jericholic19 said:
I'm curious to know how certain this CBA will be ratified by the NHLPA. This agreement renders agents much less useful since this CBA dictates how much the players are worth and how much each team can spend. The players will get a percentage of the revenues that's already been negotiated. The player cap that exists @ 20% significantly also limits any need for negotiations. It's hardly an enticing deal for player agents who have significant influence when advising the players. I wouldn't be surprised if these agents encourage their clients to vote against the deal.
Well, the current standard for agent fees is 3 or 3.5% of the value of the contract. 3% of $0 is $0. Agents are losing as much by this lockout as anyone else. Unless they actually believe that voting down this deal would lead to a better deal, they would be completely foolish to advise their players against ratification.
This deal is also made uglier by the entry level cap that prevents star rookies from making as much money as they can get overseas. It would just suck to witness many good young hockey players going overseas. This migration of players to Europe would further dilute the NHL's talent pool as a number of europeans are already considering staying in their homelands. This sucks big time and is another clear example that demonstrates the NHL owners don't necessarily have fans interests at heart!
The ability of any team to compete on an even level is in the best interest of the fans. The argument that "star rookies" are considering Europe is a waste, and an obvious fabrication built by one agent trying to push for a special deal for his client.
Really, other than the claim by his agent that Crosby has an offer in Switzerland, how many other star rookies are being offered deals in Europe right now? I can think of Ovechkin and ...........
This situation gets worse as I think the union is fractured to the point where half the players want to play hockey and support Bob Goodenow at any costs while the others don't feel the same way. If there is an even larger group of players, which we weren't aware of, that are unhappy with the union's executive committee, I wonder if these players would choose to seek decertification the NHLPA. The advantages with such a scenario obviously include no cap restrictions on team payrolls...thus giving the players an opportunity to make much more money. Yet, these guys would also sacrifice a variety of perks that come with being a union member. So now, I wonder if some players are realistically considering this last resort option if the NHL doesn't make some serious concessions.
While I am not certian of the legalities of it, I suspect that lacking a union to collectively bargain, the owners would be free to decide on their own how much they want to cap salaries. You dont want to decertify? Sure! The cap is now $33 million, we will reach our own, internal agreement on how to enforce it, and any player who wants to play can sign at any time.
Also, I believe the players that just want to play are opposed to Goodenow, not supporting him. All reports suggest that BG has nothing to do with the current negotiations.
