Recrutes

Recrutes: Hockey scouting from a professional perspective from Grant McCagg and Habs coverage from a 33 year veteran covering the NHL from Brian Wilde.

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McLean’s Pub Call Of The Wilde: Homecoming

March 13, 2018

By Brian Wilde

The Montreal Canadiens finally home after a 6 game road trip. The Habs wanted to put in a good effort to not allow Alex Radulov to win in his return to Montreal for the first time, and moreover to put in a good effort so Antti Niemi could enjoy beating the team that let him go in the off season. The Habs and Stars at the Bell Centre….

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About Brian Wilde

Brian Wilde has worked in hockey since he was 20. He was the rink side host for the Edmonton Oilers at CTV and Ottawa Senators for Sportsnet. He was also lead reporter on the Montreal Canadiens for 17 years at CTV Montreal.

View all posts by Brian Wilde

Reader Interactions

  • Organization is clueless on concussions. Just like Julien mentioned that Danault is out right now for precautionary reasons due ‘to headaches not related to his concussion’ …umm ok.

  • Shea Weber will be fine in 6 months. True he can have a set back because anything can happen, but I believe his recovery will go well. He is and will continue to be surrounded by top trainers, physiotherapists and everything else you can imagine. Let’s be optimistic and say he will be ready to go come October:)

  • So stupid letting Shaw play. Beyond stupid that Pateryn punched him twice after the collision. That’s UFC garbage and Greg should be ashamed. Take a hit like a man for crying out loud.

    Who knows what extra damage those punches caused as Shaw’s brain was in trauma from the initial contact. This whole thing is so awful it makes me sick. I’ve had 6 concussions.
    I know what this means.

    Shame on the Montreal Canadiens. I hate to say it but there will be chronic side effects for Shaw and it all could’ve been prevented. Wake up Montreal Canadiens. Wake up NHL. People are getting seriously hurt. Do something about it. Now.

  • Good stuff Brian, as always. Agreed on everything. And wow what a terrible hit for Shaw. So many things that have gone wrong with his file, let’s not even start. But concussion protocol was the most egregious.

    One thing I do want to mention, re: Radu, and tax rates. I don’t think the financial difference between an American and Canadian market is as stark as you’re making it out to be. 1 – you’re right about the state income tax difference. But you neglect to mention the difference in EXCHANGE RATE – which works to the players advantage. Radu would have been paid in USD, but his expenses – house, car, schools, assorted family expenses – would have been in CAD. That’s a 20-25% difference that works out in the NHLers player’s favor. That’s a huge benefit. 2 – there is no way, NO WAY, these players pay the top rate. There a dozen things they can do, from incorporating, to RRSP and RESP contributions, to taxes on capital gains and investments, that lighten the load.

    As for Radu’s feelings getting hurt: whatever went down during the negotiations isn’t as publicly documented as Markov’s negos. But considering the infernal mess Bergy has created all by himself, I personally feel comfortable believing that Bergy only matched Dallas’s offer AFTER Radu had made a verbal commitment to them. And as an aside, it’s well documented that in the free agency period, Dallas put on a full court press to woo Radu, while Bergy was asleep as the wheel.

    Bottom line, Radu’s departure for Dallas was never as cut and dried as you make it out to be.

    Thanks as always.

    • One thing I forgot to add: Even Radu’s TAXES would have been paid in CAD.

      So, $1million in Canadian taxes paid out in CAD, or $700,000 in owed in Texas in USD, that alone is a wash once you factor in the exchange rate.

      Thanks for considering this.

      • One other thing I forgot to mention. You said that the players never pay top rate and find ways through the accountant to not pay the top costs, so Radulov wouldn’t have worried about Montreal as much as I think. I totally agree with this. The accountant is going to find ways for sure to save taxes and costs. However, remember that the accountant in Dallas also has the ability to make sure that Radulov in Texas also finds ways to circumvent the top tax rate and find was to save taxes.

    • I will only argue the number one point, because for the rest Patrick we are all merely inferring but on the first point, the added costs of Dallas compared to Montreal are not a thing. Here’s why…. let’s say a house costs a lot more… this is only valid as a concern if you can’t actually afford the house, but if you can, the cost is irrelevant because you actually buy the house and then sell the house. Let’s do a real example to make the point. A house is 3 million in Dallas. A house is 1 million in Montreal. So you have an argument about costs right? Sure for the moment, but now lets sell the house 5 years later. Let’s say the house market moves up 5 percent per year. Dallas house sells for 3.65 million and in Montreal the house sells for 1.25 million. So, cost of living is only a concern if you cannot afford to buy the actual thing but when you can afford it, you will make more on your investment or lose depending on the market. Dollar exchange is also zero sum but I have gone on long enough on it.

      • My point isn’t about cost of living exactly. It’s about the rate of exchange.

        An NHLer playing in Montreal gets paid in USD but his costs, including taxes, get paid out in CAD.

        That’s anywhere from a 15-25% difference in the player’s favor.

        So once you factor in unavoidable costs such as all taxes, houses, school, etc, the real value difference between playing in Texas versus Quebec is negligible — because the amount he has left over – his net income – is the same, roughly, regardless of which market he plays in.

        An income tax bill of $1 million CAD – when getting paid in USD – is roughly the same as an income tax bill of $700k, when getting paid in USD.

        So again, in terms of the taxes, it comes out to a wash.

        • Both currencies have the same purchasing power. That’s why there actually are conversions of currencies in the first place. In simple terms, I would like to buy a 65 inch OLED TV from LG. It is 2000 dollars in the USA. It’s 3000 dollars in Canada. Currency rates aren’t just for fun. They’re for equating the purchasing power of various currencies. If you don’t believe that, I would like to give you 50 million Zimbabwe dollars to buy your house. cheers.

  • Where to start. Am i dumb or what,ok so habs players get paid in usa $ right? So if that players living in montreal and converts his usa $ pay into canadian currency doesnt he get 30% more on the exchange? Wouldnt that be a plus to come here?
    Andrew shaw,please please dude..retire. Enough.its only a game.you dont want a lifetime tramatic brain injury the rest of your life.
    Chucky as a center.hmmm seems like hes doing,succeeding at center these days.maybe leave him there.seems the young punk kid who,d rather party then play hockey is behind him. This guys reborn,all buissness and taking hockey very seriously. Awesome story.hope we keep him.
    Yuh know it seems to me as a couch surfin habs fan that a virus has been removed,an anchor has been cut of and released. That is pacioretty. Patch looking back now was a distraction ,an anchor. Look at it this way ok,driving down a highway,opps theres a cop, all the cars slow down to his speed,nobody wants to pass the authority,the leader.so they get dragged down to the authoritys speed,then hey the cop gets off at an exit,and away we go,everyone is free and speeds up. Patch was that authority,the leader,he dragged everyone down to his slow half azz level. Now hes gone the young enthusiastic kids with piss n vinager play fn hard and as a result,the whole team is enthused and playing vigerous,fun hockey. Trade patch for a 1d straight up hockey trade,1 for 1 deal.
    These young kids..freose,jdlr,sherback,juulsen,deslaurier are awesome,young kids with red ants in thier skates,they get a taste of the big life,the big $$ ,first class flight and accomidations,fame and are hungry as puck for more.the fatcat ,complacent vets can catch a train to floater ville.

  • Do you think in the next CBA the NHL and NHLPA could negotiate a salary cap net rather than gross?

    Players would like that as it would be a way to soften the salary cap and give them more cash.
    Most of the richer teams are located in higher tax areas anyway, and this would make it more fair for them, and they could spend more to make a more competitive team.

    • I do think that salary cap should be computed on net earnings, yes. Montreal is at a distinct competitive disadvantage. Net earnings would make it level.

  • Strong post Brian.

    I especially liked the thing about concussions and the points about free agents. Nicely done.

  • The Andrew Shaw situation is indeed very sad. I am in complete agreement with you there. You can’t cure stupidity. But this Habs management is the guilty party for allowing him to play at all. He knows what his game is and his proud heart is way too big for him not to go full-tilt, even when it is obviously a terrible idea long-term for both him and his team. Where is the maturity among this non-rookie coaching staff? I have to think it’s on Bergevin that Shaw was in the line-up. Or is Julien that dumb too? Hard to stomach it. It’s also getting hard to support tjis franchise when you see such immaturity with the players – and this stupid organization needs to get it through their thick heads (before they destroy any more young stars Timmins finds them), that’s it’s the players that make up the team, not them.