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]

Re: Potential Issues with the CBA

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

[Money99]

Re: Potential Issues with the CBA

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]

Re: Potential Issues with the CBA

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

[VanCitySportsGuy]

Re: Potential Issues with the CBA

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]

Re: Potential Issues with the CBA

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%".

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]

Re: Potential Issues with the CBA

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]

Re: Potential Issues with the CBA

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).

[Kobalt]

Re: Potential Issues with the CBA

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.

How is it harder nowadays? Serious question.

[BlueNGold]

Re: Potential Issues with the CBA

How is it harder nowadays? Serious question.

I'm assuming because of the salary cap. Maybe allow teams to slightly go over the cap in trades? A trade exception I guess.

[VanCitySportsGuy]

Re: Potential Issues with the CBA

I'm assuming because of the salary cap. Maybe allow teams to slightly go over the cap in trades? A trade exception I guess.

Teams are already allowed to go over the cap in the off-season.

[BlueNGold]

Re: Potential Issues with the CBA

Teams are already allowed to go over the cap in the off-season.

Yeah but I'm talking about trading during the season.

I mean, I guess considering the amount of deals at the deadline, it's not all that bad, but (again referencing Burke here), we don't get to see very many blockbuster deals.

What was the last blockbuster type deal we've seen? The most recent one (I could be really off there) that comes to mind for me is the Phaneuf trade, but even that wouldn't really be what I consider a true "blockbuster trade" considering the players that went back the other way in exchange for Phaneuf.

[DrJones]

Re: Potential Issues with the CBA

How is it harder nowadays? Serious question.

Because you can rarely move a star player for prospects anymore. In 2003, if the Avs wanted to unload Paul Stastny, they wouldn't have much trouble. Some rich team (Detroit, Toronto, Philly, Rangers) would happily oblige them with picks and a prospect or two. In 2011, most teams are right up against the cap, so they'd have to move an equivalent amount of salaries to make room for Stastny. Also, what happens to those teams when their young star players approach free agency and want a raise? All of a sudden, underachieving big salaries like Stastny become a millstone. Now, if you can find a trade partner with lots of cap space, maybe the Avs can get something for Stastny, but most of the teams with cap space have limited budgets and are unwilling to take on big salaries or part with picks/prospects.

[Kobalt]

I hope the Ringette line never makes it to the NHL.

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[Money99]

Re: Potential Issues with the CBA

I hope the Ringette line never makes it to the NHL.

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I think the concept is interesting. At the very least, they need to examine it's worth during this summers R&D camp.
I still think the best test area is during the exhibition season. I have no interest in buying a ticket for an x-game, but if I knew they were testing the ringette lines, or bigger nets, or some other crazy idea, I'd be more than happy to shell out money for a meaningless game.