Detroit Puts Cujo on Waivers...

Wulfran · Post by **Wulfran** » December 3, 2003, 6:04 pm

http://nhl.com/onthefly/news/2003/12/184728.html

Anyone who follows the NHL knew that something had to happen but I am surprised that nothing could be worked out as far as making a trade. $6 million a year for him to play on the farm team...

I look at this and think wth is wrong with GMs/owners in the NHL and other pro sports. They sign a guy to a huge ass contract and 16 months later they aren't happy with what they bought... what happened to making sure of what you are getting into? Detroit hasn't been as bad for this in the NHL as other franchises (they have raised the salary expectations but generally have been getting what they wanted... unlike the Rangers, Flyers or Blues of the 90s) but this baffles me. And the NHL appears headed to a lockout next year because owners/GMs can't control their own spending...

Post by **Sylvus** » December 3, 2003, 6:11 pm

Well, in Detroit's defense, they didn't known that Hasek was going to come back. That puts you in a bit of a predicament, when you have the rights to one of the all-time greats who has retired and now wants to come back. Granted, CuJo is high up on the list, too, but he just didn't perform as well as they had expected.

Truant · Post by **Truant** » December 3, 2003, 6:42 pm

I can't say I didn't see it coming.

Personally, I've always felt CuJo was a vastly overrated goalie. That's just my personal opinion, and I'm not going to back it up with numbers. But I just don't think he's the savior in the net that his hype plays him to be.

Also, I've always wanted to see Legace get some more action.

Post by **Xouqoa** » December 3, 2003, 6:55 pm

They should have made Legace the #1 goalie last year and signed a minor leager for backup, I said it then and I agree with it now even more so. Legace is a better goalie than Joseph, and more reliable in terms of how often he plays well.

Sucks for Joseph though, I'm really suprised nobody has picked him up yet... he's good, just not worth as much money as the Wings threw at him.

masteen · Post by **masteen** » December 3, 2003, 7:07 pm

I always felt that Cujo was an average goalie who would have a couple great games a season. I think Detroit watched too much of his highlight reel (and he does have some amazing clips), and not enough looking at his overall stats.

Kluden · Post by **Kluden** » December 4, 2003, 10:18 am

I'm sure the Penguins are trying to find a way to afford him. They are going to be in need of goalie very soon...considering Fleury can only play 25 games before they have to pay him league minimum. Until that 25th game, he is still making his minor league/farm team salary. I'm doubting they will bank on a youngster when someone like CuJo is out there....although I also don't see how they can afford him...

Just thought I would offer one possibility of a new home for Mr. Joseph.

Trek · Post by **Trek** » December 4, 2003, 12:27 pm

I doubt Pit would snag that contract. They have been shedding payroll as usual

masteen · Post by **masteen** » December 4, 2003, 12:54 pm

Until Pittsburgh shells out for a new arena, the Pens are gonna be strapped for cash.

Sueven · Post by **Sueven** » December 4, 2003, 1:42 pm

It seems to me that hockey's economy is entirely fucked, in the spirit of major league baseball. I'm not too sure on the specifics, because I don't follow hockey very closely, but I remember living in Pittsburgh last year was a pretty brutal experience. Lots of angry penguins fans.

Can anyone clarify the issues with the current hockey economy?

Post by **Sylvus** » December 4, 2003, 1:48 pm

It is kind of jacked, I think the numbers are something like Detroit has a $76M payroll, and I don't know who is the lowest but Tampa Bay had like a $16M payroll.

Someone, the Rangers maybe, was looking at picking up or picked up Jagr, and was projected to be passing Detroit as the highest payroll. I think that's why the league owners want a $28M salary cap and the players are threatening a lockout. I'm not against a salary cap per se, but I do think that's a little low.

Wulfran · Post by **Wulfran** » December 4, 2003, 3:30 pm

Pretty much the same idea Sueven, except that hockey gets a little more extreme in the polarization between the haves and have-nots with 6 Canadian clubs trying to earn revenue with a now $0.75 Canadian dollar vs the US dollar.

A contributing factor has been franchise expansions and relocations to places that haven't been great hockey havens and have small or no fan bases. These extra franchises have tended to dilute the talent pool of the existing teams and thus give the viewer a "watered down" version of the game in recent years... except for a few teams that have had the money to attract and keep talented player corps' (like Detroit and Colorado). The lack of a major US TV deal (bowling gets better ratings on ESPN2 than NHL coverage) has always been a goal but unattainable, and thus a limit on the revenue the league can generate (the teams all have local TV deals but no major network deal).

Next summer their collective bargaining agreement expires and it appears they are heading for a lockout, basically because the owners and GMs of the NHL lack the financial discipline to live within their means... which in turn drives up the salaries of all players... which drives up ticket prices and advertising costs... which keeps people away from the sport...

As for Cujo, I feel for the guy to a degree. He played some great hockey in places like St Louis and Edmonton before he went to Toronto and now Detroit. He's the type of guy that always tried to give back some to the communities he played in, through charity work (he did things in Edmonton like buy a luxury box each season, that he brought disabled and terminally ill kids into, so they could see the games... I mean it doesn't hurt so bad to dish out 200K when you make 4-5 million a year but how many others do that?). I think Detroit puts too much blame for last year on him, and not on an under-achieving club in general. I don't believe Hasek is that much better and I don't know why they felt they needed him back: if Cujo wasn't playing as well, then get Legace starting more games and develop him (not to mention why sign Cujo in the first place with Legace there... they could have just signed a journeyman to go split-duty with him).

Post by **Sylvus** » December 4, 2003, 3:35 pm

Another issue with the Canadian teams, I believe they have to pay something ridiculous like $10M a year to the Canadian gov't as some sort of tax or something, that the American teams don't have to pay. Certainly doesn't help them...

Chidoro · Post by **Chidoro** » December 5, 2003, 5:48 pm

Hockey is getting screwed of late because the player salaries were not commensurate w/ team earnings for a number of years. Jeez, espn hockey night now falls on a Thursday, easily the WORST night to program a national game against.

In addition, hockey doesn't have the channels of revenue that baseball has. Shit, it's not even remotely close. People aren't going to pick up 6 mil a year contract any longer unless the player is proven goods. It's just the same as a baseball player is not going to make over 15 mil any longer. Those days of massive contracts are over. Worse still, the kids that play hockey just want to play. Their union has no clout whatsoever. The owners are going to plop down their books in front of the player union to see, and it will be a bloodbath

laneela · Post by **laneela** » December 9, 2003, 8:38 pm

Cujo recalled:

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=63732

I feel bad for Chelios though... Getting taken out by a kid who's 5'9" has to be harsh. =P

I have to admit that seeing a team with more players on the IR than we have for a change is nice.

Post by **Xouqoa** » December 9, 2003, 9:31 pm

That's an all-star IR list right there... and yes, it sucks.