Post by chasingthepuck on Jun 4, 2020 15:20:47 GMT
Just have to wonder how any of the teams outside the top 4 can compete when there wages alone are double that of the bottom 4 teams.
Have you ever wondered what Elite League clubs have to spend? Well now you can, in a CTP exclusive…
All information has been sourced from a retired EIHL star
The Big Four:
It is no secret that the EIHL is extremely lopsided, in terms of financial backing, but by how much?
Sheffield Steelers:
The EIHL equivalent of Manchester City, in terms of spending, the Yorkshire side have spent big this off-season in a desperate bid to mount the summit again, for the first time since 2016. The additions of Brendan Connolly, Marc-Olivier Vallarand and Jonas Liwing have signalled the intentions of new Head Coach, Aaron Fox. Our EIHL insider, a now retired Elite League star, has indicated the weekly costs for this Steelers roster is in the region of £20,000 per week and the pressure on Fox to produced is perhaps greater than ever in England’s answer to ‘Orange County’.
Belfast Giants:
The defending champions have suffered from last years success, as the ‘talent drain’ has hit the Northern Irish outfit hard. Blair Riley, Darcy Murphy, Tyler Beskorowany and Kyle Baun have all departed the club and Adam Keefe will be hopeful he can replicate his sophomore coaching year. One definite asset Keefe does have at his disposable is the prestigious Ulster University with the ability to offer multiple university packages. The chance to ‘earn and learn [at one of the best universities in the UK]’ is often too good an opportunity for many North American talents to turn down. The former Elite League player and CTP source believes the Giants 2019/20 roster to be costing between £17,000-19,000 per week.
Cardiff Devils:
Arguably the most stable and well-run organisation in the EIHL, the Devils have the financial backing to fight-off competition and retain their core players. The likes of Ben Bowns, Joey Martin, Mark Louis and Evan Mosey all drew attention from the continent, but all remain in the Welsh capital for 2019/20. The top prizes in British hockey will be on Andrew Lord’s agenda, but with the likes of Sheffield and Nottingham spending ‘big bucks’ the five-man Canadian consortium of Kelly Hughes, Todd Kelman, Steve King, Brian Parker and Craig Shostak could be forced to splash the cash. The now retired CTP source estimates this years Devils roster to exceed £18,000 per week.
Nottingham Panthers:
The enormously expensive 2018-19 roster, which included from NHLers: Chris Stewart, Dylan Olsen, Alexandre Bolduc, Michael Garnett, Jon Rheault and Kevin Henderson, complied by the Panthers was not good enough to bring home the EIHL title. The Panthers have only won one EIHL League title, since its formation in 2004, and the ever-patience Neil Black has been forced to shuffle the members of his coaching staff. The additions of Tim Wallace (Head Coach), Mark Matheson (Player-Assistant Coach) and Guillaume Doucet (Direct of Hockey Operations) all have plenty of EIHL experience, but they also come with financial implications, in terms of the playing roster. Currently, the Panthers roster stands at only 10 skaters (4D 6F), but with the likes of Chris Stewart and Gui Lepine amongst the EIHL highest earners the next few months could be extremely interesting. CTP’s informative and former player estimates Nottingham’s weekly bill to be around £16,000-19,000.
The mid-table:
Guildford Flames:
The youngest EIHL franchise has been in the safe hands of John Hepburn since 1994 and the Princeton graduate provides Head Coach, Paul Dixon, with substantial financial backing. The Surrey-based outfit have been able to retain the vast majority of their core, with 12 returnees so far! The likes of: Calle Ackered, John Dunbar, Kruise Reddick and Ian Watters, have all drawn admiration from the ‘Big Four’ but the Flames have been able to match any offer (within reason). The former player and EIHL insider has the Flames running at over £14,000 per week.
Glasgow Clan:
A tumultuous off-season appeared to be highly improbable in Glasgow, as the Clan carefully assembled a squad with several familiar faces: Scott Tanski, Scott Pitt, Craig Peacock and Matt Stanisz were all announced before Pete Russell left for EHC Freiburg (DEL2). However, his shock departure has prompted the Scottish side to react and somewhat surprisingly hand the reigns to rookie coach, Zack Fitzgerald. The hard-nosed American has inherited a stable roster, but his lack of coaching experience could well be a concern for some fans. Famed for his physical play and willingness to drop the gloves, Fitzgerald’s first signing was Linden Springer and this could well be the start of things to come. The Clan are often viewed as the most likely title challenges outsider the ‘Big Four’ and with weekly costs estimated around £11,000-12,000 per week, you can see why.
Coventry Blaze:
The four-time EIHL champions, all won under the tutelage of Paul Thompson, have been forced out the market in recent times. The Blaze have now failed to break into the Top Four for six consecutive seasons and Danny Stewart (Head Coach) is tasked with challenge of forcing Coventry up the table. A shift in the recruitment policy appears to coincide with a shrinking budget, as the Blaze are now opting for multiple ‘first-year’ pro’s out of North American college systems, in the hope they will be able to unearth a few hidden gems. The ex-EIHL player has reason to believe the Blaze will be operating on £9,000-11,000 per week, for the seventh straight year.
Fife Flyers:
The ever-present combination of Todd Dutiaume and Jeff Hutchins in Fife have made it something of a tradition to sign players late. The current roster stands at 6 skaters (1D 5F) and only two of those are imports: Chase Schaber and Carlo Finucci. Despite the aged arena and war-torn car park, the Flyers do have access to enough cash to compete with those above them. The loss of Shane Owen, to Belfast, and Evan Bloodoff, to Coventry, will have hurt the recruitment plans in Kirkcaldy, but with an estimated £10,000 per week available Dutiaume and Hutchins have enough to rebuild.
The rest:
Manchester Storm:
Long-gone are the arena days with rosters packed with former NHL talent. The new-look Storm are forced to operate on a shoe-string and Head Coach, Ryan Finnerty has had to adapt from his former stomping grounds of Glasgow and Sheffield. The 2019-20 roster appears to be much younger and faster, with the additions of Lukas Lundvald and Zach Sullivan best showcasing this fresh approach. One bargaining chip Finnerty does have his the enviable location of Altrincham and its proximity to Manchester. The former EIHL star believes the Storm will be running at a shade over £7,000 per week in 2019-20.
Dundee Stars:
The third Scottish outfit are in a similar position to Manchester, in terms of financial backing. Omar Pacha has allowed former captain, Johan Andersson leave for France, but the likes of Matt Marquardt, Jordan Cownie and Shawn Boutin have somehow been retained. The retention of that dynamic trio is even more impressive when you considered the Stars have around £7,000 per week to operate with, according to our trusted and happily retired EIHL source.
Synopsis:
As the disparity between ‘the Big Four’ and ‘the rest’ continues to grow, you have to question how competitive is the EIHL really? I have often held the view that the EIHL is a league within a league, and the information provided by our former player does nothing but compound this belief. However, the addition of Guildford’s financial clout to the league (which was not welcomed by Sheffield…I wonder why) could one day unsettle the likes of Sheffield, Nottingham, Cardiff and Belfast, at the top of the Elite League. The recent losses of the Edinburgh Capitals and Milton Keynes Lightning should been taken as a warning sign for the EIHL, but with the top continuing to spend big will British hockey ever learn?
Have you ever wondered what Elite League clubs have to spend? Well now you can, in a CTP exclusive…
All information has been sourced from a retired EIHL star
The Big Four:
It is no secret that the EIHL is extremely lopsided, in terms of financial backing, but by how much?
Sheffield Steelers:
The EIHL equivalent of Manchester City, in terms of spending, the Yorkshire side have spent big this off-season in a desperate bid to mount the summit again, for the first time since 2016. The additions of Brendan Connolly, Marc-Olivier Vallarand and Jonas Liwing have signalled the intentions of new Head Coach, Aaron Fox. Our EIHL insider, a now retired Elite League star, has indicated the weekly costs for this Steelers roster is in the region of £20,000 per week and the pressure on Fox to produced is perhaps greater than ever in England’s answer to ‘Orange County’.
Belfast Giants:
The defending champions have suffered from last years success, as the ‘talent drain’ has hit the Northern Irish outfit hard. Blair Riley, Darcy Murphy, Tyler Beskorowany and Kyle Baun have all departed the club and Adam Keefe will be hopeful he can replicate his sophomore coaching year. One definite asset Keefe does have at his disposable is the prestigious Ulster University with the ability to offer multiple university packages. The chance to ‘earn and learn [at one of the best universities in the UK]’ is often too good an opportunity for many North American talents to turn down. The former Elite League player and CTP source believes the Giants 2019/20 roster to be costing between £17,000-19,000 per week.
Cardiff Devils:
Arguably the most stable and well-run organisation in the EIHL, the Devils have the financial backing to fight-off competition and retain their core players. The likes of Ben Bowns, Joey Martin, Mark Louis and Evan Mosey all drew attention from the continent, but all remain in the Welsh capital for 2019/20. The top prizes in British hockey will be on Andrew Lord’s agenda, but with the likes of Sheffield and Nottingham spending ‘big bucks’ the five-man Canadian consortium of Kelly Hughes, Todd Kelman, Steve King, Brian Parker and Craig Shostak could be forced to splash the cash. The now retired CTP source estimates this years Devils roster to exceed £18,000 per week.
Nottingham Panthers:
The enormously expensive 2018-19 roster, which included from NHLers: Chris Stewart, Dylan Olsen, Alexandre Bolduc, Michael Garnett, Jon Rheault and Kevin Henderson, complied by the Panthers was not good enough to bring home the EIHL title. The Panthers have only won one EIHL League title, since its formation in 2004, and the ever-patience Neil Black has been forced to shuffle the members of his coaching staff. The additions of Tim Wallace (Head Coach), Mark Matheson (Player-Assistant Coach) and Guillaume Doucet (Direct of Hockey Operations) all have plenty of EIHL experience, but they also come with financial implications, in terms of the playing roster. Currently, the Panthers roster stands at only 10 skaters (4D 6F), but with the likes of Chris Stewart and Gui Lepine amongst the EIHL highest earners the next few months could be extremely interesting. CTP’s informative and former player estimates Nottingham’s weekly bill to be around £16,000-19,000.
The mid-table:
Guildford Flames:
The youngest EIHL franchise has been in the safe hands of John Hepburn since 1994 and the Princeton graduate provides Head Coach, Paul Dixon, with substantial financial backing. The Surrey-based outfit have been able to retain the vast majority of their core, with 12 returnees so far! The likes of: Calle Ackered, John Dunbar, Kruise Reddick and Ian Watters, have all drawn admiration from the ‘Big Four’ but the Flames have been able to match any offer (within reason). The former player and EIHL insider has the Flames running at over £14,000 per week.
Glasgow Clan:
A tumultuous off-season appeared to be highly improbable in Glasgow, as the Clan carefully assembled a squad with several familiar faces: Scott Tanski, Scott Pitt, Craig Peacock and Matt Stanisz were all announced before Pete Russell left for EHC Freiburg (DEL2). However, his shock departure has prompted the Scottish side to react and somewhat surprisingly hand the reigns to rookie coach, Zack Fitzgerald. The hard-nosed American has inherited a stable roster, but his lack of coaching experience could well be a concern for some fans. Famed for his physical play and willingness to drop the gloves, Fitzgerald’s first signing was Linden Springer and this could well be the start of things to come. The Clan are often viewed as the most likely title challenges outsider the ‘Big Four’ and with weekly costs estimated around £11,000-12,000 per week, you can see why.
Coventry Blaze:
The four-time EIHL champions, all won under the tutelage of Paul Thompson, have been forced out the market in recent times. The Blaze have now failed to break into the Top Four for six consecutive seasons and Danny Stewart (Head Coach) is tasked with challenge of forcing Coventry up the table. A shift in the recruitment policy appears to coincide with a shrinking budget, as the Blaze are now opting for multiple ‘first-year’ pro’s out of North American college systems, in the hope they will be able to unearth a few hidden gems. The ex-EIHL player has reason to believe the Blaze will be operating on £9,000-11,000 per week, for the seventh straight year.
Fife Flyers:
The ever-present combination of Todd Dutiaume and Jeff Hutchins in Fife have made it something of a tradition to sign players late. The current roster stands at 6 skaters (1D 5F) and only two of those are imports: Chase Schaber and Carlo Finucci. Despite the aged arena and war-torn car park, the Flyers do have access to enough cash to compete with those above them. The loss of Shane Owen, to Belfast, and Evan Bloodoff, to Coventry, will have hurt the recruitment plans in Kirkcaldy, but with an estimated £10,000 per week available Dutiaume and Hutchins have enough to rebuild.
The rest:
Manchester Storm:
Long-gone are the arena days with rosters packed with former NHL talent. The new-look Storm are forced to operate on a shoe-string and Head Coach, Ryan Finnerty has had to adapt from his former stomping grounds of Glasgow and Sheffield. The 2019-20 roster appears to be much younger and faster, with the additions of Lukas Lundvald and Zach Sullivan best showcasing this fresh approach. One bargaining chip Finnerty does have his the enviable location of Altrincham and its proximity to Manchester. The former EIHL star believes the Storm will be running at a shade over £7,000 per week in 2019-20.
Dundee Stars:
The third Scottish outfit are in a similar position to Manchester, in terms of financial backing. Omar Pacha has allowed former captain, Johan Andersson leave for France, but the likes of Matt Marquardt, Jordan Cownie and Shawn Boutin have somehow been retained. The retention of that dynamic trio is even more impressive when you considered the Stars have around £7,000 per week to operate with, according to our trusted and happily retired EIHL source.
Synopsis:
As the disparity between ‘the Big Four’ and ‘the rest’ continues to grow, you have to question how competitive is the EIHL really? I have often held the view that the EIHL is a league within a league, and the information provided by our former player does nothing but compound this belief. However, the addition of Guildford’s financial clout to the league (which was not welcomed by Sheffield…I wonder why) could one day unsettle the likes of Sheffield, Nottingham, Cardiff and Belfast, at the top of the Elite League. The recent losses of the Edinburgh Capitals and Milton Keynes Lightning should been taken as a warning sign for the EIHL, but with the top continuing to spend big will British hockey ever learn?
