BOSTON, Mass – After watching the systemic disassembly of the Chicago Blackhawks I wonder when we will see the next back-to-back Stanley Cup champions. Even before the salary cap era it was difficult for teams to win back-to-back Cups. The last team to have done so was the 1997 and 1998 Detroit Red Wings. Prior to the Wings the previous team to do so was the Mario Lemieux-powered 1991-92 Pittsburgh Penguins.
Fans of the Blackhawks were able to enjoy their championship a little more than two weeks before the cap-induced changes began to take place. More than just tinkering to tune up their roster for their Stanley Cup defense, the moves made were necessitated by the cold, hard, cap. The Blackhawks were in cap trouble not just due to top salaries being paid out to star players, but a $4 million plus bonus hit on the 2010-11 cap they took after the Cup last year.
Had there not been a cap in place the Blackhawks would have gladly allowed their young talent to push some vets out, but generally would have kept a static roster. No matter how the Blackhawks spin the situation, players such as Dustin Byfuglien and Kris Versteeg, the first and second stars of the pivotal Game 5, would not have been traded. Perhaps more telling of the clubâs financial problems was the departure of the clubâs top two goaltenders, Antti Niemi and Christobel Huet. An argument for Huetâs departure could be made as he was scheduled to earn over $5.6 million in 2010-11 and he had been beaten out by Niemi for the starting role. However Niemi,at 26, potentially has his best years ahead of him (although it should be noted he has been free on the market for weeks since the âHawks cut him loose).
Playoffs
Want to see some intense playoffs and terrific races down the stretch? Break the divisions into fours. The top four in each division play against each other in the first two rounds. Due to the fact the clubs are battling each other just to get into the playoffs and then face each other in the playoffs, it will be tremendous hockey. If the NHL really wants to play it up they could make March and April strictly division play. Just think of the tremendous advertisements the league and its television partner could make.
Expansion and relocation is a winner
If there are owners in Canada who have the funds and desire to own NHL clubs and cities to support them, letâs do it. Expand to 32 clubs with the addition of Winnipeg and Quebec. Allow an existing team to move into Ontario and 
indemnify the Maple Leafs. Everyone wins. The owners earn expansion money and the leagueâs revenues would increase. The players would get 50 new jobs and increased revenue flows.
The NHL could break into four eight team divisions, and the league could even create an all-Canadian division if it wanted to. By doing this, the NHL would be guaranteed one Canadian team in the conference finals each season.
Can you imagine the jersey sales revenue from just Winnipeg, Quebec and the âHamiltonâ club alone? How about outdoor games featuring Edmonton-Calgary, Quebec-Montreal and âHamiltonâ against Toronto on Hockey Day in Canada? How many people do you think would be in attendance for each one of those games? 80,000? 100,000?
Scheduling? Six games against each division foe, two games against conference foes, two games against one division in the other conference and one game against the other division for a total of 82 games.
Anyone have other ideas? Iâll be glad to hear them. Iâll post some alternative ideas with my next article, although frankly, I think my alignment is pretty darn good.
Salary Cap Follies
I am trying to figure out which is funnier, the fact the Edmonton Oilers took a cap hit of $354,500 to finish in last place overall or the fact the Toronto Maple Leafs exceeded the bonus by $1,400,000 to finish next-to-lastâŠ.Is it possible the Bruins are hoping the NHL decertifies Marc Savardâs contract? The Bruins are more than $3 million over the cap and are counting on Marco Sturm ($3.5 M) to go on long-term injured reserve to be in compliance with the cap. Michael Ryder ($4 M) will need a hot start or he might find himself in Providence (AHL).
Could you imagine if you were the financial manager of a club and your general manager told that a $4M player had to go to the minors because the GM had exceeded a mandated budget? Then to compound the issue the player would receive his entire salary while hanging out in the AHL? How about in Rangers land where GM Glen Sather might have to explain why Wade Redden, a $6.5M defenseman, needs to winter in Hartford (AHL) in order for the team to sign restricted free agent Marc Staal and/or place Ryan McDonagh on the NHL rosterâŠI wonder if the Phil Kessel deal between Boston and Toronto is putting a drag on restricted free agency this year?
There are several RFA-2 players available who could make a large difference on their new club if signed. The list of available RFAs includes Staal, Bobby Ryan, Peter Mueller and Carey Price, but no movement as of yet. The trade looks bad for Toronto because they had such a poor season. If the Leafs had made the playoffs and the Bruins picked 18th or so the Kessel trade would have gone down as a steal for Brian Burke, but with Tyler Seguin in Boston as the second overall pick the trade looks bad. Never mind the fact the Bruins also own Torontoâs first round pick this year.
Hall of Fame
Cammi Granato and Angela James are going to be in the Hockey Hall of Fame and Pat Burns, Doug Gilmour, Adam Oates and Pavel Bure are not? Frankly no one deserves to get in the Hall this year if Burns is not included.
Burns is one of the rare coaches to have won 500 games, has won three Jack Adams awards (NHLâs best coach) and has a Stanley Cup to his credit. Never mind the fact Burns is undergoing his third bout with cancer. Burns was a great coach and deserves selection sooner rather than later. It would be nice if Burns was able to attend his induction ceremonies.
Contact Tom.Schettino@prohockeynews.com
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