Flyers are kind of tight on cap this offseason like everyone else. Again, something tells me the Flyers won’t actually protect an aging Matt Niskanen over cornerstone D-man Ivan Provorov, who’s just 23 and signed on a team-friendly deal until 2025. If this coming offseason isn’t like 2017, when Washington had to give away veteran players for draft picks and let other key members of that team leave in free agency, it is close to it. There is no such thing as life in-between. Provorov also has emerged as their top defenseman after a soft year. Matthew Norman Niskanen (born December 6, 1986) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman. Going to be very hard for them to eat 5 milish new salary while retaining close to 50% on Niskanen. But Niskanen hasn’t been that player Matt Niskanen; One very wise hockey man – OK, it was Ken Holland – once told me that players retire not because they don’t want to play hockey anymore, but because they can’t envision another off-season of the preparation it takes to play in the best league in the world. He spent four seasons with the Stars, four with the Pittsburgh Penguins, five with the Washington Capitals, and one with the Flyers. He's tearing it up while talent hawks figure out how to get down there to watch him. Sign up today to get the best features and analysis from the NHL and beyond. Veteran centers Derek Grant (Anaheim) and Nate Thompson (Winnipeg), acquired at last season’s trade deadline, also have moved on. In a league where players so often get paid for what they've done rather than what they're going to do, you're going to see some bad deals. roster size salary cap cap hit overages bonuses cap space; 22: $81,500,000: $81,146,450: $0: $0: $353,550 He played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Dallas Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals, and Philadelphia Flyers from 2007 to 2020. “He was probably out in the woods and heard the phone ring and he probably went about 10 yards further into the woods. He basically said, ‘With COVID, I just don’t want to do it. If Matt Niskanen were to retire he would forfeit the final $5,750,000 he is owed in 2020-21, and his $5,750,000 cap hit would come off the Philadelphia #Flyers books opening up the full amount in cap space. Likely why we haven't seen too many Niskanen to TO trade proposals on this site. Instead, at age 33, Niskanen is choosing to retire, turning down the remaining $5.75 million of his deal. Estimated earnings are calculated based on the players … Niskanen has two young children, the older of whom is starting school, and with career earnings of about $43.2 million (according to www.capfriendly.com), it’s conceivable Niskanen … I know many of you are still down about the way things ended. If not, it was a significant factor in the Philadelphia Flyers defenseman walking away from the game and leaving $5.75 million – minus the 10 percent salary deferral and escrow – on the table. “I will tell you there is nothing, nothing health-wise that has come into this decision,” Sheehy said. short seasons ago Niskanen was a legitimate top-pair defender on a very good Washington team. Matt Niskanen signed a 7 year / $40,250,000 contract with the Washington Capitals, including $40,250,000 guaranteed, and an annual average salary of $5,750,000. But there are so few athletes who have the opportunity to leave the game on their own terms. He was a mainstay on the Flyers’ penalty kill and was credited with helping to turn things around for Ivan Provorov. “I was surprised, but I said to Nisky, ‘You’ve earned the right to do whatever you want to do,’ and I never tried to talk him out of it. Jordan Hall. If there were, I would know about it. Right now, Philly has eight forwards that they’ll definitely want … This offseason is likely to have ma https://t.co/e4cP9NgMCt — CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) October 5, 2020 That didn’t stop them from signing him to a six-year, $40.5MM deal last offseason. “He mentioned COVID to me. With the surprising retirement of Defenseman Matt Niskanen, the team may look to add a blueliner to its young crop. Matt Niskanen NHL contract and signing comparisons, compare cap hit, comparable salary, contracts, contract history, earnings, aav The 2020 NHL Entry Draft is scheduled to begin at 7pm ET on Tuesday, October 6, 2020. Acquiring that player would be a no-brainer, and would result in Ivan Provorov having the veteran, right-shot defensive partner that many believe he needs. Washington general manager Brian MacLellan made that clear last month. Philadelphia is as surprised as anyone.”, Aside from the off-seasons, Niskanen has spent the past 13 years of his life in Dallas, Pittsburgh, Washington and Philadelphia, all of which are at least 1,000 miles away from the Iron Range in Minnesota where he grew up. Matt Niskanen Career Earnings. I promise you, there is no injury. “There’s nothing, no concussion issue. He has earned the right to do whatever he wants.”, Niskanen is just 33 years old and, if this past season was any indication, he’s quite capable of continuing to play at a high level in the NHL. In an interview with USA Hockey Magazine in 2014, Matt Niskanen was asked about his favorite quote. And at some point over the weekend, Matt Niskanen talked to his family and decided he was out. The numbers are stark and full of terrors for the Capitals. Buyouts. He was also a large part of the Flyers’ resurgence to contender status. He’s going to live in northern Minnesota and he’s going to hunt and fish and do all the things he loved doing as a kid that he hasn’t had a chance to do since he started playing pro hockey.”. Thing will start to heat up before you know it . “He told me he didn’t want to go through it again,” Sheehy said. Customize the height attribute in the iFrame code below to fit your website appropriately. Use the profile link below to go to MATT NISKANEN's DobberNomics profile page (requires login). Throughout the Stanley Cup playoffs, the NHL conducted more than 30,000 COVID-19 tests without a single positive, so from that perspective, it was nothing short of an unqualified success. Niskanen did have some concussion issues in the past, but there’s nothing to suggest that either his head or his body would not have been ready to continue to absorb the rigors of playing in the NHL. Matt Niskanen. Niskanen has two young children, the older of whom is starting school, and with career earnings of about $43.2 million (according to www.capfriendly.com), it’s conceivable Niskanen figured that he didn’t need to collect on the final year of his contract. Matt Niskanen cap hit, salary, contracts, contract history, earnings, aav, free agent status The Capitals currently have a 23-man roster and roughly $29,000 in salary-cap space, according to CapFriendly.com, so if Niskanen’s injury forces … The 2020-21 campaign was supposed to be the final season of Matt Niskanen’s seven-year, $40.25 million contract that he originally signed with the Washington Capitals in July 2014. “You’re either in or you’re out." Or at least the uncertainty surrounding it is doing that. The Flyers, as things currently stand have the 23rd overall pick in the draft. Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic got word right from the Canadiens GM, as Marc Bergevin … According to CapFriendly.com, the Flyers' projected cap space this offseason heading into Friday is $8.685 million. From CapFriendly. Does this trade also come with a time machine that gives us Niskanen from 5 years ago? It wasn't that Matt Niskanen didn't want to play hockey anymore, it was the prospect of preparing for another NHL season that is shrouded in uncertainty that caused him to walk away, said his agent. Owen Bartoszkiewicz is a 2021 NHL draft prospect playing for NAHL Wichita Falls in Texas. The lure of coming home and raising his family there, particularly with all the uncertainty surrounding the NHL season, prompted Niskanen to walk away. And that appears to be the case with Niskanen, particularly since he’d be training to take part in a season that nobody knows what will look like if and when it starts. Per Capfriendly, Flyers have about $21.4 M of cap space with cap ceiling officially set at $81.5M. “He just said, ‘You know what? Being away from his family in the bubble during the postseason for so long and all the uncertainty about next season played into his decision. “I know he’ll call me back,” Sheehy said. I think he always finish his contract and then stop, but I think because of COVID and his experience of the bubble, he decided now is the time. We’re going back home to northern Minnesota and I don’t need to do this anymore,’ ” Sheehy said. The Dallas Stars selected Niskanen 28th overall in 2005. Reddit. To display this team on another website or blog, add this iFrame to the appropriate page. The Flyers lost Matt Niskanen this offseason due to a surprising retirement and didn't replace him. With eight goals and 33 points in 68 games, Niskanen was on pace for a 40-point season, which would have been the second-best offensive season of his career. “There are only two options regarding commitment,” the quote goes. According to CapFriendly.com, the Capitals have $ 821,587 in cap space, enough for them to recall any defenseman from their American Hockey League affiliate in Hershey. It was a decision that stunned everyone from the Flyers, who were very happy with his play in 2019-20, to his agent, Neil Sheehy. The event will be held virtually due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Playing alongside Matt Niskanen was the stability he needed to step up and put up a solid year and a bright future. Because he's been declining for a few years now and probably isn't better than Dermott is right now. Niskanen felt the time was right to retire Sam Carchidi : Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Matt Niskanen told GM Chuck Fletcher that it just felt like the right time to retire. © 2021 The Hockey News, Roustan Media Ltd. ... (Cap source: CapFriendly) (Analytics source: Natural Stat Trick) Twitter. Matt Niskanen has decided to retire after a 13-season NHL career. Defenseman Matt Niskanen retired suddenly in October, and Tyler Pitlick, an effective fourth-line grinder, signed with the Coyotes. Not a subscriber? But these ones are superstar-level bad and are made worse with a flat salary cap. After taking a hard cross-check from Matt Niskanen, Montreal Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher has suffered a broken jaw according to Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports.Niskanen is having a hearing with the Department of Player Safety for the incident, but no suspension has been given out just yet. But lets get this thing rolling. Profile Price Chg Chg% YTD% FPTS FPTS/$ 4.3: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: Contract Information. The one he gave was attributed to legendary basketball coach Pat Riley and it says a lot about his decision to abruptly and shockingly retire. I don’t think he wanted to get ready for another season by Nov. 15 and then have to go into isolation and be away from his two kids and his wife. Matt Niskanen cap hit, salary, contracts, contract history, earnings, aav, free agent status Minimum recommended: 400px. NHL contract buyout calculator that automates the cost calculations to determine the savings and final cap hit Contract: 7 yr(s) / $40,250,000 Signing Bonus - I don’t want to prepare anymore.’ ”, The NHL has already said that the bubble concept will not work for an entire season and there are no plans to do that, but nobody knows exactly how the 2020-21 season will look. Browse NHL players, free agents, active and inactive players, 35+ contracts, entry-level contracts, and trade clauses But even though the virus didn’t infiltrate the NHL’s bubble, it is causing havoc with everything from revenues to scheduling to players’ careers. I love how most of the fans on here think a guys rating on Chel is 100% accurate and players never decline with age. In order to acquire Matt Niskanen, ... Niskanen looks to … And it may just have caused the first player to retire. Year Salary Cap Hit AAV; 2020-2021: 5,750,000: 5,750,000: 5,750,000: Latest News & Analysis.