HasTheVoice.com
-MSG-TV imaging voice for the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres

I’m just worried about the Caps being able to fit both Semin and Ovechkin after next year. The dollar threshold for Vanek is ludicrous. Yes, he’s a good player, but not in that salary range. We’ve got what could be termed a “big market”, but we can’t draw the crowds in the VC for the Caps. I’m thinking things will improve this year; I’ll bet Ted is praying so!!!

It’s not necessarily that he called the bluuf as much as by offering Vanek such a massive contract he’s completely skewed the salary scale. If Vanek’s worth that much (and he isn’t IMO) how much do you think Ovechkin’s worth?

I don’t think Lowe is screwing anything up. Everyone’s got the same salary cap. The cap system is designed to render these type of deals as “one off’s”. Philly and Kesler situation last year was the same thing. You don’t hear anyone using Kesler situation as bench mark for 2nd line players one year later do you?

Lowe is right to do this, if he gets them, then the Oilers are better off, if he doesn’t, then it weaken’s the Canucks and Sabres. Its a beauty. Oilers can afford to overpaid a bit due to having so much cap room and a truck load of young players and draft picks.

So why not? What’s there to lose?

It seems the only people that are pissed off are the GM’s and fans in Anahiem and Buffalo … that should be a good thing for the Oilers. It effectively takes both Sabres and Ducks out of the free agent market and maxes them out on their respective cap limits.

In the business world, this would be called “disruptive strategy” designed to unsettle your competition.

Oilers are not better off by Lowe’s recent offers, but it significantly weakens a couple of Cup contenders. Lowe understands the cap structure well and he has the cap room to maximize the damage to Buffalo and Anahiem.

I would expect Lowe to continue this strategy until he gets a marque player at about $7million/year. Until then, there’s no harm in what he’s goind. It effectively locks up any team’s cap room that attempts to match a slightly overpaid Oiler offer. Good way to make the most of your own cap room when it comes time to collect unrestricted free agents at trade deadline, and it’ll give you lots of cap room for next year’s free agent signings.