A look at the list of NHL’s highest-paid blueliners makes one realize there’s a problem.
When Shea Weber was awarded $7.5 million to play for the Nashville Predators next season, during which time they'll scrape their way into the playoffs and then lose in the first round, like they always do, it was a lot of money, but it made sense.
Weber, 25, is one of the best defencemen - one of the best players, for that matter - in the NHL and if anybody deserves that kind of dough, he does. What's interesting, though, is that after he was awarded that amount of compensation in an arbitration hearing, an amount that makes him the highest-paid defenceman in the league salary cap-wise, it brought to light the absolute failure of the cap to protect general managers from themselves. That is, after all, why we have a cap, right?
Do you know who the second-highest paid defender in the NHL is? Nicklas Lidstrom, perhaps? WRONG! Chris Pronger? NOT EVEN CLOSE! Zdeno Chara then? Try third.
It is Brian Campbell. Nothing against Brian, but seriously, the second-highest-paid defenceman in the league? Come on! Nice guy…decent defenceman…worth $2 million a year tops. The thing is, like so many other unrestricted free agents, Campbell was the benefactor of a bidding war that saw his worth shoot through the ceiling. The math is simple: You get a handful of teams desperate to do something to ingratiate themselves with their fans and they bid against each other to drive the price up beyond reason. The team that gets its man is often disappointed shortly afterwards.
Need another example? Try this one on for size: The seventh-highest paid defenceman in the NHL (sort of) is none other than Wade Redden. I say sort of because while the New York Rangers paid him $6.5 million last season (and will pay him another $16.5 million over the next three seasons unless they decided to buy him out), he did not play a single game in the NHL. Nope; he rode the buses and played in the American Hockey League with the Hartford Wolf Pack or Connecticut Whalers or whatever they are called. Again, a nice guy but $6.5 million to play in the minors?
While we're on the subject, the fourth-highest-paid defenceman in the NHL is Jay Bouwmeester. He probably shouldn't be the fourth-highest-paid player on the Calgary Flames. If you can figure out what the heck has happened to his game, then go to the front of the line (either that, or give Jay Feaster a quick call). He was once a decent goal-scoring, point-producing defender with the Florida Panthers, but he has become decidedly ordinary with the Flames. Oh, the Flames will tell you his defence and consistent play is often overlooked, but when you are making $6.5 million a year, it is not the subtle nuances of your game that should be applauded. Did we mention his teams never make the playoffs?
Nicklas Lidstrom, the seven-time Norris Trophy winner and absolute freak of nature who patrols the blue line for the Detroit Red Wings, ranks ninth in defenceman pay. Even if Weber is younger and has a huge upside and Chara helped the Boston Bruins win the Stanley Cup and Dan Boyle just may lead the San Jose Sharks to glory next season, isn't it just fundamentally wrong that those players all earn more than Lidstrom.
There are many, many, many examples of contractual disasters since the lockout ended and with the collective bargaining agreement set to expire after next season, it is frightening to think about where this league is headed.
The funny thing is, revenues are higher than ever and yet many that follow this league have a sick feeling in the pit of their stomach that things are completely out of whack. Teams that don't draw flies and are having trouble making their payrolls are forced to sign players for more than they are worth just to make the floor of the salary cap. Teams - okay, make that team (New Jersey Devils) - get fined and surrender draft picks because they (it) sign an underachieving one-way performer in a sad attempt to drum up business when they (it) used to do it by being frugal and smart - and by winning.
Anyway, you could easily make the case Shae Weber deserves to be the highest-paid defenceman in the NHL. If not No. 1, then at least in the top five. But when you look at the top 10: 1. Weber, 2. Campbell, 3. Chara, 4. Bouwmeester, 5. Boyle, 6. Dion Phaneuf, 7. Redden, 8. Kimmo Timonen, 9. Lidstrom and 10. Brent Seabrooke, then you know the salary cap is not working.
And if the cap isn't working, it doesn't bide well for a peaceful settlement for the next CBA.
