Lou Miller

I just skimmed through some of this topic, so forgive me if I'm repeating anything that has already been said. Obviously the Devils have some deals to make. However, don't put much faith into anything that comes from Єklund (2.3% accurate) (2.3% accurate). He seems to be getting credit for being the first to announce deals, but it's misleading. The one involving the Flyers was a total joke. It was announced by a Phoenix radio station, and posted on a Flyers message board 2 hours before it hit Єklund (2.3% accurate) (2.3% accurate)'s site (he happens to be a Flyer's fan and reads that site on a regular basis). This guy is a fraud. He throws as much **** against the wall as possible, hoping some of it will stick. Just remember that a broken clock is also right 2 times a day. Right now, the broken clock is way ahead of Єklund (2.3% accurate) (2.3% accurate)...

From what little we've heard I'd think Elias's cap number for this year would depend on how much time he misses, i.e. if he misses half the season his cap number is at $2 million or thereabouts...but it's been oh a couple months and we're STILL largely in the dark about the CBA...when the hell is it going to be available already

Hasan, obviously I don't have access to a copy of the CBA either. However, I think you might be mistaken on how Elias' cap hit will figure in. His whole salary will count against the cap if he plays. Lou is allowed to bring in a replacement player for him, who's salary would not count against the cap. However, once Elias gets activated, the team has to come in compliance right away. Which would mean the replacement player, or an equivalent salary would have to go.

I don't pretend to know more than anyone else, this is just how I've interpreted the rules based on what has been printed thus far. I could easily be wrong.

So, now that OLN will pay the NHL $65mm this year, how does that affect the salary cap?  Was revenue from a TV deal factored in to the total revenue picture?

If so, how much did they anticipate?

If not, and this counts as new revenue then by my calculations, the players should receive $35.1 million (54% of $65mm) and therefore each team's salary cap could potentially increase by $1.17 million (35.1/30).

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The cap number was based on revenues from the 03-04 season and projections for 04-05, which included a deal with ESPN. The new deal with Comcast probably won't change things much at all since the ESPN deal was for 60 million a year. Increases, and decreases, in ticket sales will have a much larger impact on the cap than the TV deal will. Right now, there seems to be a lot more interest in a lot of NHL cities due to player movement. With a lot of the bottom feeders picking up decent players, tickets sales league wide should increase. It's hard to say exactly because there's still a huge unknown when it comes to how many fans won't come back. Right now, it looks like there will be an increase though.

I don't know with the cap if Lou is going to be able to do the 2 for 1 trades anymore.  I expect mulitple single player trades (Probably around 3) for draft picks or prospects who could play at Albany.

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The only point of reference thus far is the Roenick to LA deal in which Clarke actually had to pay to have LA take JR. So it's unlikely that Lou is going to be able to bring much back in return for anyone he deals. The longer he waits, the less the returns could be too. The one big advantage he has in comparison to the JR trade however, is any Devils that end up being moved will have much more cap friendly salaries. It's not going to be easy to find teams willing to pick up 5 million in salary, but 1-3 million shouldn't be all that hard. You guys most likely will end up with mid round picks, which isn't bad really.

All this cap talk is making my head spin...anyone know where the escrow thingie fits in

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What escrow thingie?