Islanders acquire Tim Thomas's cap hit.

[bustaheims]

StapeNewsday: Reports out there are correct: #Isles have acquired G Tim Thomas for a conditional 2nd-rounder in either 2014 or 2015.

StapeNewsday: Move is cap-related -- #Isles needed to be over the floor by tomorrow, needed insurance against not being cap compliant the entire season.

KatieStrangESPN: #Isles Can confirm Isles have acquired goaltender Tim Thomas via trade

 

[maplesyrup]

So Snow gives up a 2nd round pick for nothing. Why do I find that not so hard to believe?

 

[bustaheims]

So Snow gives up a 2nd round pick for nothing. Why do I find that not so hard to believe?

Well, it depends on what the conditions are. It could very well be a phantom pick.

 

[pmrules]

So Snow gives up a 2nd round pick for nothing. Why do I find that not so hard to believe?

It's worse than that...the BRUINS get a 2nd rounder AND cap relief!

 

[bustaheims]

TSNBobMcKenzie: The Boston Bruins only get a draft pick from the Islanders for Tim Thomas if he reports to them or any other team if NYI trade his rights.

Yup. Phantom pick.

 

[pmrules]

TSNBobMcKenzie: The Boston Bruins only get a draft pick from the Islanders for Tim Thomas if he reports to them or any other team if NYI trade his rights.

Yup. Phantom pick.

but the cap relief aspect for boston is still there, no?  They could arguably now go and get the equivalent of a ~$5M player.

 

[Omallley]

TSNBobMcKenzie: The Boston Bruins only get a draft pick from the Islanders for Tim Thomas if he reports to them or any other team if NYI trade his rights.

Yup. Phantom pick.

but the cap relief aspect for boston is still there, no?  They could arguably now go and get the equivalent of a ~$5M player.

They can take on 8.8M worth of salary as of today with that move.

 

[maplesyrup]

TSNBobMcKenzie: The Boston Bruins only get a draft pick from the Islanders for Tim Thomas if he reports to them or any other team if NYI trade his rights.

Yup. Phantom pick.

Phew!

 

[pmrules]

TSNBobMcKenzie: The Boston Bruins only get a draft pick from the Islanders for Tim Thomas if he reports to them or any other team if NYI trade his rights.

Yup. Phantom pick.

but the cap relief aspect for boston is still there, no?  They could arguably now go and get the equivalent of a ~$5M player.

They can take on 8.8M worth of salary as of today with that move.

Exactly...that's the part that annoys me.  Boston was screwed salary cap wise by having $5M tied up in a player that wasn't playing...Now the Islanders go and relieve them of that problem!  Now they can go out and get the equivalent of a $5M cap hit player and be no worse off cap wise than they were before.  Arghhhh!

 

[bustaheims]

but the cap relief aspect for boston is still there, no?  They could arguably now go and get the equivalent of a ~$5M player.

In theory, yes, they could. Though, in terms of the cap, this was much more about the Islanders giving themselves more flexibility so they don't drop below the floor. Boston already had close to $3M in cap space available, so they had a fair amount of breathing room as is.

 

[Kin]

Exactly...that's the part that annoys me.  Boston was screwed salary cap wise by having $5M tied up in a player that wasn't playing...Now the Islanders go and relieve them of that problem!  Now they can go out and get the equivalent of a $5M cap hit player and be no worse off cap wise than they were before.  Arghhhh!

They weren't really screwed though. Thomas' deal was expiring in the summer anyway. While this means they could go and add a rental I doubt they add anyone long term with the cap coming down and Rask/Horton needing to be signed.

 

[maplesyrup]

I can't help but think that if Tim Thomas had any feelings about coming back, this might have just put an end to it.

 

[Kin]

I can't help but think that if Tim Thomas had any feelings about coming back, this might have just put an end to it.

I don't think he was coming back this year regardless and, accordingly, I think he was done in Boston anyway.

 

[pmrules]

Exactly...that's the part that annoys me.  Boston was screwed salary cap wise by having $5M tied up in a player that wasn't playing...Now the Islanders go and relieve them of that problem!  Now they can go out and get the equivalent of a $5M cap hit player and be no worse off cap wise than they were before.  Arghhhh!

They weren't really screwed though. Thomas' deal was expiring in the summer anyway. While this means they could go and add a rental I doubt they add anyone long term with the cap coming down and Rask/Horton needing to be signed.

The Bruins can now get better and fix up holes this year on an already great roster, and be no worse off cap wise this year...and the islanders just allowed them to do that.  That was kind of my point. 

 

[Zee]

Why couldn't snow take Komisarek or Connolly to make his cap hit?

 

[bustaheims]

Why couldn't snow take Komisarek or Connolly to make his cap hit?

Because, he'd actually have to pay them.

 

[Corn Flake]

Why couldn't snow take Komisarek or Connolly to make his cap hit?

Imaginary players are ultra cheap.

 

[Zee]

Hope Thomas reports with guns in hand.

 

[Justin]

Such a stupid trade. How is it that a team can get above the cap floor by absorbing a player's cap hit while not actually paying him anything? The cap floor should be the cap floor, you should't be able to use imaginary money to get above it. Seems to me a silly loophole in the CBA.

 

[Kessel Run]

The Islanders also have the option of deferring the contract to next year since he won't be showing up, and they can use that $5M indefinitely as far as I can tell.

Silly loophole indeed.