NHL Salary Cap to be 56.8 million

Larry Brooks is reporting that the NHL players voted to trigger the 5% escalator to keep the cap close to what it was this year. There had been a 5% decrease in revenues this year and the cap could have dropped by as much as $2.5 million. This does provide a glimmer of hope for the "keep Marian Hossa" club to get their wish. Had the salary cap dropped, there would have been nearly no shot at keeping him. Update: Cap set at 56.8 million

And, Johan Ryno will be playing in Grand Rapids this season. He had left for Sweden after a few games in Grand Rapids a few years ago, but he is in the final year of his entry level deal and this is make or break for him. He has to produce this season, or his career in the Red Wings organization will be finished.

-NHL Draft tonight. The 1st round is tonight on Versus at 7:00 p.m. Rounds 2 through 7 are on Saturday. When it comes to the NHL draft, you need to get an NHL player in the first round, and then hit on one of your next 6 picks. The general rule of thumb is that if you can get 2 NHL players from any draft year, then it was a successful draft. That is what Ken Holland, Jim Nill and company will be hoping to do over the weekend. Babcock's Death Stare will probably provide a great recap of the draft. I will have profiles up of the Wings draft picks on Sunday.

Until then, here is a little MJ for everybody: Thriller