Thread: The Official CBA Negotiations/Lockout Super Thread

The NHL was profitable last year.
The problem is that the top 6-10 teams made all the money. There are 6-10 teams that are structurally unprofitable. They can't exist without subsidy from either the high revenue teams or the players. Until that imbalance is corrected there won't be labor peace. The options are increased revenue sharing, moving franchises, an MLB dual tier system, or player pay cuts. So far it's all been on the players backs. Until this changes, the players shouldn't agree to any deal.

Why not peg the salary cap floor to either $??M or a % of team revenue? (which ever is lower)
Allow the poor to pay less, but guarantee that total player salaries meet the 50-55% revenue mark.
The NHL proposal included a bit of this when it allowed the trading of cap space (it wasn't stated as such, but it was this in effect)
Eventually, those lower revenue franchises will either find a stable position (a la nashville) or move to higher revenue area (atlanta, phx)

Yep folks. All 18 Coyotes fans will flood back once the lockout is over.

Originally Posted by go

Exactly. Why did Bettman and the owners storm out?

For bargaining position. And public support. Anything short of "you got a deal" would have been met the same way.
lol at bettman steaming mad. he finally made a reasonable opening offer and is shocked that the players didn't snap accept?

Originally Posted by Birdman

Fehr's trying to play chicken with a guy who has demonstrated in the past that he's willing to go with the Nuclear Option.

And Fehr is a shrinking violet with no reputation of lost time?

Originally Posted by santiclaws

They came back in droves after a season-long lockout. They'll come back after a short lockout this time, too.

Originally Posted by Birdman

Um, did you see what happened the last time?

I might not, but once the dust settles, regardless of the outcome and duration, there will be throngs of fans that welcome the game back with open arms.

I simply disagree. These things have a compounding effect. At the very least, I think it will take several years to get back to where they were, should there be a season-long lockout.

With respect to if they actually do get it signed soon... Hell, I'm not going to spend the money I did last year, out of spite. I can't imagine what a casual fan will forego.

Originally Posted by kingsfan32

No chance of a new season until maybe late December/early January.

That's probably what will happen now, but this could EASILY be done before then. Bettman said a few days ago that this wasn't a take it or leave it offer, and that they have about a week to get the deal done to start the season in early November. If only they would get back to the table, I think they would bridge the gap quickly.

Originally Posted by aaron

The NHL was profitable last year. The problem is that the top 6-10 teams made all the money.

Originally Posted by FishMonger

I simply disagree. These things have a compounding effect. At the very least, I think it will take several years to get back to where they were, should there be a season-long lockout.

I think both of the comments are spot on. Majority of the teams that were profitable during the last CBA were the Canadian teams. To have a few teams supporting many other teams is just setting up failure. Canadian fans will be back after a lockout. American fans will not be back after the lockout, mainly because there were very few to begin with.

I think the players need their own revenue sharing too. All the amount due them in escrow at season's end needs to go to the lowest paid 40% of poorer players, to balance out the salaries. Same with endorsements... league gets 50%, and 50% of what's left should go to the poor disadvantaged players. :-)

Originally Posted by Birdman

They want parody, not the Rangers(Yankees) and Maple Leafs(Red Sox) playing in the World Series every year.

2012 will mark the ninth time in the last eleven seasons tha the Yankees WON'T be in the World Series. Just thought I'd point that out so that there's SOME good news.

I should stop reading about the lockout.

My anger about it is not going away.