Are you still too dense to realize that the only real "spedning sprees" (which i may add have pretty much stopped) in the NHL occur on UFA players who are over 30, and thus declining. I am a Sens fan, a so called small market team fan, who doesn't give 2 ***** about what washington or new york does in terms of signing UFA's. It doesnt improve their teams and it doesnt affect ottawa's ability to be competitive.
The whole point of this roll back is to reset the market so all the claimed losses that the owners say (which are obvioulsy BS for anyone with a half an ounce of common sense) they incurred are whiped out.
I will concede that there will still be final negotiations with regards to this proposal and the NHls counter proposal before the season is announced somewhere around January 6th, 2005.
Until then its all speculation, but there will be a season, as I've said all along, and the players have offered huge concessions to help out the league from its mismanagmeent. Thats a ton considering the fact that the owners are the ones who let it get to this point.
Once again, instead of making the system idiot proof, why not just get rid of the idiots. The owners of the so called small markets dont have to bid up for players since they can develop their own. The only argument you could make is if one really rich team makes a crazy deal for a RFA and the smaller markets are impacted.. .Gladly the arbitrator looks at what is the norm, and not the exceptional case.
Its seems idiotic how all the pro-owner people point to ISOLATED incidents as if it represents the norm (see Yashin hold out) . HOw dumb is that? Looking at the exception, not the rule, will never give you even close to an accurate and logical position on the state of the league.
I think the luxury tax percentages will be adjusted, probably to 35% of payroll over 45 million and there will be some alterations obviously.
UFA ages will drop a few years, maybe to 29 or 28. I think players (thankfully) reallize that a ridiculously low UFA age would damage the sport, which they care for. The players are team guys probalby more than any other sport (baseball too) and unlike the NFL and NBA, they (for the most part) realize that acheiving the goal through building and experience is a lot more rewarding than a randomized league like the NFL where its just forced mediocrity.
Aight, back to studying for finals.