Thread: The Official CBA Negotiations/Lockout Super Thread

Jammer and Santiclaws, thanks for the links. The Friedman article was excellent.

Can someone explain a little about what decertification would mean to both sides? I know what it means literally, but what are the expected effects?

Originally Posted by FishMonger

Can someone explain a little about what decertification would mean to both sides? I know what it means literally, but what are the expected effects?

In a word, a cluster****. No union = no collective bargaining. It would almost certainly bring about the end of any hope for the season. Lots of anti-trust litigation. Theoretically, the end of the draft. Owners claiming that the existing player contracts are now void. Etc., etc., etc.

Originally Posted by santiclaws

In a word, a cluster****. No union = no collective bargaining. It would almost certainly bring about the end of any hope for the season. Lots of anti-trust litigation. Theoretically, the end of the draft. Owners claiming that the existing player contracts are now void. Etc., etc., etc.

Actually, it could theoretically mean the end of the NHL.

Originally Posted by Birdman

Actually, it could theoretically mean the end of the NHL.

Yup, and the owners would see the values of their franchises go up in smoke. Decertification really is the nuclear option.

Originally Posted by santiclaws

In a word, a cluster****. No union = no collective bargaining. It would almost certainly bring about the end of any hope for the season. Lots of anti-trust litigation. Theoretically, the end of the draft. Owners claiming that the existing player contracts are now void. Etc., etc., etc.

Or, it could push the owners into making real concessions in an effort to save the season, like it did in the case of the NFL and NBA...

NHLPA decertification: Disbanding union helped end NBA lockout; what about NHL? | Puck Daddy - Yahoo! Sports

Originally Posted by Kubrick

Or, it could push the owners into making real concessions in an effort to save the season, like it did in the case of the NFL and NBA...

NHLPA decertification: Disbanding union helped end NBA lockout; what about NHL? | Puck Daddy - Yahoo! Sports

That is exactly what would happen. Both sides know this. Why the players are dragging their feet on this is anyone's guess. Should have been done a looooooooooooong time ago.

Originally Posted by FishMonger

Can someone explain a little about what decertification would mean to both sides? I know what it means literally, but what are the expected effects?

A lot of what ifs. If the owners cave like in the NFL and NBA, then not much. It's becomes just a temporary disbanding of the union strange as that sounds. AFAIK no owners in any sports have decided to fight the union if they decertify, even though they have better than even chances of winning. That's because a legal fight, if fought till the end, would take years of litigation, so no there would be no hockey for quite awhile. It's illegal to have a lockout if there is no union so the players would fight for their salaries to be made good. Owners would claim the decertification is just a temporary sham to gain leverage and the courts could agree, disallowing and pay or damages. There would be no draft or pension funds, no safety controls...just a blank slate to play under. The owners would claim existing contracts are null and void since they are based on a CBA. It's assumed that if it drags on, 10-15 franchises would have to fold, so those players would only get peanuts on the dollar even if the courts agreed with them, and then they'd be out of work. And no cba so no rules. A team could have any number of players and an owner could pay and simply bench sit the current roster while playing youngsters. Or, with no cap at all, the 6 teams that make all the money could scoop up all the best players while leaving the scraps for the other 10 or so teams that survive. So, a huge mess, for years and years if the owners decide to fight. And the losing side could face triple damages plus court costs. So, if the owners cave early we'll see barely a ripple. If they fight it's the end of the NHL, as least as we have known it.

Isn't it just time for professional sports leagues to start operating as single business entities?