Some of you guys aren't very bright... you actually sound like hockey players!
This CBA is absolutely terrible... it doesn't take much to figure it out.
From an arbitration system that is heavily on the side of the players, to legislated raises for a large group of the league, to a league-wide revenue imbalance, it isn't a good system.
Sure, in theory, the owners have all kinds of control, but in reality, it doesn't work out that way.
Yes, you have the option all the time to walk away from an RFA... that's fine, but there is always a team ready to snatch him up. And it's always going to be the same few teams.
These same few teams also make irrational moves like signing an RFA to a $9+mil contract (Pronger), which then serves as the benchmark for every other young, skilled defenceman.
The idea of walking away wasn't going to be plausible, because it is the same teams every time that will be there waiting to snatch these guys up, especially the guys who are valuable.
There were posts brought up about competition... both sides are right. The NHL has always been about runs, and dynastys. That isn't the issue. It isn't that only 7 or 8 teams compete for the cup, that happens under any system.
However, there has to be a life-cycle. As one team is dominating, another team must be competetive, another team must be developing, and another team must be rebuilding. Then these 4 teams (in theory) rotate throughout.
The Oilers of the early 80's would have been blown apart before they could accomplish what they did if they were in the present day. Torn up before they ever got started, and that is exactly what happens now. Young teams can't make the next step if the money isn't there. A team develops a superstar, makes some noise in the playoffs then BANG, that player has to be traded, or is holding out, or whatever.
The Avalanche built most of their team, made some trades, had some success, and now as their players get older, you expect them to drop a notch or two... but nope. Their GM just goes out and signs 2 UFA's and they are a contender again. Meanwhile, a team that made some noise last year just lost their best player.
There is no cycle now. Dynastys used to end because the team got to old, and the stars left for retirement, or whatever... The Lightning have a chance to go on a 7 or 8 year run of excellence... but if their payroll can only be $38mil, they won't be able to keep their Lecavaliers, Richards, St. Louis's, and Khabibulin's... then guess what? One of 7 teams will pick one of those guys up for the money they want, thereby driving salaries up for other players.
It isn't about current competetiveness... it's about an ability to improve your team. It's damn near impossible to improve your team when you are turning over your best players every couple of seasons.
The Oilers example of Weight was a great one... getting Stoll, Reasoner and DesLauriers spells well for the Oilers future, but it killed them in the present. What's going to happen with Smyth? Or in the future Deslaruriers if he has some good years? You can only recycle your top talent for young players so many times before you get bitten in the butt big time. You can have excellent scouts, but one bad trade involving your top scorer for an up and comer can be devastating to your club for years to come.
Teams now cannot re-build without money. It cannot be done. You have a good player who has a good year, and he wants money like other guys in the league. If you can't afford that, you deal him off and he's gone. Eventually the moves of 29 other franchise's effect what you are able to do. The worst part is that it's a handful of franchises that are responsible for the mess, and that ultimately is the problem.
If you have 6 or 7 teams dictating the terms for the rest of the league, that isn't good. The option is to let one of these 7 teams get your star player, thereby increasing the gap between you and them, or you suck it up and pay your star player the same amount they are paying their star player.
But hey, if the goal in the end is to have 20 teams, with only a handful of stable franchises, it's a great system.