The Prospal buyout
by James Mirtle on Jul 28, 2009 12:30 PM CDT
32 comments
"After fully evaluating our roster and our position in the salary cap world, we arrived at the decision to buy out Vaclav Prospal from his contract," GM Brian Lawton said in a statement. "We appreciate Vinny's service to the Lightning, but in the best interest of the team, we believe a difficult decision needed to be made in this case, and we are going to move ahead without him. We wish Vinny all the best."
The cap's not an issue here, as the Lightning had plenty of space before this move. Instead of paying Prospal $3.5-million over the next three years, he'll be a $1.167-million cap hit for the next six and save Tampa $3.5-million in cash paid out.
And while he may be slightly overpaid, I'm not sure I understand the decision (unless its being made to bring in another body up front and Alex Tanguay has been rumoured headed to Tampa for some time). There's very little scoring depth on this team, even with Prospal, and he has shown some chemistry with the incumbents there.
At the very least, it makes sense to give him another year on what's still a rebuilding team.
Truth be told, Tampa's roster is beginning to look like a real mess again, with far too many defencemen under contract and too few proven forwards (reversing the issues they had going into last season). Prospal may have a no-trade clause and didn't want to be dealt, and it could very well be that this is the team's response to that request.
We've seen them pull similar stunts with clauses they've given out in the past.
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Why now?
Why wait until now to buy Prospal out? Seems like odd timing.
I find sometimes it's easy to be myself
sometimes I find it's better to be somebody else
by Fauxrumors on Jul 28, 2009 12:55 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I think it’s fairly obvious this team isn’t going anywhere this year, the rebuilding which will be centered on Hedman and Stamkos is just getting underway. Therefore, I really don’t see any reason not to keep Prospal to give him another chance…
by Habs on Jul 28, 2009 1:01 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Money would be the main reason. If it’s just to make room for a Tanguay, it seems like an awfully expensive upgrade, though.
Hockey blogging can't get any flatter.
by saskhab on Jul 28, 2009 1:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I understand the money angle, but let’s take a look at it:
If he plays for the Bolts this year, he makes $3,5M. If they then buy him out next summer, they’re on the hook for $1,167M for 4 more years – total paid salary after 5 years: $8,168M
By buying him out now, they’re paying him $1,167M for 6 years – total price: $7,002M
So they aren’t saving that much money – in my opinion saving $1M over 6 years isn’t worth disrupting your top line, unless of course you’re getting a replacement. If it really is Tanguay, you’re right – it’s a very expensive upgrade. But it’s not like the Bolts have a full cupboard of forward prospects to take his place.
by Habs on Jul 28, 2009 1:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m not sure they’ve got a cupboardful of hockey sense either.
by yrmom on Jul 28, 2009 2:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Spreading it out over six years means the money saved is greater than the raw total, given the discount factor. It also saves cash this year. From what we are hearing, there may be a cash crunch among the ownership group, and they may be desperately trying to find ways to cut down on payouts right now.
by J. Michael Neal on Jul 28, 2009 3:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe they’re afraid that having two strong offensive duos with chemistry (Lecavalier and Prospal, Stamkos and St. Louis) to go with what should be an ok defence could risk their lottery position?
by Malurous on Jul 29, 2009 4:17 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
1) Isn’t there a set ‘buy out period’? If so, why didn’t TB buy him out then?
2) Just seems like yet another sign that this franchise is being pulled in multiple directions and is rutterless with so many making decisions.
I find sometimes it's easy to be myself
sometimes I find it's better to be somebody else
by Fauxrumors on Jul 28, 2009 1:22 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
meant rudderless, ofcourse. ; )
I find sometimes it's easy to be myself
sometimes I find it's better to be somebody else
by Fauxrumors on Jul 28, 2009 1:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
So at this rate by next summer Tampa ought to have about 5-6 NHL caliber goalies on the roster if their strategy continues!
I see what they’re doing here.
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by Hooks Orpik on Jul 28, 2009 2:10 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
They’re really pissed at the Islanders for taking their idea.
by HockeyJoe on Jul 28, 2009 5:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Signing Prospal LAST season was a mistake
…but It’s a worthy jab to bring up overdoing it at one position and underdoing it at another. Nine NHL-ready D-men, a lack of depth at forward…
Even bringing in Tanguary or Sykora or Williams (or all three) cause an issue with long term depth. Yeah, there are prospects like Dana Tyrell and Alex Hutchings among others at LW… But if injuries strike, it turns into a case of having AHL caliber forwards trying to score on NHL level goalies and defenses…
The Raw Charge -- the Tampa Bay Lightning weblog at SB Nation.
by John Fontana on Jul 28, 2009 2:25 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Let’s face it – these guys have a one-track mind, regardless of what their plans are for Norfolk’s squad. Last summer it was forwards. This summer, it’s defensemen. Next summer, it’ll probably be goaltending. Until they can find a balanced approach to how to run the team, they’re not going to get very far.
Cassie
Raw Charge, an SBN Tampa Bay Lightning Blog. It's what's for dinner.
by Cassie McClellan on Jul 28, 2009 2:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I can’t wait ’til they sign 5 head coaches
by yrmom on Jul 28, 2009 3:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Don’t joke. The way they’re going, that could happen. They went thru three head coaches in six months last year. Fired Tortorella in June, hired Melrose in June, fired Melrose in November, then hired Tocchet in November. If Tocchet doesn’t produce a winning team, there’s no telling how that’ll go.
Cassie
Raw Charge, an SBN Tampa Bay Lightning Blog. It's what's for dinner.
by Cassie McClellan on Jul 28, 2009 4:49 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Given the success of the Pittsburgh Steelers and their 3-4 defense, Tampa is going to try out a 2-3 alignment.
by J. Michael Neal on Jul 28, 2009 3:14 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Short on forwards, eh?
I hear Vinnie Prospal’s available…
I've been looking at the sky
by Back In Black on Jul 28, 2009 3:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He could have had a NJD-style back injury. Or if he had a NTC but not a NMC he could have been buried in the A. Weird.
by TylerG on Jul 28, 2009 3:10 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Big Difference
For Jersey, it was about saving cap space, not money. For Tampa, it’s about saving money. If you put Prospal in the AHL, you still have to pay him his full $3.5m salary.
Hockey blogging can't get any flatter.
by saskhab on Jul 28, 2009 3:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
No one in Tampa had a good season last year, so he still seems to be an attractive option on the market – because of lower salary demands he could actually find a new home before Alex Tanguay. Tanguay loses some leverage here – after this buyout he isn’t clearly the best LW option on the market.
by -V- on Jul 28, 2009 3:14 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I’d say Tanguay is a far superior LW than Prospal, but Vinnie’s salary demands should be much lower so that can make him a more attractive option.
by Habs on Jul 28, 2009 7:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sweet
I guess this makes the Vinny Prospal bobblehead I got in Tampa last February a collector’s item!
What am I bid for this two and a half inch tall (seriously) hunk of plastic crap that does not resemble Vinny Prospal? Anyone? Bueller?
jrwendelman
The Artist Formerly Known as "Junior", who blogs at heroesinrehab.ca/blog
"But if someone so eager to engage into fist talk, we can always meet after season end in Minsk." (Mikhail Grabovski and a well-meaning but not particularly skillful translator)
by jrwendelman on Jul 28, 2009 3:52 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Save it. The HHOF is opening a new wing dedicated to teams killed by stupidity.
I've seen enough to know that I've seen too much.
by Smoboy41 on Jul 28, 2009 5:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sounds like it might have to be a wing with plenty of room for expansion.
"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle." -- Philo of Alexandria
by Baroque on Jul 28, 2009 5:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Isn’t expansion what caused the need for the wing in the first place?
2009-2010 Colorado Avalanche - "Hey Brother, can you spare a Left Winger?"
by Hopfenkopf on Jul 28, 2009 9:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Naw, that’s been around since the NHL was born. I hear they’re thinking of naming it for Pete Muldoon (or the 1925 Hamilton Tigers).
SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there)
by Doogie2K on Jul 29, 2009 12:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Shit, I named the wrong party; I was thinking of Major F. McLaughlin, the crazy original owner of the Blackhawks. Pete Muldoon was the head coach who placed the mythical hex on the team.
SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there)
by Doogie2K on Jul 29, 2009 12:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think you’ll be the tour guide in the new wing.
I've seen enough to know that I've seen too much.
by Smoboy41 on Jul 29, 2009 1:18 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
It’s not a rebuilding, it’s a retooling. There’s a difference. Rebuilding is more thorough, retooling is “rebuilding” on the fly.
Lawton wants speed, so maybe they’re targeting Kessel. Offer sheet or trade. But who knows what their plan is. On the trade deadline they pretty much gave up a 2nd round pick for Lashoff in the Recchi deal, but now Lashoff is about ninth or tenth on their defensive depth chart.
by bearhunter on Jul 29, 2009 5:47 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Forgot to mention that Lashoff remains unsigned, as do Karsums and Mike Lundin (another defenceman, hurrah). As for Prospal, he recently bought a new house in Tampa, so you have to assume he’s not over the moon about being bought out.
by bearhunter on Jul 29, 2009 5:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
What have they built so far in Tampa that it is worth retooling, though? It doesn’t seem that they have built a solid enough team that they can just do the less-thorough “retooling” at all – it still seems like a lot of rubble.
"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle." -- Philo of Alexandria
by Baroque on Jul 29, 2009 11:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
True, they don’t have much beyond Lecavalier and St. Louis, but they clearly don’t want to enter rebuilding mode and lay foundations in a patient manner. That is why they choose to retool instead. Last year they tried to retool their offence and failed, but it is at least theoretically possible to retool yourself way to success, and that is what they’re trying to do. They’ve retooled their defence this summer after realizing it was terrible last year. I think it’s going to be better this year, but I still suspect they’ll end up regretting not committing to a more methodical rebuild at some point.
by bearhunter on Jul 31, 2009 6:30 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
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