Deja Vu, All over Again

Reg's comments in my Houston We Have a Problem post got me reminiscing. Here is my Reg Ruling from last year.

Folks – I’m breaking my rules. This is now final.

I have been thinking a lot about this. I’d like to give Reg more of a break. I specifically told him before the draft that we would find a way to deal with drops and pick-ups. This really isn’t happening now with these rules, and I suspect that he may have picked Kovalchuk with my assurance in mind. After I sent out this email, I started looking at his problem, and I feel quite bad about how the rules will affect his team. There are no good defensemen available that will fit within his salary cap constraints if he uses the non-compliance rule. I would like to waive the salary cap penalty for non-compliance this year.

This would allow Reg to drop Kovalchuk and sign a free agent of Rob Blake’s calibre, while still fitting within the salary cap. (hint, hint) I’m not saying that this is what he will do, but it will be another option available to him. For those who haven’t noticed, Reg drafted only 3 defensemen by mistake while he thought he had drafted 5 defensemen. (Zednick and Calder were thought
to be defensemen). In addition, one of his defense picks was his rookie, who on Sunday got sent to the Minors and will have to stay on the active roster. (I’m sure Tim can sympathize.)

What I ask from everyone else, is that we really make Reg pay if he wants to deal for another defensemen.

So, in exchange for this ruling, I would like to rename the Non-Compliance Rule as Reg’s Rule”. In addition, I hereby nominate Reg for the “Bonehead Award”. The nomination is in recognition of Reg’s less-than-fine defensemen scouting. The irony of this nomination is that it was Reg who suggested that the financial incentive associated with the “Bonehead Award” be removed because, and I quote:

“I really don't think the "poorest" manager should benefit financially.”

Good luck to all.

It seems that the logical thing to do in the Houston (500) case, is to do something similar. Because this is completely my fault, as MILFy had no part in the very poor drafting of his team, I will waive the salary cap penalty in this case. MILF Hunter KnowsPicks (yes somehow we missed the last part of his team name - refer to email from Oct 3, 2005 11:11 am) will have until Monday October 9, 2006 13:00 to sort out his situation. Options are as follows:

• Make a trade with another GM who has salary cap room.
• Drop a single player, without salary cap penalty - $5 fee to be covered by Iffy, and pick up a free agent. (I would prefer that he do it as soon as possible, but I think he may be on dayshift this week.)

I also nominate Iffy for the Superdraft2006 bonehead award for Salary Cap Swindling a'la Lucky Lou Lamoriello .

In happier news, it looks like Gionta signed for $4M and Martin signed for $2M, which should make all things ok in the salary cap world of Superdraft2006. (Numbers to be confirmed.)