Things Really Heating Up (NHL)

[DeltaOne81]

They got 13 hours to negotiate. Let them use every minute of it. No one has to sleep tonight. Except me

[Trotsky]

The N went from 40 to 42.5; the players went from no cap to 48.  It sounds to me like they can just split the difference and save themselves immense headaches, but would that be too rational?

[calgARI '07]

Goodenow's response to Bettman:

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=115069

[Pete Godenschwager]

[Q] The union already appears to be crumbling with different player factions putting forward proposals and commentary.[/Q]

For example, Buffalo's player rep, Jay McKee, apparently didn't even know the union accepted a cap until some media person asked him about it.  Certainly doesn't say much for solidarity.  

[DeltaOne81]

[Q]Pete Godenschwager Wrote:

 [Q2] The union already appears to be crumbling with different player factions putting forward proposals and commentary.[/Q]
For example, Buffalo's player rep, Jay McKee, apparently didn't even know the union accepted a cap until some media person asked him about it.  Certainly doesn't say much for solidarity.  [/q]
I don't see how that has anything to do with solidarity, especially with the union being the more generous entity. The concern is usually when individual players would speak out against the union's hard stance, that would be breaking ranks. A player not following the news about something the union had conceeded doesn't seem like a loyalty problem to me.

Sure, there were a few players who spoke out saying the union should give up more - such as Roenick, who has always been a bit of a loose cannon when it comes to a lot of things.

But when you're dealing with 700 to 800 people, you're gonna have a few people speak out. Especially with a gastapo-ish gag order like Bettman put out.

Listen, I'm not a players fan boy here. If the owners reject the $49 million (which I'm sure they will) and put the $42.5 million back on the table, I still think the players should accept it, if it comes down to 10:45 am tomorrow, and if they don't, then I'd blame them. But pointing out that a few out of 700+ people used their freedom of speech to express an opinion, isn't a valid criticism.

But in the meantime, negotiate away.

$49 million may be a lot of money, but it also includes this:
Payroll Taxes -  $40M - $43M (25%)
                             $43M - $46M (50%)
                             $46M - $49M (75%)
                             $49M - $53.9M (150%) only twice per team during 6 year term (instead of 3 times as offered before)
Increased arbitration rights for clubs, performance bonus limits

They have a structure of a deal and it'll get done.

Hmmm, $40 million, $52 million, $42.5 millino, $49 million... gee, where's this gonna go?  $44, $47, $45... deal. And they have the time.

Or they could do an MLB scale thing, with the cap going $43, $44, $45, $46, $47, $48 million over the course of the deal. and payroll taxes adjusting proportionately.

[Josh '99]

[Q]DeltaOne81 Wrote:
No one was talking about Bettman losing his job...[/q]Yes I was.     ::nut::

[DeltaOne81]

[Q]jmh30 Wrote:

 [Q2]DeltaOne81 Wrote:
No one was talking about Bettman losing his job...[/Q]
Yes I was.      [/q]
How dare you sneak a 1 line post in a thread of long ones. Completely unacceptable and pure trickery!  ::nut::

[calgARI '07]

The Fan 960 in Calgary is reporting the NHL has outright rejected the PA offer reiterating that their offer is their FINAL.

[Tub(a)]

[Q]calgARI '07 Wrote:

 The Fan 960 in Calgary is reporting the NHL has outright rejected the PA offer reiterating that their offer is their FINAL.[/q]

:-(

I've been on their side through this crap, but they will look like idiots if they don't negotiate this out.

[DeltaOne81]

Do we have any detail on the NHL's offer like we do the NHLPA's? Luxury taxes, etc? Revenue sharing? Are those there?

[calgARI '07]

Flames play-by-play man Peter Maher, who is one of the highest up in NHL media, just commented that he really believes something will get done.  He is "95% sure" there will be a deal.

[Steve M]

It's too bad the fans don't have an organization that could effectively force the firing of both Bettman and Goodenow if they fail to work out a deal.  We are the paying customers after all.  I don't have any problem with rumors being spread about the canning of either of these guys, and I wish Bettman were not from Cornell.

[calgARI '07]

www.nhlfa.com

not much power but over 27,000 members including myself.  the president's have been emailing both Bettman and Goodenow throughout the process.  here's a copy of tonight's letter to Goodenow:

The following letter was sent to the NHL Players' Association tonight on
behalf of the NHLFA:


February 15, 2005

Bob Goodenow
Executive Director
National Hockey League Players’ Association
777 Bay Street, Suite 2400
Toronto, Ontario
M5G 2C8


Dear Mr. Goodenow:

After reviewing Commissioner’s Gary Bettman’s letter delivered earlier today
to the NHL Players’ Association, the membership of the NHL Fans’ Association
(NHLFA) appeals to you in the strongest possible terms to accept this
proposal and put NHL players back on the ice.

It has never been the desire of the NHLFA to take sides in this dispute; our
role is to present to you and to the NHL the views of hockey fans who
support the National Hockey League and pay your members’ salaries.  We
believe the revenues coming into professional hockey are more than enough
for both players and owners to receive fair compensation.

However, the majority of our 26,700 members feel the NHL Players’
Association must be willing to concede to reasonable terms, which we believe
have been presented to you, by the NHL today.

Remember, this conflict has taxed fans’ generosity and patience to the limit
and there will be serious consequences if your association chooses not to
accept the NHL’s offer.

Sincerely,
Jim Boone
Co-founder
NHL Fans’ Association
www.nhlfa.com

[calgARI '07]

Goodenow's response to Bettman:

http://www.tsn.ca/Nhl/news_story.asp?ID=115096&hubName=nhl

[Steve M]

I'm glad the they're at least putting pressure on one side, but in this labor dispute I'm much more on the side of the players than the owners.  NHL hockey players are overpaid, but at least they have made concessions unlike the ridiculously spolied babies that cancelled the World Series just over 10 years ago.  Goodenow is correct that Bettman's argument is bogus (all teams will never simultaneously spend up to the cap), and I think it would have been better if the Fans' Association had sent a letter to both Bettman and Goodenow to compromise.  That has the most chance of success IMO.