An Outsiders look at the CCHL finances

With only a season and a half under our belts here in Capeside, we still consider ourselves outsiders here in the CCHL. This article is by no means is criticism as I am not sure what has been tried in the past. This is just an outside perspective.

Financial Issue #1 - Revenue Model

What makes the CCHL a great league to be a part of is the financial side of it. It keeps the league balanced by not allowing teams to load up and stay on top year after year. The financial aspect allows the owners to be more involved and invested. When I look quickly at the financial page on the website, only 6 out of 22 teams are predicted to make money this year. I feel like that is an issue. Last year I was lucky enough to win 54 games in the regular season which earned $90 million. However, a team with half those wins earned only $7 million less. Where is the incentive to field a competitive team? I think the goal of the CCHL is to be as realistic as possible and if an NHL franchise were to not have a competitive team that franchise would lose revenue through a loss of ticket sales and fan support. My solution is that there should be a wider gap between the revenues for a win and a loss.

Financial Issue #2 - UFA bidding

A quick way to CCHL bankruptcy is building a team through the UFA bidding process. For the first 3 rounds, the starting point is the NHL salary, this leads to good players making high salaries and then they even get a raise off of their higher then NHL salary if a team wants to use their one UFA resign on them down the road. Last year Chara was making $13 million even though his highest salary in the NHL was $7.5 million. I understand that it's an owner's choice to bid on a UFA and it's one of many different ways to construct a roster, but I feel that there would be greater involvement and greater strategy if the bidding were to start at a point below the NHL contract.

Issue #3 - UFA resigns

A team gets only 1 UFA to resign a year and a raise comes with that resign. I would propose that a UFA resign should be treated like the RFA resign and stay the same or match the NHL salary. In a case like Chara whereas he has gotten older he took less money, A CCHL franchise should be able to receive the same benefit when resigning one of their own players.

I imagine these ideas are not perfect but maybe it can create some conversation throughout the league.

CCHL POWER RANKINGS FOR 1/18/20...

The 2020 CCHL Trade deadline is a week away and our new power rankings have gotten more interesting. This week we had to include sixteen teams that we see as having a serious shot at the playoffs. The Dartmouth Lakers make their first appearance in the power rankings at #11th overall due to a mix of them playing slightly better but also some of the teams around them playing worse. Dartmouth jumped from 15th last week overall to 12th and sit just four points from a Corfield Conference playoff spot. The offense as much as anything is responsible for the Lakers improvement as they sit 6th overall in goals scored and 6th in power-play conversion percentage. We also recognize the Wisborg Donuts who have cracked the power rankings on the basis of their 6-2-2 hot streak in the last ten games.

Will Dartmouth make a deadline or two to upgrade their blueline? We'll have to wait and see...

Here's this week's updated CCHL Power Rankings:

1. FOR - 10
2. SIB - 22
3. SPR - 37
4. SUD - 37
5. HAM - 40
6. DAY - 48
7. REK - 57
8. SEA - 65
9. GIL - 70
10. GEO - 71
11. CGY - 73
12. DRT - 78
13. CAP - 79
14. VIC - 83
15. ISL - 84
16. WIS - 85

OBSERVATIONS: 

WHO'S HOT: FOR, SIB, HAM, SPR, PAR & WIS...

WHO'S NOT: HIL, GIL, POR & MIN...

FOR GOODNESS SAKE: The Falcons hang onto the top spot in our rankings and this week, on the strength of a seven-game winning streak, have separated themselves from the rest of the pack by posting a season-low 10 point total power ranking score. How impressive have they been? They rank no worse than THIRD in ANY of the power rankings categories.

SECONDS ANYONE: A tip of the hat to Siberia who, while not quite on the level of the Falcons, sit alone in second place in the league - a healthy distance from the third-place Homers & Miners.

TIGER OR TIGGER? We need to watch Hamilton closely going forward. Since the first week of our power rankings, three weeks ago, HAM has slipped from 3rd to 4th to 5th this week. They are very close to recapturing the 3rd or 4th place but given how stacked that team is, we wonder of GM Taylor might make a deal or two this week to try and fortify the roster for the playoffs. The Tigers are a team I suspect no one really looks forward to playing...and....depending on what Chuck does...they might get stronger soon...

CONGRATS TO CAM: For cracking the top ten for the first time this year!

VICTOR/VICTOR: Also, props to Donpaulo Canosa and his Ronin for their 5-3-2 stretch over the last ten games which has kept them in the driver's seat in 6th place in the Canosa. The Millers and Express are right on his ass and the last playoff berth could go to any one of three or four teams...

See everyone next weekend with new power rankings!

Canosa Conference Scouts weigh in on trading Pekka Rinne in Dayton...

The league is abuzz about word out of Dayton earlier today that stud netminder Pekka Rinne may be moved before the deadline. Rinne has put sterling numbers together so far this season and leads the league in wins and sits top three in most other goalie stats. Dayton is mediocre when it comes to offense, but defensively they own the league's stingiest defense.

Let's examine the pro's and con's of Dayton putting Rinne on the market before the trade deadline. We've asked a few scouts from a few teams in the Canosa Conference for their candid thoughts...


The case to trade Pekka Rinne: 

Dayton owns the 15th best offense and the best defense in the league. Despite countless attempts to generate more offense, it really hasn't come together yet this year. The other teams the 'Men would have to face would all have better offenses than Dayton and an offense this weak puts an incredible amount of stress on the defense and goaltending to play error-free hockey. Let alone do it for at least three but maybe four playoff rounds. Unless Dayton's offense explodes over the next ten days or so, they should sell off Rinne and perhaps a few other valuable assets and retool for what should be an exciting season in 20-21. Rinne should bring a substantial return as perhaps the biggest difference-maker on the market.

The case to keep Pekka Rinne: 

Even without a stellar offense, Dayton has been a consistent force all year and been in the top five teams for a while. The playoffs are a case study in small-sample size madness and anything can happen in a seven-game series. Dadonov will be fully healthy soon and the Musicmen have plenty of quality depth on offense, defense and in nets with Mike Smith. Dayton will be a team nobody wants to play due to their ability to shut good scoring teams down.

The true story behind the turnaround in Steeltown

The true story behind the turnaround in Steeltown...


The Hamilton Paper Tigers completely self-destructed at the beginning of the season. They stumbled out of the gate and at the quarter pole Hamilton was 3-8-2 at home and barely over .500 on the road. The team was in eighth place in the Canosa Conference, things had begun looking bleak and the team chemistry was nonexistent. Things came to a head at practice when after losing their 6th in a row a line brawl broke out. The dressing room was a mess with cliques that had formed within the players. The staff was demoralized and goalie coach Rollie Melanson quit in despair.

Team Owner Chuck Taylor was forced to step in. “I was about to blow everything up and go into
rebuild mode. I have been spending like water to build the best team in the CCHL and the spoiled
millionaires couldn't get along.” This was an ultimate Hail Mary but I remembered En vino veritas and we needed some truth. The Tigers lost two more in a row then had a 4 day layover. Taylor loaded the entire team up after a game in Dayton, including training and medical staff and flew to Budapest.

The franchise still owns training facilities located there from their previous incarnation as the Honved. A In the Pearl of the Danube over many bottles of slivovitz and a few barely refereed bare knuckle bouts the team worked out their differences. Mark Crawford and his staff departed on the first day after objecting to being told they might be expected to answer the bell and take a turn in the cage.

New head coach Kirk Muller arrived the next morning and the mood of the team changed when he KOed a mouthy Boo Nieves. Once a few missing teeth were dealt with, stitches were installed and Neives cleared concussion protocol everyone was on the same page. During the return flight, Ilya Kovalchuk was dropped off with single-A affiliate Jarvis Corn Kings of the Federal League to “Work on his attitude.” Kovalchuk was about to wing his way back to Russia and the KHL when his agent pointed out a clause in his contract that states if he refuses to report he would have to return the entirety of his $7,000,000 salary. “Was last chance contract. We hate busses but already spent much money and can no pay back. So bus we go.”

Hamilton lost their next game in regulation with only Muller behind the bench and definitely not because of the extended hangover. Assistants Chris Nilan, Saku Koivu, and goaltending coach Felix Potvin joined the team the next day Since game 25 the Tigers rose like the mythical phoenix-like from the ashes of what looked like a failed season. During that period these Steel Tigers have gone 20-0-7 going unbeaten in regulation in 27 games climbing from being on the playoff bubble to 2nd place in the conference and 2pts out of 1st overall.

Kovalchuk also made great strides on his tour of small-town North America. He scored 30 goals and
47 points in his 10 games in the Federal League and after an interview with Muller was promoted to the Brantford 99's of the ECHL. Kovy averaged 4 points a game in the Telephone City despite the bus-lag and spent 6 games there before moving on to the Spiders in the Big Smoke. Due to an injury on the main club, Kovalchuk made an appearance in the Hammer picking up an assist and according to team sources acting like a team first player before returning to Toronto. He seems primed and ready to make his full-time CCHL return.

With the trade deadline rapidly approaching the question in Hamilton fans minds is will Taylor stand
pat? With his team flying high will he on a roll the dice on team chemistry. Would it even be possible
to move Kovalchuk? We will know in just 16 days.

A Look at the Millers Recently Acquired Players

In the midst of a terribly disappointing season that has seen the club deal foundational stalwarts such as Brett Pesce, Brayden Schenn and Roman Josi, the Millers have sought to restock a system depleted by several years of “win-now” trades. While bringing in multiple highly-rated prospects was the main emphasis, Georgetown also sought young talent who could potentially contribute this season or next.

Below are some notes on 4 of those players.

Dominik Kahun, F - Kahun, 24, was acquired from Dayton along with 3 prospects for Travis Sanheim, who himself was part of the return for Brett Pesce. Kahun can play all 3 forward positions and across a variety of lines. Currently, he’s only seen time on the 4th line in Georgetown but that could change as the Millers try to move out some more veteran forwards. He’s more of a passer than a goal scorer, and although not a physical player is strong defensively. His skillset suggests a middle 6 winger and 2nd Power Play unit contributor who should reliably score 40 points a season and could have the odd 50 to 60 point years with some luck. Looking ahead to the 20-21 season expect Kahun to play as a winger on the 2nd line and on the PP.

Taro Hirose, F – Hirose, 23, isn’t eligible to play this season but could see time next year. He came into the 19-20 NHL season as a darkhorse Calder candidate but was sent to the AHL after 23 underwhelming games. He is very similar in skillset to Kahun but not as strong defensively. Hirose has to play a top 6 role and on the PP to have any chance as a contributor. He’s expected to be a depth player on next year’s squad and may never be a full-time player, but as the return for Siberia’s rental of Paul Byron, he’s a low risk/high reward lottery ticket.

Madison Bowey, D - The 24-year-old Bowey was acquired from Minnesota for prospects Cole Fonstad and Linus Karlsson. Both prospects are considered long-shots to have any meaningful pro career, so Georgetown felt there was little risk in acquiring the offensive-minded blueliner. And while Bowey can put some points up, his defensive issues can give them right back. If Bowey can get his D work up to even a barely average level, he could carve out a career as a 3rd pairing/PP specialist type of player. That’s the role the Millers envision for him in the 20-21 season.

Rocco Grimaldi, F – Grimaldi is 26 years old and had never established himself as a full-time NHL player since being drafted in the 2nd round back in 2011. He’s found a home in Nashville the last couple of NHL seasons, and the Millers thought enough of him to sign him from the UFA pool for the next 2 years. At 5’6 Grimaldi will not be expected to play a defensive role, but his energy and offense should make him a highly skilled 4th liner or a stop-gap 2nd liner on a rebuilding club. The 20-21 Millers fit the latter description; Grimaldi could put up 35-40 points as a 2nd line winger and 2nd PP unit contributor.

A Weekly Look at the 2019-20 Sudbury Miners: Volume 12 (Games 48-51)

CANADIAN PRESS (Sudbury, ON):

Miners Weekly Record: 3 wins, 1 loss, 0 OT loss.
Miners League Standing: 28 wins, 18 losses, 5 OT Loss = 61 points total.

Currently sit in 5th place in the Canosa Conference, 8th overall in the CCHL.

Miners Special Teams: Power Play – 21.2% (8th); Penalty Kill – 81.8% (7th)

Miners Scoring Leader: Center Tyler Seguin (22G – 39A = 61 pts; 10th Overall in the CCHL)

The Miners continue to keep pace with the upper end of the standings in the CCHL – never losing
any ground, but never gaining any. But their consistency in recent weeks has seen them open up a
sizeable gap of 11 pts over 7th place Long Island and they now sit comfortably in a playoff spot with 30 games to go.

“We are liking the consistency in our game lately”, stated Miners forward Sebastian Aho. “We
have had a lot of changes to the roster this year, me included, but now everyone seems to be getting
healthy and comfortable, so we are excited to see what the rest of the season and playoffs will bring.”
It is true the Miners are starting to get healthy again and should have their full roster for the first
time this season with the return of defenseman Ryan Murray. Management is hoping for good health for the remainder of the year so that this team can really show its fan base what it is capable of.
With the trade deadline fast approaching, there are rumors that General Manager Terry James
has dipped his toes into the trade waters but nothing appears to be on the front burner at this point.
Given the moves he has made earlier this year, one would not expect the Miners to be too active on the trade front.

But…..it is the CCHL and that could all change with a quick e-mail……

MINERS PLAYER PROFILE OF THE WEEK: Vincent Trocheck

Trocheck is a shifty and creative forward, whose main strength is driving play by his great skating.
He has good hands with good offensive vision. He is a very underrated talent. He drives strong to the
net, can spin off pressure and can generate plays off the cycle. He is a very responsible forward in his
own end as well and has often been used on the penalty kill for the Miners in recent years. He is one of the Miner's most trusted forwards, and is a leader in the dressing room. Given his talent and the depth that the Miners are beginning to show, he could push for another 30 goal and 70-point season.

MINERS PROSPECT NEED TO KNOW: Joel Farabee

Farabee decided to turn pro after only one season at Boston University, but he is still slight and
will have a harder time gaining muscle mass under the pro schedule. Having said that, the upside is that he could probably play in the top six for some teams right away and has the two way game to mature into a rare Selke candidate from the wing within a few short years. Despite his lack of mass, he is strong. His offensive tools are high end. He was close to a point per game player as a freshman on a mediocre team and performed well as an 18-year old in the WJC. A cerebral player, Farabee can control the pace of the game better than many centers. He is an impact player even when he doesn’t score, but there is no reason why he shouldn’t score at a top-six level in the CCHL. Expected CCHL arrival: 2021-22.

Why we sat Pekka Rinne...

Some have asked why Dayton sat Pekka Rinne for a week when the team was within 2 points of having the best record in the CCHL? Dayton actually led the CCHL in winning percentage for a few days just before Christmas and things seemed to be going well.

So, why did Rinne get sat down?

Short answer, he was tired.

Like really tired.

"Olin niin väsynyt menemään jouluun, pyysin vähän taukoa, jotta olisin valmiina pudotuspeliin. Voin paljon paremmin." (Translation: "I was so tired heading into Christmas, I asked for a bit of a break so I'd be ready for the playoff push. I feel much better," said Rinne.)

Pekka Rinne had started forty-five of Dayton's first fifty games in this season. Corey Crawford, now a member of the Millers, had one start in net and did relief duty in two other games that Rinne started. To start 90% of a team's first fifty games is a bit unusual and especially in Simon, where fatigue and a sometimes quirky schedule puts goalies in a position of three games in three nights.

Rinne has performed as well as any other goalie in the league. Rinne's body of work for the 2019-20 season puts him in an elite stature among other CCHL netminders.

1st in Wins
2nd in save percentage
2nd in goals-against average
3rd in shots faced
3rd in minutes played

A W/L record of 31-12-3 from the veteran Finnish goalie puts him at the top of any serious MVP list for the Musicmen this season.

General manager Bill Corfield, when asked about Rinne's future with the team after last night's victory over Capeside responded, "Pekka is a huge, HUGE part of our team. His performance has been outstanding this year and he looked strong and fresh last night against the Loons, stopping 24 of 25 shots. He's our horse, our number one if anyone had any doubts about that. Mike Smith has done exactly what we thought he would do when we traded for him. He's one of the best backup goalies in the CCHL and we're happy to have him."

Looking forward to next season, Dayton has a bit of a surplus of depth in nets. Rookies Tristan Jarry (who currently leads the NHL in save percentage and GAA) and Pavel Francouz (who sits fifth in NHL save % and top ten in GAA) will easily qualify for a full season for the 'Men in 20-21. "To have two younger options in net going forward gives us a lot of flexibility. It's possible we might move one of our goalies prior to the CCHL trade deadline. The return for either would have to be a significant upgrade to our team," said the GM.

When asked if Rinne would be back next year, Corfield said, "Maybe. He's a number one and would make any team he'd play for better, no question about it. Our team profiles well for next season..the Guentzel thing really hurts, for sure, but we like how we look today and heading into 20-21. And before you ask, could we possibly trade Rinne before the deadline, let me say it would take a helluva offer. We see ourselves as a serious contender right now. Defense wins championships and we're the best defensive team in the league. On the other hand, if we found ourselves  - for whatever reason - thinking this wasn't going to be our year - remember we have a heck of a stretch of games against Siberia, Hamilton etc...coming up to measure ourselves by - we'd have to have a serious conversation about microtargeting the teams that could use an upgrade in nets heading into the playoffs."

"Right now, Pekka is the man in the Dayton nets, but never say never..."