...

Agreed. I wonder if salaries, at least temporarily, will adjust to the lower cap. If a player is asking too much, eventually he'll have to lower his asking price if he wants to work.

Have you ever played hockey? How familiar are you with hockey culture? Any direct experience?

I'll leave the real answer to people who know the CBA better than I do, but I think that since he went into the off-season un-healthy, that status would carry over until the next season begins, as far as the buy-out terms are concerned.

I think you need to get out of the office and attend a lawn fete or something that doesn't involve numbers, spreadsheets, and theorems.

I don't see it this way. I don't think Vinny has that kind of cachet, not now.

You can't bury contracts any more, at least not without keeping the cap hit. Better to move Stafford for a bag of pucks. And they're stuck with Leino next season because he's injured. And, honestly, Regier isn't going to buy out anyone, that jerk can not admit to a contract mistake until years after the fact.

Really (I say not in the smart-aleck way, but in the genuinely interested way)? Care to expand on the point because I don't see how it's desperation.

I think over the long term, say the next five years, they probably even out. A team has to sign Vinny now, a team has to sign Vanek next year. Vanek has the edge because even with a crappy team around him he still produces.

Mmmm, I don't think money is the central factor. Hockey culture is very, VERY family oriented. Doesn't matter the socio-economic class of the player and his/her family, what does matter is the family's commitment to the kid's hockey. In our society, roughly, communities with "stronger" and "more supportive" family structures and influences result in less crime and social disturbances/aberrations. I think hockey people are simply more "grounded" people because that's what it takes, generally, to succeed in the sport.

He could be the veteran talent the Sabres need. Put Vinny in between Vanek and...I don't know, someone dynamic, and that may be what Vanek needs to stick around. Are there any good wingers being bought out the Sabres can bring in to play on a line with Vinny and Vanek (love the way the rolls out "Vinny and Vanek")?

When the amnesty buy-out detail of the new CBA was announced, the poster boy was Lecavalier. This is not a surprise, and the guy gets to go and get his career back in shape. Works out for both parties.

And I thought I was all alone, yet all of this time, I was truly among friends! I'm so emotional I need to blog about it somewhere...'scuse me a moment. Oh, uhm, is Stafford on waivers yet?

Dear God, Please, please, please let this Kane-to-Buffalo meme die. Quickly, please. Please, God? Kane won't come to Buffalo, will he, God? Kane needs a partner like Toews to make him the star he is, right, God? Why can't people in Buffalo understand this, God? Please give them enlightenment. God, don't you agree it will be a long-ass summer if people keep up this Kane nonsense? If you need to, by all means employ tactical lightning strikes to stop this from going any further. I know most people won't mind. Thanks, God! You rock! Sincerely, sizzlemeister

Poor Bowman, I think he heard two of those questions,

SOUTH BUFFALO - TWO STANLEY CUPS - REPRESENTED!

Haha, as if Kane needs another trophy.

"Good series, sorry 'bout your head, bro"

Boston fans stunned by quickly deflated emotions, those dooshes.

Between the crappy ice, the dooshy fans, and the biased refs, it'll be so nice to see Boston lose at home.

OMG!

Chicago, the NHL's clutch team.

I won't tell you, the officiating has been very one sided this series.

Chara, I hate you.

Lazy defense by the Hawks, there. Yuck.

Boston looks gassed already.