ESPN Commentators Hear Final Settlement Push Coming By End of the Week

[handtrick]

Last night during the USA and Russia WJC game Buccigross and Melrose both commented that they had talked to a number of players and NHL insiders and heard from multiple sources that the NHLPA was going to contact the NHL in the later part of this week for a final negotiating push for a settlement before the Jan 14th meeting date of the owners. They both felt "optimistic" about a settlement to preserve half the season and the Playoffs [and therefore the 2005 draft].

I predict the Union will come back with an offer to take the 24% rollback off the table; offer a phased in cap starting much higher than the 39 mill for a couple years then dropping down to a 40-45 mill range. They will also insist on maintaining arbitration rights [but probably in the MLB style]. They will also insist on an UFA age of 27 or 28 in return for the cap.

The players, in their mind, have already given up this money in their mind. To get it back by taking the 24% rooback offer off the table, and getting a much lowered UFA age will allow them the feeling that the have "won" in some manner and makes accepting a phased in cap more palatable.

Both sides being able to declare that they have won in SOME manner, yet giving the other side something they feel like they HAVE to have, is the absolute key to settlement in any collective bargaining situation.

The owners, IMO, would be foolish not to accept a stuation like this.

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[old kummelweck]

I got the same sense.

 

[eye]

I can see the players coming up with another proposal and may even accept cost linkage in return for removing their 24% rollback but IMO a phased in cost linkage system of about 54% of gross revenue is none negotiable. They might be able to get Free Agency at age 29, they might be able to get 2 way arbitration back on the table, 100% plus-minus contract qualifiers and increase entry level bonus money up to a set amount but that's about it. Don't expect the owners to increase the % of gross revenue or remove cost linkage from any potential deal. The players have one last chance so they better get it right this time and be more open minded and considerate of the game and it's fans.

 

[RangerBoy]

Well Damian Cox wrote this morning

Rumours abound that low-level, behind-the-scenes discussions are ongoing

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Co...970081593064&DPL=IvsNDS/7ChAX&tacodalogin=yes

 

[chiavsfan]

But the owners wont go for it, because they are entrenched in their position, and have made their demands. And the players association keeps skirting those issues, and thats why the "negotiations" have never really taken place

 

[misterjaggers]

An NHLPA compromise on the salary cap issue should shift the momentum and win the players some P.R. points. It would be the start of "real" negotiation.

 

[struckmatch]

If the PA decided to at least DISCUSS cost certainty in their next proposal, then coming to an agreement would not be too difficult, because it would just become a compromise of the cap thresholds and other stipulations. It would no longer be the philisophical war that it is now.

I've been feeling this for a while now as well, the PA must realize that negotiating cost certainty now, and starting to regain their financial losses as soon as possible is a much better option than holding out for a year more, losing this battle, and losing a year and a half's wages which they will never get back.

 

[Lobstertainment]

I hope so but I doubt it, Probably another Luxury Tax with more teeth then the last.

 

[Hockey_Nut99]

I hope the PA doesn't throw something like a 60 million dollar cap on the table and then keep saying "We made significant concessions".

 

[Brent Burns Beard]

I hope the PA doesn't throw something like a 60 million dollar cap on the table and then keep saying "We made significant concessions".

thats not a significant concession ?

dr

 

[deathbear]

thats not a significant concession ?

dr

no, of course not. a cap that high is useless, you know that.

still, the owners demands of a cap in the 30+ million mark is also dumb. i like the 45 number.

 

[struckmatch]

thats not a significant concession ?

dr

Not at all.

 

[Brent Burns Beard]

no, of course not. a cap that high is useless, you know that.

still, the owners demands of a cap in the 30+ million mark is also dumb. i like the 45 number.

if you ask me, a cap of 60m makes more sense for a team like CRL and EDM than forcing them to spend 34m does.

dr

 

[Hockey_Nut99]

A cap around 40 million is ok

 

[txpd]

I think that its very possible that the PA is going to come to the table with a salary cap proposal. that will allow negotiations. the cap number can't be as high as $45m, though. IF you look at how many teams were in that $45m range and losing money last year, it makes it very hard for owners to accept that number. however, $38m is a nice middle point between the owners $31m and the PA's $45m.

what the pa really gets out of this is no give back in salary. players that are worth their money will continue to get it. they will keep guaranteed contracts and 2/3s buyout price. they will get a nice lower ufa qualification. likely that will be based on a service minimum, 6 to 8 years, rather than an age. arbitration will remain with some adjustments.

but if the nhlpa does not bring a cap proposal we can forget the season.

 

[Leafer4Life]

Well, I hope that this is true, would be great if the 2 sides met and salvaged the season, but once again, not getting my hopes up......

 

[GirardIsStupid]

why don't the players and owners agree to salvage this season based on the 24% rollback and continue to negotiate on an agreement for the long-term? these two sides appear to be close enough to save at least this season.

further, why are both sides trying to hit a home run for a long-term deal? if the owners get what they want, it won't be long until the players strike. if the players win this battle over ideology (which is highly unlikely), you can start the count-down to another lock-out.

therefore, doesn't it make more sense to develop short-running CBAs and continue to negotiate off of them so that both sides can continue to make a deal that's fair to both sides after both have had an opportunity to live under different economic conditions. imo, both sides are being way too inflexible.

 

[Taranis_24]

Jeri -

There isn't any precedent showing that the NHLPA is willing to work on CBA issues until it expires. NHL would lose any bargaining power if they were to agree to an interim agreement.

 

[A Good Flying Bird*]

Jeri -

There isn't any precedent showing that the NHLPA is willing to work on CBA issues until it expires. NHL would lose any bargaining power if they were to agree to an interim agreement.

This is absolute nonsense.
Last year, DALY AND SASKIN both led negotiating teams that were working on an agreement until Bettman called it off.
Last year, the CBA wasn't expired.

Let's talk facts, alright?

 

[Brent Burns Beard]

what the pa really gets out of this is no give back in salary.

how is keeping what they are leagally entitled to getting something in this negotiation ?

dr

 

[Twine Seeking Missle]

i really wish all of this would stop. i know i only have a few posts but i have been coming to this board for some time now and every time i see a thread such as this one i immediately and stupidly get my hopes up. guys like Ecklund and so on seem to have all this "inside info" which never seems to come true. once again, i do appreciate the optimism and the passion that us fans show who want the game back so dearly. i really want to be optimistic about this but its not an easy thing. i guess i will believe all this stuff when i see it.

 

[txpd]

how is keeping what they are leagally entitled to getting something in this negotiation ?

dr

i am not sure what your problem is, but its the nhlpa offering the salary give back of nearly 25%. i understand that it was more a gimmick than an honest hope for a bargain, but it was their proposal. maybe you should ask bob goodenow your question.

 

[Chileiceman]

They didn't by chance mention the sources did they?
I hope it's not like Bob Kudelski or someone like that expressing what they think just might happen maybe if ....

 

[BLONG7]

why don't the players and owners agree to salvage this season based on the 24% rollback and continue to negotiate on an agreement for the long-term? these two sides appear to be close enough to save at least this season.

further, why are both sides trying to hit a home run for a long-term deal? if the owners get what they want, it won't be long until the players strike. if the players win this battle over ideology (which is highly unlikely), you can start the count-down to another lock-out.

therefore, doesn't it make more sense to develop short-running CBAs and continue to negotiate off of them so that both sides can continue to make a deal that's fair to both sides after both have had an opportunity to live under different economic conditions. imo, both sides are being way too inflexible.

The PA itself wouldn't go for that, they want a 6 year deal, so that by the time year three is reached they have all their rollback back in their wallets...their deal did nothing to fix the system in which caused this fiasco in the first place, but it was a hell of a starting point!

 

[Benji Frank]

If I'm the players and I'm accepting a hard cap, I'd not settle for anything less then somewhere near 45 or 50 mill. The league average last year was 42 mill and several teams still made alot of money & more would have if they were operating in a high 40's cap environment. If the little markets want to play with the big boys, it should be up to them to increase their revenues. Conversely, if the big boys want to keep the little markets, it should be up to them to come up with some decent form of revenue sharing. Force Betman to do his job and get some solid American corporate and media revenue streams going to generate the revenues required to keep the little markets in the game. If the owners can't agree on some form of revenue sharing (which is difficult in today's gate driven NHL) then they should probably move away from the solid cap and entertain a luxury tax system where revenue can easilly be shifted to lower market teams operating within a budget. This could be the revenue stream a Hurricane or Predotor or Penguin franchise requires to get that peace of the puzzle that might put fans in the stands and generate some local media interest..... a couple of more TB Lightning like turnarounds might be the answer to unlocking the national media contracts the league really needs in order to move forward.....