futurcorerock
Registered User
I'm throwing a theory out here, because i know the I word has been thrown around because of the overall success of the 1987 NFL strike.
Here's what we got so far:
It's assumed that one of the biggest cards the owners have to play is the Impasse card. Assuming all 30 clubs get through the courts, they would implicate their own CBA and open the doors again to any player willing to sign.
From this, the dissention that many assume to exist, many NHLPA members would subsequently jump ship and sign contracts with the NHL.
Now heres a question i'm presenting:
What's to stop any player from signing with any team?
Maybe all this is just ho-hum and will be easily debunked. Aside, i present a scenario:
Let's say that an RFA who's contract has run up returns to the United States from a successful stint in the RSL. Said RFA is 23 years old and beginning to hit a powerful stride as a dominant force in the AHL. His rights belong to say.... the Edmonton Oilers.
He comes back and is presented with a qualifying offer by the Oilers. Also, the Colorado Avalanche decide to make this RFA a cornerstone of their franchise... so they give him an offer that is considerably sweeter than the Oilers'. Given the former CBA, the rule is that if a team were to sign an RFA from another team, the penalty would be a loss of 5 first-round picks (correct me if i'm wrong).
With the present situation, you have an influx of ship-jumpers and scabs entering the league without contracts... could a prospect from the Oilers sign with the Avalanche with the Avalanche incurring no penalty because of the given circumstance involving the NHL/NHLPA relationship? I question because the ship-jumpers might no longer be considered members of the NHLPA.
If this scenario were to play out, it's completely fathomable that Impasse wouldn't be declared because of people losing their RFA's to a UFA free-agency pool. Worse-Case would have salaries driven up by this free market set up around any player willing to sign in the ScabHL. Granted, i'm biased in saying that impasse wouldnt be declared no matter what, because it doesnt sound like the NHLPA will last through the legal proceedings, let alone the build-up to it.
Maybe the theory has holes because im missing some important talk in the CBA situation, but hopefully this could spin off some talks on the issue. It's a valid angle that maybe owners are worried about. I know Hotchkiss would be pissed to see Iginla signing with the Bruins, or Nash signing with the Stars
Here's what we got so far:
It's assumed that one of the biggest cards the owners have to play is the Impasse card. Assuming all 30 clubs get through the courts, they would implicate their own CBA and open the doors again to any player willing to sign.
From this, the dissention that many assume to exist, many NHLPA members would subsequently jump ship and sign contracts with the NHL.
Now heres a question i'm presenting:
What's to stop any player from signing with any team?
Maybe all this is just ho-hum and will be easily debunked. Aside, i present a scenario:
Let's say that an RFA who's contract has run up returns to the United States from a successful stint in the RSL. Said RFA is 23 years old and beginning to hit a powerful stride as a dominant force in the AHL. His rights belong to say.... the Edmonton Oilers.
He comes back and is presented with a qualifying offer by the Oilers. Also, the Colorado Avalanche decide to make this RFA a cornerstone of their franchise... so they give him an offer that is considerably sweeter than the Oilers'. Given the former CBA, the rule is that if a team were to sign an RFA from another team, the penalty would be a loss of 5 first-round picks (correct me if i'm wrong).
With the present situation, you have an influx of ship-jumpers and scabs entering the league without contracts... could a prospect from the Oilers sign with the Avalanche with the Avalanche incurring no penalty because of the given circumstance involving the NHL/NHLPA relationship? I question because the ship-jumpers might no longer be considered members of the NHLPA.
If this scenario were to play out, it's completely fathomable that Impasse wouldn't be declared because of people losing their RFA's to a UFA free-agency pool. Worse-Case would have salaries driven up by this free market set up around any player willing to sign in the ScabHL. Granted, i'm biased in saying that impasse wouldnt be declared no matter what, because it doesnt sound like the NHLPA will last through the legal proceedings, let alone the build-up to it.
Maybe the theory has holes because im missing some important talk in the CBA situation, but hopefully this could spin off some talks on the issue. It's a valid angle that maybe owners are worried about. I know Hotchkiss would be pissed to see Iginla signing with the Bruins, or Nash signing with the Stars