MANALAPAN, Fla. – Taking a couple days with family, but editor Rory Boylen won’t allow any rest or relaxation without some thoughts on the GM meetings. So here goes:
WE’RE GOING TO GET A QUICK LOOK AT NEW NHL/NHLPA DYNAMICS
Marty Walsh officially begins next week as NHLPA Executive Director, and we’ve already got something to ask him. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman indicated that while the players’ COVID escrow debt is being paid off faster than expected, it probably won’t be eradicated by the time the 2023-24 cap number needs to be set.
So, we’re looking at a $1M raise, instead of, maybe, $4.5M.
“It could be a discussion,” Bettman said Wednesday. “We’re hearing around the bend from players and others that there may be interest in having that, but one thing to keep in mind if we’re going to raise the cap and the escrow hasn’t been paid off, is then we’re going to have to look at raising the escrow rates…The two are inextricably tied together.”
“Others” is undoubtedly GMs and teams. We saw how constipated the league was until right before the trade deadline. Too many clubs squeezed tight to the cap. They crave flexibility like a thirsty person craves water. Anyway, this is true insight into what the Commissioner is thinking.
Included in the CBA is the ability for the NHL and NHLPA to agree to increase the cap “in excess of $1M” once revenue surpassed $4.8B, which has occurred. There doesn’t have to be a modification in escrow rates. The two sides can find common ground in other ways.
What we now know is Bettman is not agreeing to anything unless that change occurs. (Or, something else the commissioner considers valuable.)
During negotiations for this CBA, the players had two options. They could accept higher escrow rates and pay off the debt sooner. Or, they could fight for lower rates, take longer to pay it off, and know the cap would be stagnant a longer time. Annoyed they’d lost too much over the years, the majority selected option B.
The players capped escrow at six per cent for the final three seasons of the agreement. (The first of those seasons is next year.) It was significant for them.
My crystal ball shattered last week, so I’m flying a bit blind here, but I don’t see any future where Walsh walks into the NHLPA and hears any support for raising those numbers. And, I don’t see Bettman agreeing to raise the ceiling more than $1M without something in place that protects team owners in case revenues go sideways. He’s about to get one debt paid off, he’s not going to create the possibility of another.
So, we’ll get an idea of how the Bettman/Walsh dynamic will work, but odds are against a solution. And, behind the scenes, I think everyone realizes that. I hope to be surprised.
Bettman expects salary cap to increase $1M, but could raise $4.5M if escrow paid off
OTTAWA
Bettman had a gleam in his eye when Sportsnet reporter Sean Reynolds asked him about the Senators’ sale. “I’ve always believed that our franchises have been undervalued — particularly by some quarters in the media,” he said. “And I think this will be a real indication of what the true value of an NHL team is.”
That says he saw something in the opening round (of non-binding bids) he likes.
We’re now in the “check-bid” process where the NHL, the Senators and the sale facilitators go back to thoroughly vet those who submitted and, in some cases, to let them know they came in too low.
Information is not easy to come by, but here’s the best I can share: If there’s any concern Ryan Reynolds would not be a serious bidder — that’s over. He’s very serious and he’s very prepared. People who have heard his plan and seen what he’s put together recognize this is not someone to be underestimated. His share of Mint Mobile, sold Wednesday to T-Mobile, was valued at $340M, according to reports.
Initially, those around the NHL were excited about Reynolds because he’s Deadpool. Now, they’re excited because he’s Deadpool, he’s a smart businessman, he knows marketing and the “Wrexham Plan” would come to Ottawa with him.
He’s partnered with Remington Group. I’m not sure they had the highest bid, but they are competitive and determined. That’s what this round is for, to sort this out.
I do think there were a couple of bidders who came in a bit lower than expected. It could be a slow-play — don’t show all your cards too early. That’s very, very possible. But, if there’s any concern, it’s simply about how much revenue is available in Ottawa, which isn’t a huge market.
There’s a lot to like about the players, the fan base is re-engaged, and the organization was not exactly running at optimum levels for years. All of that is a plus. The NHL’s job is to get the Senators sold at a number that leaves us all agog. Judging from the commissioner’s confidence, that will happen.
What are the biggest takeaways from the final day of GM meetings?
DEVON LEVI
Aiden McDonough is in Vancouver. Jayden Struble is in Montreal. Now, Buffalo fans ask, “Where’s our Northeastern guy?”
Make no mistake, the Sabres have made it very clear they want him in the organization right away. They weren’t thrilled by reports they were interested in adding a goalie prior to the trade deadline, because they’d made it clear to Levi and his advisors there would be a legit route to the NHL if he showed he was ready.
We’ll see where this goes on Thursday. Levi is thinking it over, and he’s shown he’s not afraid to consider non-traditional pathways. But he’s clearly ready for professional hockey, and the Sabres have Swiped Right for this Tinder Date.
VANCOUVER – The Vancouver Canucks announced Tuesday that defenceman Alex Edler will sign a one-day contract in order to officially retire as a member of the NHL team.
The signing will be part of a celebration of Edler’s career held Oct. 11 when the Canucks host the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Canucks selected Edler, from Ostersund, Sweden, in the third round (91st overall) of the 2004 NHL draft.
He played in 925 career games for the Canucks between the 2006-07 and 2020-21 seasons, ranking fourth in franchise history and first among defencemen.
The 38-year-old leads all Vancouver defencemen with 99 goals, 310 assists and 177 power-play points with the team.
Edler also appeared in 82 career post-season contests with Vancouver and was an integral part of the Canucks’ run to the 2011 Stanley Cup final, putting up 11 points (2-9-11) across 25 games.
“I am humbled and honoured to officially end my career and retire as a member of the Vancouver Canucks,” Edler said in a release. “I consider myself lucky to have started my career with such an outstanding organization, in this amazing city, with the best fans in the NHL. Finishing my NHL career where it all began is something very special for myself and my family.”
Edler played two seasons for Los Angeles in 2021-22 and 2022-23. He did not play in the NHL last season.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2024.
The sixth-ranked Canadian women will face World Cup champion Spain in an international friendly next month.
Third-ranked Spain will host Canada on Oct. 25 at Estadio Francisco de la Hera in Almendralejo.
The game will be the first for the Canadian women since the Paris Olympics, where they lost to Germany in a quarterfinal penalty shootout after coach Bev Priestman was sent home and later suspended for a year by FIFA over her part in Canada’s drone-spying scandal.
In announcing the Spain friendly, Canada Soccer said more information on the interim women’s coaching staff for the October window will come later. Assistant coach Andy Spence took charge of the team in Priestman’s absence at the Olympics.
Spain finished fourth in Paris, beaten 1-0 by Germany in the bronze-medal match.
Canada is winless in three previous meetings (0-2-1) with Spain, most recently losing 1-0 at the Arnold Clark Cup in England in February 2022.
The teams played to a scoreless draw in May 2019 in Logroñés, Spain in a warm-up for the 2019 World Cup. Spain won 1-0 in March 2019 at the Algarve Cup in São João da Venda, Portugal.
Spain is a powerhouse in the women’s game these days.
It won the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2022 and was runner-up in 2018. And it ousted Canada 2-1 in the round of 16 of the current U-20 tournament earlier this month in Colombia before falling 1-0 to Japan after extra time in the quarterfinal.
Spain won the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2018 and 2022 and has finished on the podium on three other occasions.
FC Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati (2023) and Alexia Putellas (2021 and ’22) have combined to win the last three Women’s Ballon d’Or awards.
And Barcelona has won three of the last four UEFA Women’s Champions League titles.
“We continue to strive to diversify our opponent pool while maintaining a high level of competition.” Daniel Michelucci, Canada Soccer’s director of national team operations, said in a statement. “We anticipate a thrilling encounter, showcasing two of the world’s top-ranked teams.”
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2024
TORONTO – The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced cookie brand Oreo as the team’s helmet sponsor for the upcoming NHL season.
The new helmet will debut Sunday when Toronto opens its 2024-25 pre-season against the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Arena.
The Oreo logo replaces Canadian restaurant chain Pizza Pizza, which was the Leafs’ helmet sponsor last season.
Previously, social media platform TikTok sponsored Toronto starting in the 2021-22 regular season when the league began allowing teams to sell advertising space on helmets.
The Oreo cookie consists of two chocolate biscuits around a white icing filling and is often dipped in milk.
Fittingly, the Leafs wear the Dairy Farmers of Ontario’s “Milk” logo on their jerseys.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2024.
