Egil
Registered User
Both of the the first set of proposals, were, IMHO, designed to be "negotiated off". They were not designed to be taken, but to have counter offers returned on them.
Now, when are the players going to offer TRUE modifications to the current system (which must involve ways for RFA's to be signed for significantly less than the previous year, if their perfomance dictates it)? The NHLPA needs to put in some system that allows a team to tender a 50% QO to a player. The new system needs to allow an onwer to take a player to arbitration unlimited times, not just once. I eagerly await the players making this offer, if they are truly interested in keeping the current system. Throwing in an CBA exit clause or 10% salary rollback if player costs return above say 60% would also help. But WHERE IS THIS SORT OF PROPOSAL FROM THE PLAYERS?
Now, when are the owners going to offer a true offer on a cap system. Guaranteed the owners are willing to completely illiminate the rollback, and phase in a cap over 3-4 years to their 55-56% salary level (judging from Bettmans last press conference, the owners would take the 56.6% level that the players would roll back too). THe owners would also need to reduce the UFA age further (to say 27-28), again phased in over 3-4 years at 1 year per annum. They should put arbitration back in, have some sort of mechanism to allow teams a minor cap overage for one season based on arbtration awards and the like. But, basically, where is the owners offer that bribes the players by removing their 24% rollback? This is a EXCELLENT tool to get the players thinking your way (they are willing to let us keep making top dollar for now)? But, WHERE IS THIS SORT OF PROPOSAL FROM THE OWNERS?
Now, when are the players going to offer TRUE modifications to the current system (which must involve ways for RFA's to be signed for significantly less than the previous year, if their perfomance dictates it)? The NHLPA needs to put in some system that allows a team to tender a 50% QO to a player. The new system needs to allow an onwer to take a player to arbitration unlimited times, not just once. I eagerly await the players making this offer, if they are truly interested in keeping the current system. Throwing in an CBA exit clause or 10% salary rollback if player costs return above say 60% would also help. But WHERE IS THIS SORT OF PROPOSAL FROM THE PLAYERS?
Now, when are the owners going to offer a true offer on a cap system. Guaranteed the owners are willing to completely illiminate the rollback, and phase in a cap over 3-4 years to their 55-56% salary level (judging from Bettmans last press conference, the owners would take the 56.6% level that the players would roll back too). THe owners would also need to reduce the UFA age further (to say 27-28), again phased in over 3-4 years at 1 year per annum. They should put arbitration back in, have some sort of mechanism to allow teams a minor cap overage for one season based on arbtration awards and the like. But, basically, where is the owners offer that bribes the players by removing their 24% rollback? This is a EXCELLENT tool to get the players thinking your way (they are willing to let us keep making top dollar for now)? But, WHERE IS THIS SORT OF PROPOSAL FROM THE OWNERS?