Lockout Postmortem

[Stretch Factor]

Rumor had it and AP reported that the CBJ were one of the so-called hard liners in this lockout.

If that's the case, what did we get for missing half the season?

Looking through the new CBA details, it doesn't appear we got very much that will help us. Looks more like the big spending owners got some protection from themselves.

Salary Cap- Doesn't help the CBJ

The 2012-13 season will be a transition year — the upper level is set at $60 million with teams allowed to spend up to $70.2 million. In year two, the cap will move to $64.3 million (the NHL met the NHLPA’s request on that figure, as the league wanted it at $60 million.)

Should be noted the salary floor for both 2012-13 and 2013-14 is $44 million.

Contract Length/Variance- Might help the CBJ slightly

Term limit is set at seven years, eight if a player is resigning with his own team. Maximum salary variance is 35 percent and the final year cannot vary more than 50 per cent from the highest year.

Draft Lottery- Likely hurts the CBJ (unless LA and NY fail to make playoffs)

All 14 non-playoff teams will get a shot a the first overall selection. Under the NHL’s previous format, only the bottom four teams (26th through 30th place) were eligible to receive the No. 1 pick, and teams were only able move up a maximum of four spots and down a maximum of one spot.

The new format is in line with the NBA Draft Lottery, which can lead to some wild results, like in 1993 — that year, the Orlando Magic won the No. 1 pick in the draft despite finishing the 1992 season with a 41-41 record and holding just a 1.52 percent chance of winning the lottery.

Supplemental Discipline-Might help The Wiz

Decisions will still be handled by Brendan Shanahan, but there’s a new wrinkle to the appeal process. Appeals will first go through NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and, for suspensions of six games or more, a neutral third party will get involved.

Miscellaneous

– The start of free agency will remain on July 1. The NHL had hoped to push it to July 10, but capitulated to the players’ desire to keep it at the start of the month.

– Revenue sharing among clubs will increase to $200 million. There’s also a NHLPA-initiated growth fund of $60 million. Might help the CBJ slightly, but yet TBD

– Olympic participation will be dealt with outside of the new agreement, and a joint league-player committee (possibly the NHL-NHLPA International Committee) will likely handle the decision-making.

– Teams will reportedly receive two amnesty-style buyouts that can be used over the next two offseasons. Doesn't matter to the CBJ

– Minimum player salaries will begin at 2011-12′s rate of $525K. The Canadian Press’ Chris Johnston reports that they’ll top off at $750K in the seasons nine and 10

[ClevelandJacketFan]

Revenue sharing and hopefully, realignment should have been the only issues for the Jackets.

[leesmith]

The salary cap is a BIG deal for the CBJ. $64.3 is better than $70 and $60 is even better still.

[Paisano]

Originally Posted by ClevelandJacketFan

Revenue sharing and hopefully, realignment should have been the only issues for the Jackets.

Speaking of that realignment, it makes no sense why the Winnipeg situation wasn't addressed at least temporarily for this season. With all games within conferences, that means every road game they play will be out of their time zone. Columbus and Detroit will also be penalized by playing the majority of their roadies with late starts. A simple swap or a 16-14 'test' could have made life easier for players and fans alike. Too complicated? Maybe, but no more than some of the other BS they argued over.