Kayley: Hey Ryan,I know this is a little late, but I was wondering if you are planning to specialize or currently specialize in NHL athletes

Planning to, yes. My quest has already begun.

I know this is a little late, but I was wondering if you are planning to specialize or currently specialize in NHL athletes

David: The $3M figure came from the quotes from GMs in a few recent articles in the Sports Business Daily. At the same time, they don’t rule out that the cap could stay the same, but the consensus is the $3M figure. I agree that Zetterburg is the best player on that list. His salary is a reflection of the way Detroit runs its franchise. Since the mid 90s players have agreed to receive less money than they could get elsewhere to play in Detroit. When players like Hossa and Zetterburg sign w/Detroit for less money than they’re worth, it’s refreshing in a sports atmosphere where players will hold out because $43M isn’t “enough.” It looks like Detroit will pull it off again this year; both Hossa and Franzen have said they want to sign 4 or 5 year extensions w/Detroit and would take less money to stay in Detroit.

If this happens, it would be a great situation for both the player and the agent. Franzen was a Red Wings draft pick, is still young, and is gaining popularity with the fans. Local endorsement deals are sure to come in the near future. Hossa, on the other hand, is already on the map with an endorsement deal with Warrior Hockey (10-15% of that going to the agent).

Also, you will notice that though Zetterberg is by far the greatest team player and winner on this list, his salary is far less than Kopitar and Staal. This isn’t be accident. In a hard cap world, to play on a winning team, star must simply must sacrifice one or two million a year. If they refuse, their team is pretty much doomed to second-rung status. So Staal and Kopitar will get more cash, but more playoff wins.

The Sedins must decided what is more important to them, a few more million a year, or success in the playoffs. Vancouver management would have to sell to them that whatever they take, every other player who signs will be met with the same constraint, that no one will be earning much more than the Sedins.

It’s a difficult sell for Gillis, a difficult choice for the Sedins. But Gillis must go all-out to get out this message to them, because it is key to the success of an NHL franchise. If they don’t listen, he must save his money for players more focused on team success, than individual pay, a tough decision for Gillis, a brutally tough one, but the right decision. No more than $6 million a year, I’d say, is the right number, and maybe even $5.5 million.

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