As most of us know the CBA expires today, Wednesday September 15. With no resolution to the impending labor war in sight I’ve had this thought kicking around my head the past couple of days. Are NHL owners making a grave mistake in signing players other than rookies to NHL contracts?
I realize that if there is no season the players won’t be paid, however, if the CBA expires and the owners can’t be accused of collusion, why sign players?
Forget business as usual. This is business unusual and the owners have known that for the past three years leading into this showdown.
I believe the owners should have avoided signing all UFA’s and RFA’s. Let those players without a deal intact dangle in the wind. The way the owners have gone about their off-season business they are signing players to multi-year deals and establishing value for players that can be used against the owners during the negotiations, whenever those may be. With a multi-year deal a player can sit for a year with the security of knowing when the lockout is over they have a job and a salary to look forward to. Imagine a large pool of players without contracts. You don’t believe that would have put some extra pressure on the NHLPA negotiating team to get to the table and find a resolution to put some money in the bank for these players.
Yeah, Yeah they can go to Europe or form a travel team and play flag-hockey in a Canadian province for a while. But, there will not be enough opening to accommodate all of the players. And, I believe that once the novelty of playing in Europe or barnstorming Canada has worn off players will be singing a different tune to get their NHL sized check back. Plus, think of the luxuries players will miss. Family will be farther away, travel likely will be less then what they are used to and the accommodations & pay/per diem will be less.
Anyway, I believe the owners have made a tactical error over the last couple of weeks by signing their players. The extra work in negotiating contracts, once the CBA is resolved, would have been worth the effort to bring about the required economic change to the NHL.
List of Free Agent signings:
http://nhl.com/lineups/player/freesign04.html
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Are Owners Making a Mistake?
Started by Ducked Up, Sep 15 2004 12:39 AM
9 replies to this topic
#2
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Posted 15 September 2004 - 04:06 AM
In this business of negotiations and everything else around it has been mistake after mistake... 
#3
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Posted 15 September 2004 - 01:50 PM
Yes, I agree.....
Cute baby!
Cute baby!
#4
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Posted 15 September 2004 - 09:52 PM
Terrible mistake... 
And the fans have to pay for it!
And the fans have to pay for it!
#5
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Posted 15 September 2004 - 10:26 PM
QUOTE (Francaise @ Sep 15 2004, 02:50 PM)
That Ahti does have one cute baby....(that is what you were talking about? Right?) That is now his oldest, he has another one about that age.I just love them cool shades....
#6
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Posted 16 September 2004 - 01:51 AM
I think they have all made a massive mistake. Everyone is to blame for this, the owners got themselves in this mess by giving these players way, way too much money and the players are being selfish. There is no compromise and it annoys me. Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Sorry had to get that out of my system 
I hope you guys will check out the international board throughout the lockout as although this is a sad thing for the NHL there is other hockey going on (please don't all throw stuff at me ) and you guys are more than welcome to join in with our discussions of games from Britain, Sweden, Germany, Finland and Austraila.
The NHL may be on hold for a bit but hey at least we've got each other and we can all find some hockey (in different leagues or countries) to get our fix.
Sorry had to get that out of my system I hope you guys will check out the international board throughout the lockout as although this is a sad thing for the NHL there is other hockey going on (please don't all throw stuff at me
) and you guys are more than welcome to join in with our discussions of games from Britain, Sweden, Germany, Finland and Austraila.The NHL may be on hold for a bit but hey at least we've got each other and we can all find some hockey (in different leagues or countries) to get our fix.
#7
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Posted 16 September 2004 - 02:05 AM
QUOTE (Barmy Army @ Sep 16 2004, 02:51 AM)
I think they have all made a massive mistake. Everyone is to blame for this, the owners got themselves in this mess by giving these players way, way too much money and the players are being selfish. There is no compromise and it annoys me. Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Sorry had to get that out of my system
Sorry had to get that out of my system It is both sides fault Barmy. As the old saying goes, it takes two to tango. I just wish more people would see it that way. Why so many blame just the players is beyond me.
#8
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Posted 16 September 2004 - 02:07 AM
Yeah both sides are just as bad as each other................
#9
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Posted 16 September 2004 - 03:43 PM
#10
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Posted 16 September 2004 - 03:45 PM
Short and sweet there A-holes!
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