Comments on: Lowe Blow: This Man Is Not Happy

By: pepper

pepper — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 02:31:33 +0000

I think its a bit of an anomaly, after what happened with Pronger, then Smyth, and Nylander. In Lowe’s case, I suppose he figured that was the only way to get a talented free agent to Edmonton – someone who has a long enough career ahead of him to later play in what he perceives as a more desirable location (and presumably has no wife objecting to living there or family obligations).

By: exwhaler

exwhaler — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 23:09:11 +0000

My hope is that the league (i.e., arbitrators) see this contract as an anomoly brought on by the circumstances (namely, that’s its an inflated RFA offer designed to pull a player away from another team). I’d hate to think that this contract would be used as a comparable in negotiations….

By: pucksandbooks

pucksandbooks — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 20:59:15 +0000

usiel, I’m surprised at you. “What if” the Oil strike gold with Penner? What if he’s Oleg Kvasha? Or Dainius Zubrus? Is the NHL on a platform of popularity and fiscal stability such as to be doling out “What if” contracts to players with 40 games in the Bigs? How soon we seem to forget ’04-’05.

By: Murshawursha

Murshawursha — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 20:53:16 +0000

“I’m not in the business of trying to make friends. Never have, never will be… It’s not a priority to mend this fence.”
I hope Lowe isn’t planning on trying to make any trades anytime soon…

By: usiel

usiel — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 20:49:28 +0000

I don’t see as much doom and gloom. Penner is a gamble at that salary. What if the Oilers strike gold and he really turns into a player worth that salary. Also Edmonton had to do something to get some players since they could attract much in free agency.

By: Doug

Doug — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 05:55:12 +0000

This is not a good thing for the league as a whole. One rogue GM has way too much power; Vanek was outlandishly over-salaried, but the Sabres could not give up, having lost their top 2 guys to free agency. You can see the difference with Anaheim; they retained many pieces of their team and are near the salary cap; they did the predictable and smart thing by taking the draft choices. Hockey outcome should be decided in the rink and not by the businessmen. Let’s hope sanity prevails; moreover, let’s hope agents don’t pursue “Vanek” type of terms for non-superstar talents.
v/r
Doug

By: DebCapsFan

DebCapsFan — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 01:38:36 +0000

I think it’s a bad sign for salaries in the future. How much do you pay for a guy’s potential? And length is tricky too. You never know what will happen to a player, especially playing a sport as physical as hockey.