Final NHL Proposal Coming Soon?

[handtrick]

New article dated 2/1. with the title "Final NHL Proposal Coming Soon?" from Newsday.com

http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/ny-spnhl0201,0,2778900.story?coll=ny-sports-headline

"This final offer might be the one the league has been holding on to, as sources have been suggesting, with the intention of making it difficult for the players to turn down. A person with knowledge of the situation said the offer will likely involve the widely reported range of payroll soft caps and luxury taxes leading up to a hard cap of around $42 million, which the league should be amenable to raising to $45 million if it means sealing the deal. Incentives to teams with the lowest payrolls would push them to spend more. According to numbers presented by the NHLPA in its Dec. 9 proposal, there are 10 teams currently carrying a 2004-05 payroll of less than $30 million, while five teams are over $45 million.

The NHL also wants to guarantee the players no less than 53 percent of revenue each season, but some reports over the weekend said the league won't let it go higher than 55 percent."

Click to read more...

 

[Scoogs]

Yea I seen that too. I dont know how much credibility the writer has, or his sources for his info. Is this just his thoughts?

I hope the last proposal is indeed a meaningful one and the PA can finally stop the crap and get a deal done.

 

[WHARF1940]

Been reading Hahn for quite some time.....he is honest and reliable, if this turns out to be false, it would be his sources, nothing he knowingly did to be deceptive.

 

[thinkwild]

It would seem that the owners have to eventually give the players some chance to accept a season saving offer. They must be exploring which buttons they can push to make 50% +1 players accept it likely against the wishes of the bargaining committee.

Are the players ready to accept a cap? Are they ready to accept a cap, but not this one from a hardball process that would save the season? Tough call. Sounds like the owners have one they want to put forth.

50-50 they say. Cross your fingers.

 

[handtrick]

It would seem that the owners have to eventually give the players some chance to accept a season saving offer. They must be exploring which buttons they can push to make 50% +1 players accept it likely against the wishes of the bargaining committee.

Are the players ready to accept a cap? Are they ready to accept a cap, but not this one from a hardball process that would save the season? Tough call. Sounds like the owners have one they want to put forth.

50-50 they say. Cross your fingers.

Thinkwild....are you talking about a secret ballot or a final vote to accept a new CBA agreement? Does the CBA agreement agreement have to be ratified by each and every player or just Goodenow and the negotiating commitee?

Here are some comments from the Predator's Greg Johnson today.

http://tennessean.com/sports/predators/archives/05/01/64957155.shtml?Element_ID=64957155

"Might a secret-ballot NHLPA vote on the proposal be in order?

''I don't think it is,'' Predators captain Greg Johnson said. ''We put our faith in the negotiating committee, and we're confident they're doing what's best for us as a union. I don't think we'll need any vote until they feel it's appropriate.''

 

[snakepliskin]

http://www.msgnetwork.com/content_n...ticle&sports=ice-hockey&team=other&league=nhl

 

[handtrick]

http://www.msgnetwork.com/content_n...ticle&sports=ice-hockey&team=other&league=nhl

Sounds like Cherry is throwing down the gauntlet to the players if an offer comes from the NHL which includes a cap at $45 mill...

 

[snakepliskin]

looks to me like the owners are getting their proposal out in the public so that the rank and file of the players know exactly what their leaders are turning down. "viva revolutione" off with their heads" "start with goodenow!"

 

[Flukeshot]

This kind of optimisim sounds all too famaliar.

“There will be one more league move,†my source insists, “and it will be the kind that will be very detailed and should command the players’ interest.â€

This could just be the league's version of the players' 24% rollback optimism. We all remember how the players truly thought that their offer would be the foundation for a new deal and that they were in awe that the owners rejected it. This new league offer could be the same thing. "That offer was fair and full of compromise, I don't know how the PA could reject." said (the owner of your choice).

 

[Son of Steinbrenner]

Stan Fischler is a hack. It was proven on this site by a poster who had pointed out fischlers tactics to Fox Sports and its proven by every article he has ever written.

 

[Scoogs]

Never the less...

 

[snakepliskin]

the thing is it's not just fischler its also burke, griffiths, the daily news and others probably-i think the owners want this out in print so that everyone knows their proposal and that includes all the players regardless of their salary and all of us the fans -i think that thats their point -maybe they are trying to create all the pressure on the PA they can--hopefully it might cause the minions of the union to turn the screws on their leaders which they should--the league is a trainwreck right now and will be a bigger trainwreck in sept without a draft and the uncertain status of players drafted last yr that remain unsigned not to mention the numerous ancillary employees of the nhl and the families of the lower tiered player--oh yeah and the general rage of most hockey fans. it's not going to get any easier-and one other thing the relationship of the nhl w/nbc and the relationships of all the teams and their local broadcast partners--the more i think about it the more its not a trainwreck-it's more between a a-bomb and armageddon

 

[Scoogs]

I seriously dont think either side is willing to cancel the season. IMHO, the NHLPA will come to their senses and get this thing wrapped up. Neither side can afford a full year gone. The game cant survive it...

 

[thinkwild]

Thinkwild....are you talking about a secret ballot or a final vote to accept a new CBA agreement? Does the CBA agreement agreement have to be ratified by each and every player or just Goodenow and the negotiating commitee?

Im thinking of a final vote. You'd think what the owners want to do is put forth an enticing enough cap, that the committee feels the membership pressure to put it up for a vote, even though they are recommending it not be accepted. Its probably a pretty hard thing for the owners to do.

The players have given their bargaining committee their confidence and the power to make the decision when it goes for a vote. If they recommend it, it will surely be accepted.

Cherry says a $45mil hard cap should be acceptable. Maybe $50mil cap would make it tough. If you think the players have accepted the concept that is. Guess we find out one way or another soon. Some say 70% want to accept it so it should be over soon.

 

[Brent Burns Beard]

I seriously dont think either side is willing to cancel the season. IMHO, the NHLPA will come to their senses and get this thing wrapped up. Neither side can afford a full year gone. The game cant survive it...

why not ? the players have already lost over 1billion dollars, they have little left to lose by thumbing their nose at hte next offer. thats why the owners must put some real honey in the offer

if the season is cancelled, the owners have a few problems.

1) returning all the season ticket money
2) selling ticket seasons for next year when everyone will tell them to screw off
3) sponsers who take their money elsewhere
4) tv contracts and leases that the owners will not be living up to obligations for a 2nd straight year.
5) Sydney Crosby

Most of whats left to lose is will be on the owners. The players have already lost 2/3rd of what the owners claim to have lost in 10 years !

How long will the warchest last ? The pressure is now shifting to the owners, IMO.

DR

 

[Brent Burns Beard]

Im thinking of a final vote. You'd think what the owners want to do is put forth an enticing enough cap, that the committee feels the membership pressure to put it up for a vote, even though they are recommending it not be accepted. Its probably a pretty hard thing for the owners to do.

i think if the NHL convinces Linden, then hockey will be back. If they dont convince Linden to support the offer, then they better table "shock and awe" or its of zero doubt that the players will not accept it.

The players will not over rule Linden (captain) and Goodenow (coach) unless its blatantly overkill. This is the obstacle the owners must deal with. Hockey players at this level rarely dont follow the captain and coach. Its the culture.

DR

 

[Son of Steinbrenner]

why not ? the players have already lost over 1billion dollars, they have little left to lose by thumbing their nose at hte next offer. thats why the owners must put some real honey in the offer

if the season is cancelled, the owners have a few problems.

1) returning all the season ticket money
2) selling ticket seasons for next year when everyone will tell them to screw off
3) sponsers who take their money elsewhere
4) tv contracts and leases that the owners will not be living up to obligations for a 2nd straight year.
5) Sydney Crosby

Most of whats left to lose is will be on the owners. The players have already lost 2/3rd of what the owners claim to have lost in 10 years !

How long will the warchest last ? The pressure is now shifting to the owners, IMO.

DR

that warchest is a joke. teams can only take 10 million dollars out. (the amount of money they put in) some teams have already taken money out.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

why not ? the players have already lost over 1billion dollars, they have little left to lose by thumbing their nose at hte next offer. thats why the owners must put some real honey in the offer

if the season is cancelled, the owners have a few problems.

1) returning all the season ticket money
2) selling ticket seasons for next year when everyone will tell them to screw off
3) sponsers who take their money elsewhere
4) tv contracts and leases that the owners will not be living up to obligations for a 2nd straight year.
5) Sydney Crosby

Most of whats left to lose is will be on the owners. The players have already lost 2/3rd of what the owners claim to have lost in 10 years !

How long will the warchest last ? The pressure is now shifting to the owners, IMO.

DR

the owners would have some major problems, but the players gotta realize that if this lockout goes for a long time, some of their jobs will be in jeopardy.
The revenue won't be there, thus the cap will be smaller

 

[Brent Burns Beard]

the owners would have some major problems, but the players gotta realize that if this lockout goes for a long time, some of their jobs will be in jeopardy.
The revenue won't be there, thus the cap will be smaller

well these are risks they are already facing. the point is a whole bunch of new risks are about to show up for hte owners. what if the owners were counting on the players caving and they players dont ?

i think the owners are in for the next round of hurting.

round 1: owners lost 1.5 billion in 10 years
round 2: players lost 1b so far (and 1.5 if the season is cancelled) in 1 year
round 3: owners start losing their franchises.

owners need to put the honey down, the players have already shown the resolve that has cost them 1 BILLION dollars on one year.

of all the offers we have heard, not one would be difficult for the players to say no to.

dr

 

[wazee]

well these are risks they are already facing. the point is a whole bunch of new risks are about to show up for hte owners. what if the owners were counting on the players caving and they players dont ?

i think the owners are in for the next round of hurting.

round 1: owners lost 1.5 billion in 10 years
round 2: players lost 1b so far (and 1.5 if the season is cancelled) in 1 year
round 3: owners start losing their franchises.

owners need to put the honey down, the players have already shown the resolve that has cost them 1 BILLION dollars on one year.

of all the offers we have heard, not one would be difficult for the players to say no to.

dr

If they don't get a cap, some owners will lose their franchises anywhy. So, from their point of view, what difference does it make?

Besides, much as the owners would hate to lose their money if the NHL totally folds, nearly all of them made their money outside of hockey and they will make money again somewhere else. The players, however, will lose the only employer that will make them rich men...

Both sides have something to lose. But long-term, the players lose the most. The owners will still be rich men. And the players will not be.

 

[SPARTAKUS*]

Originally posted by DR

well these are risks they are already facing. the point is a whole bunch of new risks are about to show up for hte owners. what if the owners were counting on the players caving and they players dont ?

The same can be said for the players. They were counting on the owners caving just like they did in '94. Soon or later they will have to realize that the owners are not going to cave in.

 

[Brent Burns Beard]

The same can be said for the players. They were counting on the owners caving just like they did in '94. Soon or later they will have to realize that the owners are not going to cave in.

why should they change their mind now that they have already lost over 1billion. they can wait until the owners are hurting some more.

or the owners can make sure to make a bonafide offer so both sides can end the pain.

dr

 

[SPARTAKUS*]

why should they change their mind now that they have already lost over 1billion. they can wait until the owners are hurting some more.

or the owners can make sure to make a bonafide offer so both sides can end the pain.

dr

See this the thing that's buging me DR. I don't understand why the players are so much against "cost certainty". You hear the players say no cap but they never say why their against it. The only thing the say is we want a free market. I would like the players explaine to me why they're so against it.

 

[ryz]

round 1: owners lost 1.5 billion in 10 years
round 2: players lost 1b so far (and 1.5 if the season is cancelled) in 1 year
round 3: owners start losing their franchises.

owners need to put the honey down, the players have already shown the resolve that has cost them 1 BILLION dollars on one year.

of all the offers we have heard, not one would be difficult for the players to say no to.

dr

If owners lose franchises the players lose the jobs. Where is the sense in that?? Not to mention most of the owners are billionaires, losing their team means a dent in their pocket. If 4 teams fold, chances are that 80+ lower end NHL hockey players are flipping burgers and bagging groceries.

 

[lazaer]

why should they change their mind now that they have already lost over 1billion. they can wait until the owners are hurting some more.

or the owners can make sure to make a bonafide offer so both sides can end the pain.

dr

yep they have lost a Billion, not sure how much the owners have lost (but it's in the hundreds of Millions for sure). Whether its right or wrong the majority of fans want a cap (and then perhaps a cup) and so if the owners don't get the cap the fans will be pissed and probably stay away from the game which equals less money for the players down the road anyway. Players should be concerned about that. Players IMO should not worry about LOST money, but what money they will be LOSING in the future. Basically what i'm saying is if the "players win" the bitterness will last for a long time in the majority of fans because the owners won the media battle long ago. However if the "owners win" the players can look like the hero's in all this, and only a small number of fans will be bitter. In a free market or cap system players still only get a percentage of revenue. So i still don't think the owners are the one's with more pressure to get the deal done. IMO it's a pick your poison deal for the players.