CBA Agreement 04--05 Season

[SBarrett39]

As everyone knows the CBA between the players union(NHLPA) and owners expires on September 15, 2004. What is everyone's opinion on the best way to settle the dispute.

-BY EXPIRATION DATE ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2004, THE CBA WILL HAVE BEEN IN EFFECT FOR 10 SEASONS
-DURING THAT TIME, LEAGUE-WIDE REVENUES HAVE GROWN AT AN UNPRECEDENTED RATE—173%
-PLAYER SALARIES HAVE GROWN AT A MUCH GREATER RATE—261%
-AGGREGATE LEAGUE-WIDE LOSS OVER NINE YEARS IS $1.5 BILLION
-75% OF ALL HOCKEY-RELATED REVENUES ARE NOW BEING PAID TO PLAYERS—HIGHEST IN ANY SPORT AND HIGHEST EVER IN HOCKEY
-CANNOT BE SUSTAINED LONG TERM IN THE HOCKEY INDUSTRY—OR IN ANY OTHER INDUSTRY

A salary cap needs to be installed, period. So the changes aren't too dramatic the salary cap should start at something high, say 70 million, and decrease by 3 million or so yearly until it reaches an appropriate number. Think, 15 years ago Lemieux only made $1million, and inflation hasn't risen that much. Nowadays for $1million you'll get an average player. Also, in order to produce revenue with such high payrolls, ticket prices keep rising, hurting the fans. Also, how are the less rich teams going to compete with cities like New York, Colorodo, Philadelphia, etc. The cap will restore the gap and competition.

[jb4725]

It's not the players fault, though. They are getting paid market value, so if Jeremy Jacobs wants to pay Martin Lapointe 5 million, he should. If you can ask for $900 000 as a rookie, and be given, why not? The NHL is like Air Canada, there is too much capacity. The NHL wants to put teams in place where they can't draw, signs tv deals that will not bring any revenue.
It is the reckless owners throwing good money after players that really aren't worth the money. The problem is guys like Leonsis in Washington know nothing about hockey, paying huge salaries to mediocre players, with weak coaching and a 66% full rink with no one watching on TV.
The NHL has way too many problems, and a salary cap is unfair. I know we are not talking about coal miners but hockey players making millions. But all the same, if someone wants to limit YOUR salary, would you go for it. We're seeing this problem with Air Canada now where the CAW doesn't want to take pay cuts for overpaid check-in workers.
What NHL owners need to do is develop self-control. If someone asks for too much in their opinion, then don't pay it. The Rangers have learned that you can't just throw money around, and there are perfectly good examples of teams that don't need salary caps to be successful (San Jose, Calgary, Tampa, Oakland A's, Minnesota Twins, etc)
In conclusion, let the market sort it out.
JB

[bruin]

A 70 MILLION SALARY CAP IS WAY TOO HIGH, DETROIT AND RANGERS HAVE 77 MILLION DALLAS 67 PHILLY 65 ST LOUIS 61 COLORADO 60, NOW FOR LOWER TEAMS NASHVILLE 23 PITT 26
FLORIDA 26 ATLANTA 27 OTTAWA ONLY 39 AND THAT IS US FUNDS AND LOOK AT THE TALENT OTTAWA HAS. SAN JOSE 34 TAMPA 33 VANCOUVER 38 ILSE 43 NJ 48 BOSTON 45 I SAY 40-50 MILLION CAP LEAGUE AVERAGE THIS YEAR IS 44 SO MAYBE 40 CAP.
10 YEARS AGO IT WAS A 10 MILLION AVERAGE 4 YEARS AGO 31 MIL. TEN YEARS AGO PITT WAS TOPS AT 15.2 NOW ONLY 26.6

[SBarrett39]

Yes, it's the owners fault for paying too much, but the NHL needs a salary cap, after decreasing a few million yearly until it hits like 40 million.

""It's not the players fault, though. They are getting paid market value, so if Jeremy Jacobs wants to pay Martin Lapointe 5 million, he should. If you can ask for $900 000 as a rookie, and be given, why not?""

The owners can pay that, but that's why most teams are in the red.

""The problem is guys like Leonsis in Washington know nothing about hockey, paying huge salaries to mediocre players, with weak coaching and a 66% full rink with no one watching on TV.""

Yeah, that is a big problem. It's comparable to an auction, itd be people like him who keep pushing the price up on things.

""What NHL owners need to do is develop self-control. If someone asks for too much in their opinion, then don't pay it. ""

But the problem is the really rich owners will still pay it. The cap has done great with the NFL. Ticket prices will decrease if payrolls decrease. This will boost attendance, revenue, and competition.

[lynn]

"Ticket prices will decrease if payrolls decrease"

wishfull thinking !!! why would they lower prices??? a lower payroll and the same price means more revenue

AHL Has a cap--- and prices for tickets go up almost every season


how about revenue sharing- let the rich boys help pay the poor boys way?

and don't forget that "signing bonuses" don't count towards cap
they could still pay Sakic $10 mill-- $1 salary and $9 Bonus so where's he gonna play with that kind of deal-
Phoenix ?

[SBarrett39]

They should have a bonus limit, too. They're lowering prices in most of the cities where attendance is down. Pittsburgh's ticket prices are plumeting for next season(yeah, the team isn't so good either, yet i have faith in them). Cities like Montreal, New York, Detroit, and the others that always sell out, will keep their prices the same.
The AHL has smaller arenas with some fairly large cities so they sell out. Then theres teams like Bridgeport who can only draw like 1000.
The NHL has a lot of problems, but a cap, signing bonus limit, and lots of other changes(better referees) will solve a lot of problems.

[sawchuk103]

the NHL is addicted and attracted to the corporate dollar.

that is one of reasons why ticket prices are so hight.....

[GrasValley]

I don't care too much about what happens as long as there is a season next year. I'm completely neutral as far as salry cap goes just due to the fact that both sides bring up good points. As long as there are no ridiculous rule changes (goalies not being allowed to play the puck behind the net) then I have no problem. I love one thing: hockey. I just want to be able to enjoy watching hockey next year. I just hope that both sides can get past all of this political B.S. and remember that the fans pay much of their salaries by buying tickets and influencing sponsorship. Hockey is about passion, lockouts are about greed by both parties. I love hockey and just hope that there is indeed an 04-05 season.

[TonyTwist]

Yes, the NHL DOES need a salary cap. I'd say possibly 65-70 million range (keep in mind I'm saying this as a Red Wings fan). In terms of ticket prices....charge as much as people are willing to pay, but get too ridiculous, nobody comes to the game and it will be the franchise's own demise and all my hockey money gets spent between the G.R. Griffins and the Soo Greyhounds.