That’s a recent suggestion of MSG Network’s Stan “The Maven” Fischler:
“Don Cherry insists that the Senators must trade Dan Alfredsson. We disagree. Deal Martin Gerber. If not, send the league’s most overpaid goalie back to Farjestad in Sweden! …”
And this solves what exactly, Stan?
I agree with Fischler that Gerber is overpaid, but that’s GM John Muckler’s fault. Few in the league want to take on $3.75 million per season for three seasons when the player isn’t earning that money.
The only way the Sens could send Gerber back to Farjestad is to buy out his contract next June. The buyout rate of two-thirds of the original salary, however, would count against their cap for the original duration of the contract, which expires at the end of the 2008-09 season.
Still, it may be the lesser of two evils for Muckler, although either way it sticks to him like gum on the soles of his shoes.
Oh, and I disagree that Gerber is the league’s most overpaid netminder. That dubious honor still belongs to Nikolai Khabibulin of the Chicago Blackhawks, who’s yet to play up to his eye-popping $6.75 million per season contract (which expires the same time as Gerber’s).
Dishonorable mention to Colorado’s Jose Theodore at $5.5 million for this season and $6 million for next. Granted, the Avs didn’t sign him to that contract but former GM Pierre Lacroix was dumb enough to take Montreal Canadiens’ GM Bob Gainey’s mistake off his hands last season.
Alfredsson and Gerber wll fetch an equal value in the trade market, and that's 100% of the problem. Bringing in an equal package of disappointments will not change things for the better in Ottawa. Muckler's pretty much SoL at this point.
If the Sens were going to trade Alfredsson, they should have done this a few years ago and tried to retain either Havlat, Hossa, or Chara. It's scary that those 3 players were once on one team. Alfredsson is older and less productive.
As for Gerber, the only thing they can do is wait till he turns his game around because nobody will take him in a trade over Nabakov (or Toskala), Giguere (or Bryzgalov), Aebischer, and Biron. St. Louis could bite on a trade right now, but only if Ottawa would take one of their overpaid, slow forwards. But buying out Gerber's contract is pretty much GM suicide for Muckler. They should've stuck with Emery and Hasek and tried to keep Chara instead of paying $6m for Redden. But hindsight is 20-20.
Excellent post, Spector, you are the epitome of NHL hockey reporting. Ok, now that I am done kissing your cheek, I will say that your observations are very good; but I think Gerber is better than the other two Dishonorable mentions as you so aptly put - yes, maybe he is not worth 3.75, but he is worth more than the other two duds! Theodore - boy, have you ever seen such a Jeckle and Hyde performer before this guy? As for Pepe La Pierre, he knew that he’d made a huge mistake with Theodore that’s why that Weasel jumped ship.
Although Bulin was HORRIBLE last year, he has been great this year. Although he is not earning his full salary, he has played very well this year and has been one of the better goalies in the league thus far. Look at his stats:
10-4-2
2.5 GAA
91.8 Save Percentage
Granted those arent the numbers o####oalie that makes 6 million, those are still very good numbers. Especially when you note that he is playing behind a group of very young defenceman. He has played much much better than Theodore and Gerber, and doesnt deserve to be labeled as a "dud". Last time I checked he won the cup a few years ago. One bad year doesnt mean a player is a bust, and although i do agree he is overpaid, i still think he is worth about 4-5 million. The Hawks always have to overpay to get star talent, that is just the sad reality. But in Bulin's case I still think it was a great move which is paying dividens now.
Keep up the great work, I really like reading your blog.
Ok first I'll say that I didn't understand how Gerber landed a 3 year contract. He had a good regular season and then fell apart in the playoffs. Kinda what Legacy was blamed for. So yeah he shouldn't be there but he is kinda like Jose is in Colorado.
But to say that Alfredsson should be traded is just retarded. He's one of the most underated superstars in hockey and he's obviously having a bad year for whatever reason. Ottawa's problem is depth on the forward lines. Their goaltending seems to be holding up with Emery in goal.
I think it's amazing that Alfredsson is still with the Senators and it says how much character he has to still be there after all the #### the media has thrown his way year after year.
In a couple of seasons, this scenario may not be as far-fetched as it seems now. With the salary cap prompting a drag on NHL salaries, the declining US dollar compared to the Euro, and the European leagues offering better compensation, trades between the NHL and IIHF Leagues may actually occur. Consider if the salary wasn't a significant issue between the leagues, a Euro team with a star Ottawa prospect might take Gerber in return for a pledge from Ottawa to would keep the star kid overseas for another season or the promise of additional compensation when the kid leaves. It could happen. After all, there were deals between the NHL and the WHA.
Matt: sorry, but that scenario you envisioned won't occur. NHL clubs can only trade players with other NHL clubs. The CBA does not permit "trading" with European teams.
1) We agree that the concept of inter-league trading is intriguing, its not likely to occur any time soon.
2) Too many problems with that in this salary cap age. How easy would it for a team to get out from their salary cap problem by trading their player(s) to Russia, etc?
It's important to take "the maven's" comments with a large dose of salt. He is famous for criticizing Gretzky at the height of this skills (apparently for being turned down for an interview) and is known for his vindictiveness. Anything from Fischer only highlights his ignorance of the sport, which, sadly, has only gotten worse with the passage of time.
I didn't suggest this could happen today, Lyle, but CBAs do change. It may be a very different landscape in the next few years if the IIHF can't settle the transfer payments issue and it becomes every team/federation for themselves, let alone if European-wide Super-League gets up and running. Keep in mind a third of the NHLPA membership is European, which could impact how the union chooses to negotiate various European issues in the coming years.
CBAs rarely change and when they do its by mutual consent between the owners and the players. Right now there's nothing in the mindset of the league or the PA to suggest consideration of "trading" players between leagues.
Indeed, if a European "SuperLeague" were to stand up over the next ten years, I doubt even then you'd see trades occuring between the two leagues.
As for the European membership within the PA, they currently know the only place for everyone to make big money is in the NHL. With no reasonable competition, the Europeans have no choice but to play in the NHL if they wish to make the big bucks.
I'm Lyle Richardson, also known as Spector, Foxsports.com 's "Prince of Pucks".,which is based on the fact I live in Prince Edward Island, Canada and I couldn't think of a better byline. I've been an NHL hockey commentator since 1998 on my website, Spector's Hockey, and I'm a contributing writer for Foxsports.com , The Hockey News and Eishockey News. I'm also a regular on The Faceoff Hockey Show and a frequent guest on "The Late Crew" on The Team 1200 Ottawa.
