Comments on: Everyone’s got their breaking point.

by: Salty Dave

Thu, 20 Jan 2005 22:06:44 +0000

I should have put the proposal in italics, because I don’t think it’s true, just interesting. If this was a real proposal the ‘conditions’ to switch to a cap after 3 years would take another year just to iron out between the two sides.

There won’t be hockey this year, and next year will only happen if the union breaks, or scabs play (The Toronto Make Believes indeed)

by: Arcanas

Thu, 20 Jan 2005 19:21:29 +0000

Another thought on that deal (if it is, in fact, real). Wouldn’t the players really be screwing themselves by making that deal? The owners would likely just make sure that the conditions are met to trigger the salary cap anyway, so why even bother with the three year status quo? To let the rich stay rich?

by: Arcanas

Thu, 20 Jan 2005 19:19:09 +0000

I thought the league dismissed that contract as an unsubstantiated rumour. It’s all over the web, though.

by: Salty Dave

Thu, 20 Jan 2005 19:12:01 +0000

One thing to note about the latest round of NHL talks. The players proposed a 6 year deal, the first 3 years are basically status quo, with the 24% pay cut to the players. The next 3 years would implement a hard salary cap if some conditions were met. If they weren’t met, the contract would resemble the first 3 years. The story I read didn’t give the specifics on what the conditions were that would change the agreement.

The one thing of note is that the NHLPA reps that met in chicago would probably be retired before the 3 years were up. Could linden be sacrificing the paychecks of future players, just so he could make money? probably.

The other funny thing about it, they met in the chicago airport, in the departures lounge. Sportsnet was so anxious to get in, the whole crew bought tickets on the cheapest flights they could, just to get past security.