for those who don't know about it, this is the solution TSN is proposing to the NHL and NHLPA. They claim to have had everything from players and players agents to owners to even economists. I must say, out of all the stuff I have heard from everyone on messages boards all throughout the internet, this is the only one I can see both sides coming into some agreement with.
This is an excellent throw at trying to get this lockout resolved. I liked nearly every idea, and for every idea i didn't like, they balanced it out with one that helped out the other side.
Two thumbs up TSN and get this damn lockout fixed!!!
I don't see players accepting the total proposed package in any way. The only thing they are gaining beyond what the current system already holds is a lowering of the UFA age by 1 to 3 years (31 going to 28-30) and gaining binding arbitration (accept it applies to both sides so it is a bit of a win-lose).
In exchange, they must agree to a hard cap on the individual salary (not team payroll), a luxury tax, reduction of a "qualifying offer" from 100-110% of the contract to 75% of the contract, and a drastic reduction in the entry level contracts.
Basically, it is everything the owners are willing to give up and everything that is being asked from the players. I like the fact that they provide actually numbers (instead of just conjecturing like other publications), but it is still something the players, as they currently stand, would not agree on.
__________________
Saxon Sports Information and Research
Last edited by David A. Rainer: 10-05-2004 at 01:08 AM.
I found it to be a great read and liked alot of what I saw but I have to say I agree with DeathFromAbove on this one. Good to see that a TSN is actually trying to resolve this thing though, becuase I havent heard a damn thing from the players or owners side since it started.
one thing you have to remember is that the Players do, in fact, admit the system does NOT work. They are wiling to make concessions (as seen by their proposals), so the fight is over how MUCH concessions, not differeent it is to the old system. the owners want a hard cap, players don't, but are willing to drop entry level contracts, have 5% rollback, and implement a luxury tax (if i can remember their porposal correctly). this adds one cap on players but allows them to have lower UFA. Also, another advantage is for owners to reach the distribution they have to have a $30 mil salary, to ensure there is money flowing into the players.
owners, on the otehr hand, will be able to cap their star players, meaning it gives every one in the league an equal opportunity shot at signing their stars so that they don't always lose them to the big market clubs. and, to me, perhaps their greatest advantage si being able to offer a QO for 75% and also being able to send the player through arbitration. As far as I see it, this is the most brilliant idea as they get to really slow the increase of salary. But of course, at the cost of their team hardcap that they so wanted and are also forced to spend $30 mil in order to qualify for the luxury tax distribution.
Once again to reiterate, the players KNOW the system has to change. So to compare it to teh old system and how mcuh they concede is incorrect, it is much mroe accurate to compare what the owners want as compared to what the players are willing to give up. I think this is a very well thought out middle ground that identified with all the problems of the old system and attempts to solve it.
that is ********. u konw wat, screw the nhl and nhlpa even more, this is just ridiculous. these guys havne't even tried ot negotiate based ont he tsn framework. why havne't these guys gotten a meeting going? is this not a new idea to talk about?? are these guys there to win the battle or to fix the game?
the more i hear,t he more i hate botht he league and the players.
