Is Brian Gionta proof that there should be some job security for older players in the NHL?

[maxbme]

Lol at all of the countless Bruins’ fans that said he wouldn’t play and he was only going to be a 13/14th forward for them.

Let me guess, now all of those people will deny saying that??

No. He's played 2 games before the bruins start playing every other day for the rest of the season. He'll still be playing behind bergeron, heinen, wingels, the fourth line and maybe Ryan donato or Trent Frederic.

 

[Atas2000]

Then, you have a list of 31 players right?

I'm sure after you produce this list, you'll also have a compelling case that all 31 should be in the NHL.

And if you have a list of 31 players, you can also re-examine why this is an issue to begin with

Why does it have to be 31? Why does it have to be 38? You are just trying to kill an argument.

There are more than enough of 35+ players. I am particularily will not make a list for you because of your approach, but there are easily 15+. Not every team needs to have them.

OP has the obvious problem of the battle of the extremes. There are good older players? Let's more or less force teams to have them. Not fair, not going to work.

The situation is still there. The cap(I hate) is affecting the league just as expected. It makes it boring for me. Fight all you want, it is what it is to me. And the cap forces older players out in favour of younger guys many of which aren't any good. They're just cheap.

The league is still no charity organization for senior citizens.

 

[Uncle Scrooge]

So you're telling me i could still play in the NHL someday?

Maybe someone signs me when im 38. Im a great locker room guy.

 

[crobro]

What about players over the age of 38 being cap exempt.?

 

[Cats2TheCup]

Most people were shocked when the Bruins signed 39 year old Brian Gionta to a contract just a few Days ago. Some even tried to ridicule the Bruins move. But after 2 games Gionta has put up 3 Points, showing everybody that he wasn't done and still belongs in the NHL.

But that's the whole problem. Brian Gionta still wanted to play hockey in the NHL this season, but nobody would give him a contract before the season started. And it's not like Gionta was done either as he managed to put up 35 Points last season. Well at least Gionta managed to get a "lucky break" and got one last chance to play hockey in the NHL. But everybody isn't so lucky. Jarome Iginla wanted to play this season too, but nobody would sign him. Same thing with Shane Doan.

This makes me think that the NHL is in need of a way to protect older players job opportunities, so that teams don't replace them with young talentless plugs who'll never end up as regular NHL:ers anyway, just to save a few bucks. So having a system were every NHL team must employ atleast 1 player over the age of say 38 or 39, might be a good way for useful older players to still find a job in the NHL, if they want to play. This way the superstars have a way to add to their legacies without a risk of getting kicked out of the League before they're actually done. And with hockey getting less physical and training and neutrition taking big steps forward, there will be plenty of 38+ year old players who could still be impactful NHL players.

I say keep political correctness out of sports and let the best man win. It is after all a COMPETITIVE sport.

 

[Beville]

I think its a form of discrimination to be forced to sign a player because of his age when there is no contract or interest between team and player

And further to that, for all we know Team X may have offered him a contract but he turned it for whatever reason...

 

[jetsforever]

I don't think you can REQUIRE teams to have players of a certain age. But if you truly wanted to do something like you propose. You could incentivice teams by making a player of a certain age or above CAP exempt (up to a million dollars). Therefore, a team could sign a veteran player for 1mil and not have it count towards the CAP. The roster limit would still prevent teams from completely loading up with CAP free vets.

Only Boston (Chara) would benefit from this

 

[M C D A V I D]

I didn't say 3. I said 31.

>Ask for a list of 31 players
>Given 3 names: "See finding 31 isn't hard"

 

[terrible dee]

This is typical over legislative "make enough rules and everything will be perfect" Canadian thinking

NOTHING is perfect, and you can't make laws to make everything in life "fair"

 

[joujou]

Name me a player 38+ who would make it on the Penguins, because I can't think of one. This is a peak Mulletman idea.

Chara

 

[Bruin4Life]

It's the forum mentality. It follows suit with the " if your not putting up 50 points in your rookie career your a busy that needs a reclamation trade"

 

[Newsworthy]

IMO the NHL should expand the roster to allow 2-3 more players.
Not sure if the Players Association would be on board but it would create more jobs.
In fact I think this should be done in every professional sport. This case we wouldn't have to worry as much about injury replacements either. However those extra players shouldn't have to just sit in the press box.

 

[Rodgerwilco]

1. That idea is absolutely insane.
2. Two games coming in fresh on a surging team isn't enough to say he "still has it"
3. If 31 GM's don't think the salary an older player is requesting is worth it, or don't have a place for them to fit into the system then they don't get a contract, just like any other player.


4. I just realized this is a Mulletman thread after typing 1-3......

 

[Blue Shakehead]

Poor Brian Gionta, only made $51M in his career as a mostly run-of-the mill top 6 player. The league should have a strict rule to guarantee jobs to the oldtimers who can't adjust to life after the NHL or give up their seats on the private jets so that the younger, faster prospects who played junior for free and make $50k/year in the AHL can continue humping it out on the team bus.

Nobody ever told Gionta or Iginla they couldn't play hockey anymore. They are not entitled to anything. If they want to play hockey, they can try out minor pro or rec hockey like everyone else.

 

[george14]

If a team doesn't want to sign you, they don't have to. Whether you're Brian Gionta or Colin Kaepernick.


/thread

 

[Flukeshot]

What about players over the age of 38 being cap exempt.?

Well, that would be a realistic way to do it without forcing teams to have the player on the team.

Not a problem that actually needs to be solved, but that would solve it.

 

[sabrebuild]

Pretty sure Gionta didn’t sign earlier because he wanted to go to the Olympics... so maybe this thread is based on a silly premise.

 

[ZZamboni]

Pretty sure Gionta didn’t sign earlier because he wanted to go to the Olympics... so maybe this thread is based on a silly premise.

In fact that's exactly what he said to (i believe) Liam McHugh in a in studio interview. That two teams expressed interest earlier in the season, but he wanted to wait to see if he was selected to go to the Olympics. He was able to go, and then sign with a team afterwards.
Win/Win for Gionta.

 

[DaJackal]

There is a rule in mathematics (optimization) that goes like this:

Addition of constraints will never help to produce a better solution.

If no GM wants to sign 40yo vets, then it is their time to retire. If that kind of signings would make the team better, there is no GM that would refuse to do those.

 

[iginlafan77]

Taking 38 and older as our cutoff, these NHL players from this year have at least some argument of being NHL regulars:
Joe Thornton
Patrick marleau
Chris Kunitz
Zdeno Chara
Matt Cullen
Jason Chimera
Jaromir Jagr
Roberto Luongo
No player over this age has played anything close to a full AHL season, and no Canadian or American over this age has played in the KHL.

No one from the Canadian Olympic team is 38.
No Canadian 38 or older played at the Spengler cup or any other Canadian pre-Olympic tournament.

Gionta is the only one from the American Olympic team.

Assuming all these players are NHL caliber, which is a stretch for some, we’re 20+ players short.