Also post the link to your blog too.

Turco is over 35….so he IS eligable for a bonii laden deal….only Entry level and 35+ contracts are…..

It’s all in the details which will come out later….but I have heard some rumblings which I can’t comment on yet..

Don’t know for sure if Leddy deal had any bonuses included??

I wouldnt expect Turco to take such a deal though.

A lack of bonus $$ for Leddy (if accurate) makes it easier, not harder, for Leddy to play in the NHL this year.

Leddy…..that one is a real head scratcher with the utter lack of bonus $$. Considering the great work he has done in signing so many guys to “cap friendly” deals.

To me that says he’s playing in the A this season, there is really no way he can be afforded on this seasons cap.

If Niemi were to get traded the acquiring team would have to keep him for at least one season.

It likes from section 10.3 (b) Hjammer can’t be traded since the Hawks used their right of first refusal, but I couldnt find a similar line item for arbitration.

If they sign him out of arbitration, they must keep him for the season

And Bowman said $4.1 was in the neighborhood…if it was less he probably would have said so…if it is more there is no way he would say.

I said before the big three were re-signed they would be…most said it couldn’t happen.

I won’t waste any energy on figuring exact cap space because the person who knows for sure won’t say….in Niemi’s case it may not matter and I will have more later.

As for Leddy….if the cap hit is too much for the roster ANY player will be Rockford bound, see: Skille, Jack and others.

As for the bonus cushion for next yr, we canot know until the roster is set and see who makes the team…..It may be nothing but it may be 200-400k, or more if We sign a vet goalie(It would have to include Bonii to make it work(see Turco) , he rejected Philly’s $2M offer, but he might do it here for that, but it is unlikely)

Niemi doesn’t have any leverage at this point.

He will have a tough making much over $3 mill anywhere in this mkt.

You are correct but there are things we don’t know…Ledy could make the team…etc..

Also and more important no one knows for sure the exact bonus hit from this season that has to be taken next year. I think it is a sure bet it is at least the reported amount.

I wrote in the past..this isn’t an either or…the arbitrator conpares both arguments only, and then picks an award amount.

It seems probably that arbitration will net him more than $2mil, so there’s no need for him to sign a cut-rate offer.

If arbitration puts him out of the reach of the ‘Hawks cap space, then he can probably get $3m in the open market.

If arbitration somehow comes in under $2m, no harm nor foul for Niemi.

There’s simply no real reason for Niemi to sign before arbitration, especially at a cut rate position.

The fact is that the Hawks’ system is suck that they don’t need a Ryan Miller in net to succeed. Even with the players they had to trade away, they only lost Brent Sopel off the blueline. Right here is where the Hawks’ bread is buttered.

I’m still of the opinion Niemi signs a one-year for $1.5-2 million, and looks to rake in as a UFA in a year.

I beleive the arbitator will go $3.75 million or more. So I hope the hawks can get one of the available veterans to sign for 1.5 or less…It’s going to get interesting.

~The Ig

IMO the only thing to do is pay Niemi, and take a chance. With the cap being calculated Daily the “Rockford shuffle” should be in full swing. That way we minimize our cap probs and Keep Niemi. Injuries will be easier to deal with this yr anyway. With a non-olympic schedule we’ll have more days off. Any serious injury will have to be put on LTIE.

Going after a Theodore or Turco to replace Niemi is not the way to go