Sotnos
Registered User
This brief article was in the Tampa Tribune a few days ago, thought I'd post it for something different to talk about. Is there some current discussion of pension plans within the NHLPA? I'm not totally sure why this was in the paper exactly, unless the author was interviewing Espo (who's quoted in the article) and the topic came up.
NHL Pension Struggles Tested Players' Resolve
NHL Pension Struggles Tested Players' Resolve
I do like to bring this stuff up every once in a while for the people who pine for the "good old days" when teams were run by "hockey men". The players got treated like cattle, and if a 19 year vet who was relatively well-paid like Phil Esposito is getting a pension of $32k (Canadian) a year, earlier players or guys with fewer years in must be getting peanuts. I'd imagine there's something in the current CBA covering pension plans, since estimates for a few current players are given.When NHL players were forced to work offseason jobs to feed their families, wages were as frozen as the ice they skated on.
And once they stepped off the ice, the brawling really began.
Members of the Original Six franchises faced vengeful behavior and scandal while fighting for postretirement benefits.
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In 1957, the Detroit Red Wings dealt the popular Ted Lindsay to Chicago after the Hall of Fame left wing dared to take an active role in trying to create the initial Players Association.
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In an interview with the Toronto Star six months ago, the 81-year-old Lindsay reflected on the long, hard climb.
"I can't live on my pension … I'm ashamed almost to mention it," he said. "Players today don't need a pension. After they play two years, they should be able to live the rest of their lives in comfort."