eye said:
Call me silly but I happen to believe that if owners and GM's took a stand right after the Lightning won the cup and refused to sign any players until a new agreement was reached and also played hardball with players on 2 ways wanting to play in the AHL that we might already have an agreement in place. All these concessions and allowing players to play only prolongs the issue. If I'm president of Ford and my employees want a raise right before are CBA is ratified, they don't get one. I also don't allow them or encourage them to work elsewhere while we are in negotiations. It's called establishing leveridge. Now NHL owners are rubbing off on AHL owners with this rediculous Chris Chelios signing in Chicago. No wonder Goodenow is so sure he will get his way eventually. The owners still don't get it. At least not collectively.
Do you think the owner of the Chicago Wolves doesn't see a good opportunity? Will he ever have a chance to put a Chris Chelios in front of his fans again??
If they didn't want them to work elsewhere during negotiations, why not just leave the doors open and let them report to work without a collective agreement? They locked the doors!!!! They can't now turn around and tell Chris Chelios and all his playmates to have a seat till they come to an agreement!!!
A guy like Forsberg or Morozov is not signed ... they've both apparently (from memory) signed contracts that are not lockout protected ... ie -> they aren't coming back this year regardless. The Avs have lost their best player for at least a season no matter what happens. I'm assuming teams wanted to avoid that situation. Also, what happens if the owners do settle for less?? Teams like the Pens, Wild, Hawks, & Coyotes suddenly have some pretty nice contracts on their hands. Sure, teams like the Leafs made some questionable moves, but Niewy & Roberts are only signed for a season. That's not a big risk. 2/13ths of their pay is already pretty much out the window with October cancelled.
I do not think several unsigned players would convince the players to have accepted a cap and be playing by now as you suggest. In fact I think the other way. Come Oct. 15th and the day they're to see the 1st of their 13 paycheques, guys like Madden, Conroy, Thonrton, Gonchar, etc. etc. are going to look at their bank account and go ... "Whoa, I was supposed to have US$ 235,658.71 after taxes direct deposited in my chequing account today. Geezus I hope Bob & Gary butt heads and put somehting together quick!!! Hopefully October 31st cheque comes!!!"
As for signing kids to 2-ways, big whoop. They're making a fraction in the AHL or juniors as to NHL, & they're being developed the way management envisions. Plus, as Vlad mentions, they're tied up now with no chance of reentering the draft.... I could be wrong, but I doubt there'll be huge adjustments to the rookie salary structure anyway ... maybe a little more tightening of bonus clauses, but probably not to the point where an owner would have wished he'd backed off......