Lockout/CBA Discussion Thread

[VanCitySportsGuy]

The CBA is going to expire after this season and I don't hear anything from the Union regarding what changes they would like to see.

Under the current deal, franchise players still get paid and even most of the middle class should be happy with their deals. Jeff Finger got a 4yr/14 million dollar contract under the current system.

I don't see any real big issues that would cause a work stoppage (we know the Owners aren't going to give up the Hard Cap). I think the salary floor needs to be addressed though. There's a big gap in revenues between some of the teams and I wouldn't be surprised if we see some sort of luxury tax for the top 5 million of a salary cap. For example if the cap was 65 million, any payroll over 60 million gets taxed dollar for dollar so a team with a 65 mil payroll would give 5 million dollars to the bottom 10 revenue teams. This isn't going to stop teams like the Leafs, Habs, Rangers, Canucks, Flyers, Bruins, etc.. from spending and it will help the smaller market teams.

I would like to see something done about all the long term contracts we see. They should put in a rule that states any year in a contract has to be at least %50 of the amount of the highest paid year. For example, let's say Player A gets a 50 million dollar contract with the highest paying year being 10 million, every other year has to be at least 5 million.

[Fiddy]

Don Fehr worries me. Dude is a train wreck!!

[Money99]

From the little that's out there, the two sides want a couple of things:

Players
- Less escrow payments
- Olympic involvement

Owners
- lower salary floor
- no guaranteed contracts

There's other issues, but I figure things will get worked out.
As loyal as hockey fans are, if the league has another work stoppage it will kill any potential for the game to become a more national sport.
It's still seen as a joke from outside fans.

[Fiddy]

i just dont see the players giving in to non guaranteed contracts..

[VanCitySportsGuy]

Quote: Originally Posted by Money99

From the little that's out there, the two sides want a couple of things: Players - Less escrow payments - Olympic involvement Owners - lower salary floor - no guaranteed contracts There's other issues, but I figure things will get worked out. As loyal as hockey fans are, if the league has another work stoppage it will kill any potential for the game to become a more national sport. It's still seen as a joke from outside fans.

With NBC retaining the rights to the Olympics, I think it's pretty much a lock the players will be there.

I think the Union will need to address the situation that happened to Wade Redden. If Redden was making 750K he would be in the NHL but because of his huge contract he's playing out his career in the AHL. I don't have a solution for this situation though.

[Money99]

Quote: Originally Posted by Fiddy

i just dont see the players giving in to non guaranteed contracts..

Me neither. Not in a million years.
The NHL will use it as a bone to get what they want.
"Okay, we'll forget about axing guaranteed contracts if you take a cut in the revenue sharing. Say 53%".

Quote: Originally Posted by VanCitySportsGuy

With NBC retaining the rights to the Olympics, I think it's pretty much a lock the players will be there. I think the Union will need to address the situation that happened to Wade Redden. If Redden was making 750K he would be in the NHL but because of his huge contract he's playing out his career in the AHL. I don't have a solution for this situation though.

I'm not sure what's the solution either. The Redden situation is ugly on both sides.
Sather is a moron for offering that much cash to a player that everyone and their dog knew was shot. Fans who barely watch hockey knew this guy was half the player he was from a few years ago.
You can't fault Redden for taking that money and running, but he's paying the price for signing a contract that even he must have known was ridiculous.

[BlueNGold]

Quote: Originally Posted by VanCitySportsGuy

I think the Union will need to address the situation that happened to Wade Redden. If Redden was making 750K he would be in the NHL but because of his huge contract he's playing out his career in the AHL. I don't have a solution for this situation though.

Amnesty clauses?

Also, I'd maybe like to see them make trading easier somehow. Brian Burke has acknowledged a few times that it's a lot harder to make trades nowadays.

[VanCitySportsGuy]

Quote: Originally Posted by BlueNGold

Amnesty clauses? Also, I'd maybe like to see them make trading easier somehow. Brian Burke has acknowledged a few times that it's a lot harder to make trades nowadays.

Yeah a one time amnesty clause that could be used anytime during the new CBA would work. This would help teams get more cap space and the player would get more money under this situation (assuming another NHL team signs the player).