Mike Heika and Andrew’s Dallas Stars Page are reporting that Mark Fistric and James Neal have been sent down to the minors. And not just down to the minors, way down to the minors.
The Oklahoma City Blazers are in the CHL, which is below the ECHL, which is below the AHL, which is where NHL teams usually send players.
It’s freaking us all out a little bit. I don’t know that much about James Neal but I expected him to start out the year in the minors. But I did not expect Fistric to be sent down. I sure didn’t expect him to be sent to Oklahoma City. That’s like single-A ball.
Fistric was publicly chastised by the coach a few days ago, but there is no way that he has fallen that far out of favor. The Stars haven’t explained the move, or officially announced it, so we’re all hoping that it’s just shuffling for the sake of the cap and they have some deal in the works or some plan to get Fistric back up with the team. I have no idea why they’d pick the new guy, Janik, over Fistric for the long run. Janik is a journeyman and Fistric has top-four potential. In my opinion, he’s already met his top-six potential.
It didn’t take long for the new GMs to start having cap trouble, did it? I hope Sean Avery’s big paycheck is worth it.
Update: Looks like Chicago claimed Janik.
Update: Hold on here. Andrew’s Stars Page just reminded me that we picked up Janik on waivers from Chicago. And then they picked him back off waivers? And now Heika is saying Chicago traded him back to us? Sounds fishy. I guess that’s how the NHL rolls, though. Basically, the Stars and the Blackhawks had this conversation:
Stars: Hey, ‘Hawks, can you do us a favor?
‘Hawks: What favor?
Stars: Well, we…um, have to move some people around. We’re gonna have to put somebody on waivers but we don’t want to lose anybody. How ’bout we give you a 7th-rounder if you’ll pick him off waivers then give him back to us?
‘Hawks: Sigh. I guess.
Stars: Dude! Thanks!
‘Hawks: But this is the last time!
OK, I am officially freaking out…
and Ditto on Avery.
This is getting ridiculous. I’m willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, since I know there’s no AHL team for the Stars this season and they have to squeeze guys in on other teams as best they can, but between Avery and the start of this season, I’m not feeling very enamoured of the Stars at this particular moment.
I hope Sean Avery’s big paycheck is worth it.
At least we can all rest easy knowing we’re supporting starving up-and-coming fashion designers with that paycheck, Patty.
Sigh.
The thing that gets me is that, thanks to our cap problems, Neal got sent down and Conner got to stay. Or at least, that seems to be the case if you do the math – Neal would push them over the cap, but Conner keeps them right under it. As for Fistric vs Janik, who knows? None of this makes much sense.
Some guy named Mark and Heika explained a little about Zubov’s Long-Term IR thing, so it makes me a little calmer. Maybe they’re just stowing them until the LTIR application is approved, then they can bring them both back.
Nothing against this Janik guy, but I would not be upset if he’s picked up off waivers. That would make some other decisions easier, I’d think. Although he might not be the one making them difficult right now.
Ah, who knows.
This is the weirdest thing ever. Salary caps are older player “killers.” It was true in the NFL, and is starting to show in the NHL (i.e., Schneider, McLaren, etc). Older players are pushed out because teams can’t afford too many players and if they have to choose, they give the spots to the younger (often cheaper) guys.
This is the first example I’ve seen of younger guys not being able to make the team because of salary cap issues.
Thank god they brought Fishsticks back.
Okay, my head is still spinning. Is it this way every year? I’m so relieved about Fistric!
You know, Myra, I have no idea if it’s like this every year. :D
Heika’s blog gives us a huge peephole into the workings of the team, so it might and we just didn’t used to hear as much about it. And the freaking out is probably just a function of our boredom and need for hockey. And they probably didn’t usually have to do such crazy things because they’re usually not so close to the cap (and from what I have read, the cap was softer than it is this year).
So, even though I have no idea, I’d guess yes and no.
Does that help?
And ditto, Jen. :D
Strangely enough, I think I actually followed all that, Patty. Thanks.
Patty, that makes complete sense.