FanPost

Can You Buy A Stanley Cup?

This was just a spit in the dark; having a little fun exercise on my part. The results were interesting enough to share. This does not attempt to jump headlong into the significant number of variables associated with determining the value of an NHL dollar spent. I refuse to do regression analysis. I have said I am more concerned with how payroll is spent, not necessarily how much. But when I thought about my statement I realized I could not answer the question "How much is enough?" if someone asked. I still do not know the answer but it appears other NHL GM's don't either. But to be fair, there is a lot of time left in the season and of course these rankings will change. And......I am not entirely sure this measurement is appropriate anyway.....but that is OK until I find some better measure.

I vaguely remembered there was a study on this many years ago but I have not been able to locate it. So…..just for kicks here is a simple look at the results of a comparison exactly at the halfway point of this season only. It attempts to show how all NHL teams have approached that same question and if their answers are yielding something positive.

Statistics are funny and sometime can be used to prove anything you want to prove. However, it you look closely at this list you will find some surprises.

Quick primer……the comparison number is expressed as a plus minus in the last column. The larger the plus number the less a team spends relative to their current NHL standings rank with all 30 teams. The larger the minus number will express how far below their ranking stands relative to their spending. A large plus is good and a large minus is bad or theoretically anyway. The team with the lowest spending level and the highest ranking just says that team is the most efficient spender of all other NHL teams when ONLY spending and standings are considered. That team can be easily spotted below. This is a simple view and not meant to praise or condemn any team. However, it does give you a relative look at what is happening. Call this a snapshot if you will. Can you buy a Stanley Cup???? Maybe you can....or maybe not.....or just maybe you don't really have to…….

Top five teams for positive spending verses rank: Nashville, Ottawa, St. Louis, Detroit, 3 tied for fifth

Top five teams for worse minus spending verses rank: Buffalo, Columbus, Montreal, Washington, and Calgary

Can't seem to line up the first line in the chart.....but that first line is all Washington

Team Spending

Cap Space

LTI Room

NHL Standings Rank

Plus/Minus

1. Washington Capitals »

$65,952,886

$0

$509,742

18

-17

2. Buffalo Sabres

$66,692,114

$0

$1,371,699

23

-21

3. Philadelphia Flyers

$65,956,968

$0

$1,852,440

7

-4

4. Toronto Maple Leafs

$64,946,978

$0

$1,877,393

15

-11

5. Vancouver Canucks

$64,141,580

$342,771

$650,676

2

3

6. Calgary Flames

$63,944,514

$345,486

22

-16

7. Montreal Canadiens

$63,718,171

$525,435

$3,415,976

25

-18

8. Pittsburgh Penguins

$64,010,577

$528,604

$2,577,117

13

-5

9. Los Angeles Kings

$63,514,510

$785,490

12

-3

10. San Jose Sharks

$62,699,851

$1,055,149

8

2

11. New York Rangers

$62,669,345

$1,185,391

1

10

12. Columbus Blue Jackets

$61,961,185

$2,371,844

30

-18

13. Tampa Bay Lightning

$61,501,556

$2,798,444

24

-11

14. Boston Bruins

$60,211,787

$2,958,213

3

11

15. Edmonton Oilers

$61,261,585

$3,038,415

26

-11

16. New Jersey Devils

$60,724,874

$3,175,126

19

-3

17. Chicago Blackhawks

$59,325,495

$4,799,505

4

13

18. Anaheim Ducks

$59,433,476

$4,866,524

29

-11

19. Detroit Red Wings

$58,757,730

$5,092,270

5

14

20. Minnesota Wild

$55,825,269

$8,474,731

10

10

21. St. Louis Blues

$55,147,994

$9,152,006

6

15

22. Florida Panthers

$55,075,311

$9,224,689

9

13

23. Phoenix Coyotes

$54,832,534

$9,467,466

21

2

24. Winnipeg Jets

$53,342,944

$10,957,056

20

4

25. Carolina Hurricanes

$51,257,968

$13,042,032

28

-3

26. Ottawa Senators

$51,009,847

$13,290,153

11

15

27. New York Islanders

$50,712,065

$13,587,935

27

even

28. Colorado Avalanche

$50,366,652

$13,933,348

17

11

29. Dallas Stars

$50,289,595

$14,010,405

16

13

30. Nashville Predators

$49,997,279

$14,302,721

12

18

Note: Capgeek.com figures 1/6/2012

Plus/Minus Difference Standings verses spending

NHL Rank Games thru 1/05/2012

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