hairylikebear
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How are they deceiving the players? I'm just a fan but I know
1. Individual player contracts are subject to the terms of the existing CBA and subject to change in future negotiated CBA's.
2. Regardless of the salary specified in a player's contract, the monies paid out is directly correlated to revenues earn with players receiving no more than their entitled percentage - which is where escrow comes into play.
2. Owners signed players this off season using the CBA available in order to improve their team knowing that the next CBA could be different. Players signed contracts this off season under the CBA available knowing that the next CBA could be different.
If I can understand all of these things as a fan, how can the players not understand these things when they pay lawyers and agents to explain it to them and help negotiate on their behalf? If that's the case, the players shouldn't have any existing contracts honoured in full because I don't think it sends a good message to society when you reward stupidity, lol.
I understand the process too, or at least I think I do, but I also understand that the process is confusing and it's possible for a reasonable person, whether hockey player, agent, or lawyer, to make a mistake. I believe the terms of these contracts should be simpler to prevent misunderstandings of this scale. It's a profitable but unhealthy way to do business.