New waiver rules to hurt team depth?
Aug 19, 2005 13:53:43 GMT -5
Post by hab1fan on Aug 19, 2005 13:53:43 GMT -5
From St. Pete Times
In the past, the Lightning called up reliable fill-ins Eric Perrin and Shane Willis from the minors to replace injured players. It looks as if the team will not have those two options any longer.
Both players said Thursday they did not expect to return and likely will play in Europe.
"I don't feel there is a true opportunity to play there in the NHL with the Lightning," Perrin said. "It's nothing against Tampa Bay. They're classy people, they let me live the dream of playing on a Stanley Cup team. But they're loaded, and waiting for an injury to get called up is a high risk."
The problem facing Perrin and Willis is that, under the new labor agreement, players in the minors making more than $75,000 a year have to pass through waivers to be called up. So players making more than $75,000 might never get called up, and Perrin and Willis can earn much more than $75,000 playing elsewhere.
Willis said he might play in Switzerland.
"I have family considerations and if I'm going to make more than $75,000 in the minors, I'll never get called up," Willis said. "Making less and hoping to get called up? That's too much risk for reward. The best option for my family is go to Europe and play."
Willis has played in 174 NHL games, including 33 with the Lightning from 2001-04. Perrin played in four regular-season games in 2003-04 and appeared in 12 postseason games.
"It's a disappointing time in my career," Perrin said. "I fought so hard to get where I got, and I was right there on the verge of sticking with the team. It's frustrating, but that's how it goes."
tinyurl.com/9nmb9
Those extra players the teams carry this year might leave the AHL teams looking for talent. Will this hurt delevopment of younger players or will teams opt to keep older veterans to fill out rosters?
In the past, the Lightning called up reliable fill-ins Eric Perrin and Shane Willis from the minors to replace injured players. It looks as if the team will not have those two options any longer.
Both players said Thursday they did not expect to return and likely will play in Europe.
"I don't feel there is a true opportunity to play there in the NHL with the Lightning," Perrin said. "It's nothing against Tampa Bay. They're classy people, they let me live the dream of playing on a Stanley Cup team. But they're loaded, and waiting for an injury to get called up is a high risk."
The problem facing Perrin and Willis is that, under the new labor agreement, players in the minors making more than $75,000 a year have to pass through waivers to be called up. So players making more than $75,000 might never get called up, and Perrin and Willis can earn much more than $75,000 playing elsewhere.
Willis said he might play in Switzerland.
"I have family considerations and if I'm going to make more than $75,000 in the minors, I'll never get called up," Willis said. "Making less and hoping to get called up? That's too much risk for reward. The best option for my family is go to Europe and play."
Willis has played in 174 NHL games, including 33 with the Lightning from 2001-04. Perrin played in four regular-season games in 2003-04 and appeared in 12 postseason games.
"It's a disappointing time in my career," Perrin said. "I fought so hard to get where I got, and I was right there on the verge of sticking with the team. It's frustrating, but that's how it goes."
tinyurl.com/9nmb9
Those extra players the teams carry this year might leave the AHL teams looking for talent. Will this hurt delevopment of younger players or will teams opt to keep older veterans to fill out rosters?