Talk about Capitals hockey & more! > Washington Capitals & Other Hockey Discussion
Backy taking leave of absence
Mickstix:
I think the question is, does Leonsis let them spend the money. No way the team would be forced to lose the player -and- not have the cap space come available. Well, it's the NHL so who knows, but at least that's how I think it works.
BlackIce:
--- Quote from: Mickstix on Wednesday November 01, 2023, 06:50:33 PM Eastern ---I think the question is, does Leonsis let them spend the money. No way the team would be forced to lose the player -and- not have the cap space come available. Well, it's the NHL so who knows, but at least that's how I think it works.
--- End quote ---
Here are the salary cap implications of Backstrom's situation as I understand them.
Once Backstrom goes on LTIR, as I assume he will soon, his $9.2 million cap hit becomes an exemption amount that the Caps can spend over the salary cap, with Backstrom's $9.2 million counted toward total salary obligations.
I think that people here are right. Backstrom isn't going to retire because of all that money, and the Caps' organizational statement that they support Backstrom in this soul-searching departure means that they are fully supportive of paying him, probably thinking of it as a thank-you payment for honorable service.
Backstrom signed his current contract at age 33; i.e., before age 35. That means that IF he were to retire now, his contract AAV would be wiped off the books for salary cap purposes. The rule is that if a player signs a contract at age 35+ and then retires, that AAV counts towards the team's salary cap for the duration of the period covered by the contract.
So whether Backstrom retires or he doesn't, the Caps get $9.2 million of cap relief from his absence unless he were to return to the active roster. IF that were to happen at some point, then the Caps would have to return to compliance with the salary cap with Backstrom's cap hit included.
As a tiny answer to Mick's question, IF there is even a shred of a chance that Backstrom returns to duty, the Caps COULDN'T spend his salary cap exemption money willy-nilly right now, because players they would acquire using the exemption would have to be jettisoned, or something else major would have to happen, in order to get back down to the salary cap upon Backstrom's return. However, let's say that the Caps don't spend very much of Backstrom's exemption now or for the next few months. All they do is juggling with relatively inexpensive Hershey callus that can be sent down. Now let's say the trading deadline approaches, Backstrom is still out and is nowhere near returning, which means he wouldn't return until the playoffs -- if ever. The Caps could then load up on players at the deadline if they were in the playoff hunt or something, with salaries up to the $9.2 million exemption amount.
I suspect the real outcome of this situation is that Backstrom will never return and the Caps have that $9.2 million to play with for the next two seasons. It will be like the Tampa Bay situation, and there is nothing to fault the Caps for ethically, because Backstrom made a good-faith effort to return to play, and actually did play some games and a few this year, until he just couldn't deal with his condition any more. This isn't like where Tampa held Kucherov out until the playoffs to circumvent the cap and then voila, he returned good as new, when there was a lot of suspicion that he physically could have returned earlier, but Tampa loaded up with replacement players that would have had them in salary cap hell had Kucherov returned during the regular season.
Mickstix:
Yea, after this announcement, I just don't get any vibe at all that he plans to play NHL hockey again. He's 35 with hip issues. He gets surgery, rehabs, plays, rehabs again all offseason, plays 8 games and says he's stepping away.. He'd of just kept quiet and went on IR/LTIR with a lower body if he thought he was coming back, imo.
I'd spend Ted's money like I had $9.2m burning a hole in my pocket! :snicker:
BlackIce:
--- Quote from: Mickstix on Wednesday November 01, 2023, 11:24:04 PM Eastern ---Yea, after this announcement, I just don't get any vibe at all that he plans to play NHL hockey again. He's 35 with hip issues. He gets surgery, rehabs, plays, rehabs again all offseason, plays 8 games and says he's stepping away.. He'd of just kept quiet and went on IR/LTIR with a lower body if he thought he was coming back, imo.
I'd spend Ted's money like I had $9.2m burning a hole in my pocket! :snicker:
[/quote
Haha. Yes, YOU'D spend the $9.2 million Mick, but your question is a good one - will Leonsis spend the $9.2 million?
Let's look at the options:
(1) spend lots of money now. Say the Caps try to make a trade for a good established forward and/or defenseman with a high AAV contract, presumably using young players and/or draft picks (which I'm not in favor of, but we're speculating here). Is such a trade even out there at this point? And if there is, bringing on lots of contract value FOR A PLAYER OR PLAYERS THEY ARE COMMITTED TO LONGER TERM means the Caps are committing to a certain near/mid-term future right now under the duress of Backstrom's presumed departure, and they are admitting that he is not coming back either this regular season, or ever. Now, the Caps could trade for high-priced help that are impending free agents and can be jettisoned.
But why do that now? The players that would be available now are likely to be scarce, because teams are still shaking out their rosters and determining how good, or not good, they are, so they know what to do at the deadline. Which leads us to
(2) play the kids for now, evaluate them, then at the deadline, IF they are somehow in the playoff hunt (which I don't think they will be, but if they are) THEN load up. Pick players with expiring contracts for a this-year shot at making noise, AND the actual money outlay is only about 1/4 of the AAV you bring in because only 1/4 of the season remains. Pick up $9 million of expiring contracts, but only spend $2.25 million. I bet Leonsis would like that!!
--- End quote ---
Mickstix:
I agree, we can't do much until the deadline nears. Bummer we don't have any top 6 prospects (centers) to play. Maybe/hopefully youth and speed will suffice. Or McMike turns into a stud center? (Now that's wishful thinking!) lol
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