Detroit Moves and Keepers

[izaman3]

Detroit releases:
LW Jiri Sekac, $0.2m (P-16/17)
D Jamie Oleksiak, $0.2m (P-16/17)

Detroit throws a retirement party for Pavel Datsyuk
C Pavel Datsyuk, $7.5m (2018-2019) - contract null and void

Detroit resigns G Craig Anderson, RFA, $0m this year
#31 G in 14-15
#7  G  in 15-16

owed $6.1m, Detroit signs Anderson to a two year deal
G Craig Anderson, $6.1m (2019-2020)

Detroit Keepers
1   20   20   DET   Dennis Cholowski   D   CAN   6' 1"   177   BCHL   Chilliwack
2   16   46   DET   Givani Smith         RW   CAN   6' 1"   205   OHL   Guelph
2   23   53   DET   Filip Hronek          D   CZE   6' 0"   163   CZREP   HR. Kralove

[Rob]

I don't believe Datsyuk filed retirement papers.  He just up and left for Russia while on an active contract.  The Red Wings just had to trade his cap hit.  I believe he would fall under this rule:

If an NHL player leaves to play overseas in another league, his contract remains in force unless the player is 35 or older and is gone for at least one NHL season.

This is unlike the Kovalchuk situation where Kovi filed voluntary retirement papers and relieved the Devils of his cap hit.  Datsyuk is leaving the Red Wings with a cap hit.

This means you won't be able to get rid of the contract until next offseason.  I have not processed anything here since this may affect your other decisions. 

Sorry Ian.  If you find information that says otherwise about his retirement please send my way. 

[snugerud]

I don't believe Datsyuk filed retirement papers.  He just up and left for Russia while on an active contract.  The Red Wings just had to trade his cap hit.  I believe he would fall under this rule:

This is unlike the Kovalchuk situation where Kovi filed voluntary retirement papers and relieved the Devils of his cap hit.  Datsyuk is leaving the Red Wings with a cap hit.

This means you won't be able to get rid of the contract until next offseason.  I have not processed anything here since this may affect your other decisions. 

Sorry Ian.  If you find information that says otherwise about his retirement please send my way.

Actually he did retire from the NHL, the only reason the Wings still have a cap hit was because he signed his contract after he was 35.  The reason Kovalchuk's cap hit came off was because he was under 35 when the contract was signed.

[Rob]

How do we determine if a player retires officially?  I don't see any indication that he filed papers.  Though I'm not sure if that's really newsworthy or not - so maybe we can't officially know?

[Rob]

Also the player was traded to Arizona with a pick to Vitale and picks.  They didn't trade some dead retirement cap hit, they traded the player.  Seems to me this falls in the Tim Thomas category.  I'm really not sure how to interpret it.

[Rob]

This is updated to the Lecavalier retirement - not sure what their source is for this in particular:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015%E2%80%9316_NHL_transactions#Retirement

[izaman3]

Actually he did retire from the NHL, the only reason the Wings still have a cap hit was because he signed his contract after he was 35.  The reason Kovalchuk's cap hit came off was because he was under 35 when the contract was signed.

Yeah, that's how I interpreted the situation. I also believe he has signed retirement papers. I'll try to find something that indicates that.

Either way, I'm going to resign Anderson as I can't just let a starting goalie walk away to FA.

But go ahead and pause on Datsyuk until I can find something to show you.

[snugerud]

This is updated to the Lecavalier retirement - not sure what their source is for this in particular:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015%E2%80%9316_NHL_transactions#Retirement

Looks like you are right in this case.  I think it may have just been a mutal agreement to allow him to play somewhere else and by not retiring they were able to trade his contract away... i will keep looking around on this. 

[Rob]

I'm inclined to change the rule to treat players leaving for the KHL the same as retired players. It's kinda hard to arbitrate this retirement thing.

[snugerud]

Everything that i have found says that he has retired from the NHL but only that his contract remains because of the cap hit.  Its really a 50/50 in this case. 

With that said, i have always been a fan of no cap relief on retirement,  if you are going to sign a 36year old to a 4 year contract, deal with it.  ha ha.