Trottier said:
Additionally, the NFL system has a much more liberal UFA threshold, and non-guaranteed contracts. And, of course, ridiculou$ revenue streams and a sharing of those revenues among franchsies.
Just tiny, tiny details conveniently glossed over by some! .
I'm glad you clued in on why the NFL has a huge edge over the NHL in implementing the systems they have in place. The ridiculou$ broadcast contract... conviently glossed over by some. But that has nothing to do with player movement. Never has, never will. The NFL has never been a big traders market place like the NHL. Just isn't the way the game is run.
I mean, does anyone delusionally believe that the owners are going to get a hardcap AND a strict UFA age AND guaranteed contracts?!
No, I don't think anyone expects that. I think the NHL expects to have to give on the free agency age restriction. Oh, and guaranteed contracts work for the PLAYERS, not the owners. Catch up will you. This isn't THAT complex.
That would translate into going back to the Stone Age (pre-union) for player's and any semblance of economic freedom.
Maybe it does in some people's eyes, but in most it does not. I guess you conveniently forgot the players are promised 55% of revenues ($1,200,000,000). Yeah, really thrusting them back into the stoneage there.
So, instead, as you know (but other's apparently don't), in exchange for a hardcap, a significantly lower UFA age will be granted.
That is indeed the rumor. Some have said somewhere in the area of 27 or 28 being the likely settle point. I think that is a pretty fair number and gives players plenty of time to cash in.
Can't wait to read the reaction of the pro-hardcapper in Atlanta, once Kovalchuk and Heatley skip town at age 25 (in a couple of years)!
And how is this going to happen? You don't think that the Thrashers are going to make sure they have budget space to accomodate two $5-6 million players? If they can't they have an idiot running the team.
Or the hardcap demagague in Minnesota, once Gaborik flees at 25!
Again, is Minnesota not going to do what it takes to sign their franchise guy?
Or the hardcapanista fan of the team who drafts Crosby...and gets to retain and develop him for several seasons...just long enough so that he can flee to another team!
And how is that going to happen? Another team managed by a chimp?
Or, best yet, the hardcap fan in Ottawa who sees his team resign Hossa, Havlat and Chara...but has to let Fisher and Redden go in order to still stay under the glorious cap!
How is that going to happen? All teams will have the same budget space to work with. Not one is going to be able to offer any of these players stupid money. It just won't happen with the regularity you attempt to suggest.
Yep, a fantasy league on ice. Suited just perfectly for the mentality of some here.
And you would know. You seem to think that salaries are going to remain at the levels which they stand at now and that teams will struggle to keep their players on their teams. Get into the real world. The $10 million player is history. The $7 million player is likely toast as well. If Ottawa cannot afford their players they have no one to blame but themselves. Frankly, it won't be tought on them. Ottawa will pay the players most important to them. That means aging players like Alfredsson and Bondra get the heave-ho, or take a cheaper contract. That means scrubs like Smolinski take a massive pay cut or go find work elsewhere. If I were Ottawa I would cut loose Alfredsson, Bondra and Smolinski and go shopping for better, cheaper talent after the whole mess is settled. There's going to be a boatload of players out there looking for work and be willing to play for what is offered. After all, $1 million and playing in the NHL is better than nothing. Oh, I forgot. Guys like Alfredsson can always go back to Sweden and make $6,000 a month. That'll show the NHL!!!