go kim johnsson said:
There are more guys who make $600K than who make $6M
True. But the 6mil guy has indirectly set the floor for the 600K guy. 10 years ago, the 600K was making 250K. Yes, the line in the sand is more lucrative for 'made' players, but the larger contracts (PA's bread and butter) have helped grow the contracts of the masses (the 3rd/4th liner). This is the line BG is selling. The floor keeps increasing with more larger salaries closer to the ceiling.
I gotta laugh at the end of that article though. The player was claiming that he was moving into an apartment with his brother (an AHL player), he has zero family expenses, has monthly bills of $1,100 per month. While he is currently unemployed, he came off a NHL salary of 350K last year. Plus, the PA stipend of 5K-10K per month.
His union stipend clearly pays his bills. This is like law partner or bond trader that makes 350K per year claiming he struggles to make his $1,100 mortgage.
Obviously, these players don't understand investing... Most players from the 80's have successfully taken their earnings and become successful in business post-hockey with the same amount of money.
The players are trying to hit a salary homerun during their limited career opportunity to set themselves for post-hockey life. That's fine because that's what the entertainment industry is all about.