NHL Will Lock Out Players on September 15 if No Deal

[EmpireWF]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/story/2012-08-09/nhl-labor-talks/56916770/1

NEW YORK – Commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed to the media Thursday that the NHL will lock out players if there is no new collective bargaining agreement in place when the old one expires on Sept. 15.

Bettman told that fact to the NHL Players' Association across the bargaining table Thursday, although he apparently has been telling that to the NHLPA for months.

The league is seeking major changes in the current CBA, including reducing the players' share of revenue from 57% to 46%. With changes to the definition of hockey-related revenues, the percentage would drop to 43%.

The owners' initial proposal would also increase the number of years that a player plays under his entry-level contract (from three years to up to five years) and the length of time before a player hits unrestricted free agency (from seven years to 10). It would also eliminate salary arbitration.

NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr, who returned to negotiations after meeting with European players in Barcelona, is expected to make a counter-proposal on Tuesday in Toronto.

Fehr said there was a "meaningful gulf" between the sides.

"The most important thing from our standpoint is that essentially all of the revenue-sharing payments made by individual teams, they get back and then some in reduced players salaries," he told reporters.

If there is a lockout, it would be the third since Bettman became commissioner in 1993. The 1994-95 season was shortened to 48 games and the 2004-05 season was canceled. Players accepted a salary cap in 2005.

 

[Ravin]

This is why you see everyone signing their first round draft pick to an entry level contract. It is insane how many players are signing with teams, when you know maybe 3 of them will actually make the NHL.

I really think a lockout is coming. They have a month to close the gap and I just don't see them taking a revenue cut like that. I'm not going to call Bettman an idiot (even though we all know he is) but if this lockout happens, I think it is time to move along with someone else, because clearly this isn't working with three lockouts in his time as leader.

I am not much of a fan either of the 5 year entry level and 10 year RFA. Players will basically be RFA till they are 29-30 years old, which is way to old.

 

[leaffan]

I like how the players are really stalling negotiations after the owners were crying foul and want more money.

Apparantly most of the agreement is in place but things like revenue sharing, players salaries ect are left.

 

[killgod]

What's the league's justification to turn the table on revenue sharing? A 14% swing is a ton of money when you're talking about all the revenue an entire pro sporting league generates.

 

[leaffan]

What's the league's justification to turn the table on revenue sharing? A 14% swing is a ton of money when you're talking about all the revenue an entire pro sporting league generates.

Apparantly teams like Colorado and Phoenix are in really bad states right now (10mil loss last year) and want to expand tv revenue sharing across the board and almost be like the NFL.

Tie that in with New Jersey being 20mil short right now on their loan and other teams like Columbus cheating their way into this years revenue sharing the league wants some sort of stability for those teams.

 

[killgod]

Makes sense to me.

The players have any reason other than personal gain to say no? If teams can't afford to operate, they lose jerbs.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

This is why you see everyone signing their first round draft pick to an entry level contract. It is insane how many players are signing with teams, when you know maybe 3 of them will actually make the NHL.

I really think a lockout is coming. They have a month to close the gap and I just don't see them taking a revenue cut like that. I'm not going to call Bettman an idiot (even though we all know he is) but if this lockout happens, I think it is time to move along with someone else, because clearly this isn't working with three lockouts in his time as leader.

I am not much of a fan either of the 5 year entry level and 10 year RFA. Players will basically be RFA till they are 29-30 years old, which is way to old.

The players won't take that much of a cut and then have FA expanded on them like that. We're going back to before the 2005 lockout with that.

 

[leaffan]

Makes sense to me.

The players have any reason other than personal gain to say no? If teams can't afford to operate, they lose jerbs.

Owners want a large % of what the players are making right now which would require a roll back on salaries. I think one of the examples of how crazy the NHLs proposal was a few months ago was Crosby's current contract would go from 8.7mil a year back to something like 6.5mil a year.

Revenue sharing is the biggest thing on the table it seems. Teams like the Leafs, Rangers and Canadiens are tired of forking over tons of tv contract money to other teams and basically supporting the league and the only reason they have to do it is because their popular. With the salary cap in place any advantage being a big money club is evened out and while they can't spend money on players anymore they have to also send money to the poorer clubs so they can spend money. It's kind of a brutal system for the rich.

 

[killgod]

Owners want a large % of what the players are making right now which would require a roll back on salaries. I think one of the examples of how crazy the NHLs proposal was a few months ago was Crosby's current contract would go from 8.7mil a year back to something like 6.5mil a year.

Revenue sharing is the biggest thing on the table it seems. Teams like the Leafs, Rangers and Canadiens are tired of forking over tons of tv contract money to other teams and basically supporting the league and the only reason they have to do it is because their popular. With the salary cap in place any advantage being a big money club is evened out and while they can't spend money on players anymore they have to also send money to the poorer clubs so they can spend money. It's kind of a brutal system for the rich.

But don't you agree the way salaries seem to be jumping right now is a bit much? Too many run of the mill players getting paid 3-5M. Then again, that's on the ownership letting that happen.

Without revenue sharing, clubs would fold. While I get why the rich teams don't like the socialist nature of the system, it's what's best for the whole league. Regardless of the market, losing clubs are not going to draw unless it's a hot market like the ones you listed, but even then MTL/NYR fans turn away. Hockey doesn't have enough of a draw across America to let the losers just deal with it on their own.

Hasn't the cap increase kind of resolved that issue though? I can't imagine more than 10 NHL clubs can lay down 70M and not expect to take a loss. They can't resort to a MLB model where a team like Toronto can spend 100+M. Hockey support just isn't there for it, look at Basketball which is slightly more popular in support, retraction is definitely coming because of a no cap system.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Hockey fans, meet your new worst enemy:

Donald Fehr is a fucking cunt.

 

[wr50l]

Bad, bad time for everyone if the players are locked out.

Why now? With improved TV coverage in US and Europe, an annual Winter Classic event which is immensely successful, a jolt of anticipation in a big non-traditional market in LA, surely the amount of long-term damage the owners could be doing to their wallets should outweigh the short term.

It really fucking annoys me that old, white dudes are always trying to get more than their worth out of sports, athletes and fans. The players play, the fans pay, and some cunt buys the history of a club borne out of someone else's work and wants the majority of the income.

 

[leaffan]

But don't you agree the way salaries seem to be jumping right now is a bit much? Too many run of the mill players getting paid 3-5M. Then again, that's on the ownership letting that happen.

Without revenue sharing, clubs would fold. While I get why the rich teams don't like the socialist nature of the system, it's what's best for the whole league. Regardless of the market, losing clubs are not going to draw unless it's a hot market like the ones you listed, but even then MTL/NYR fans turn away. Hockey doesn't have enough of a draw across America to let the losers just deal with it on their own.

Hasn't the cap increase kind of resolved that issue though? I can't imagine more than 10 NHL clubs can lay down 70M and not expect to take a loss. They can't resort to a MLB model where a team like Toronto can spend 100+M. Hockey support just isn't there for it, look at Basketball which is slightly more popular in support, retraction is definitely coming because of a no cap system.

I like the cap and I would agree that some of those salaries guys got in free agency are just rediculous. I can't side with the owners either when you see the absolute bullshit contracts that philly puts out then you see the owner Ed Snider leading the charge to reduce players salaries.

The cap increase has caused issues as its the floor that fucked them.

 

[Ravin]

Bad, bad time for everyone if the players are locked out.

Why now? With improved TV coverage in US and Europe, an annual Winter Classic event which is immensely successful, a jolt of anticipation in a big non-traditional market in LA, surely the amount of long-term damage the owners could be doing to their wallets should outweigh the short term.

It really fucking annoys me that old, white dudes are always trying to get more than their worth out of sports, athletes and fans. The players play, the fans pay, and some cunt buys the history of a club borne out of someone else's work and wants the majority of the income.

This is why this CBA shit should have been talked about months ago, well before the end of the season. You just signed a big deal with a national US network who put every single playoff game on TV, and you now wan to say "oh, wait a year and come back next time around, we will be good to go." All those fans you gained during the playoffs will just go back to what sports are already on. If hockey wants to make a charge forward, they need this to get solved ASAP.

Plus also, we don't need to see poker get a second life like it did last time when hockey was out.

 

[JeremyHight]

If this lockout actually extends to the regular season, Bettman should be fired... out of a cannon. Fucking idiot, especially after that awful joke of an offer initially made by the owners.

 

[leaffan]

The PA said yestarday that if a lock out were to happen there have been ongoing discussions with the KHL and russian officials to have some NHL vs KHL all star games in different countries and such.

Seems like a tactic from the PA to fire back at the NHL.

The players counter offer comes on tuesday and so begins the fun.

Dunno if you americans can view this or not:

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2012...tm_content=PTS: NHL work stoppage alternative

If not here's a quick recap:

- KHL vs NHL allstars. aka shot at bettman with the PA dealing with russians lol.

- Talk about how the PA has been stalling to counter propose and bettman is getting annoyed.

- PA received 76,000 page financial report from the league two weeks ago. Apparantly the Rangers lost money last year (Richards bonus and MSG renovation part of the problem)

- Winter classic is part of the revenue the NHL makes. League buys the game from the team (so this year the NHL will pay the red wings some amount of money for it) and the league will make all the revenue for it. So the sponsership and tv money. Team and players don't get any of it outside of their normal pay.

 

[leaffan]

If this lockout actually extends to the regular season, Bettman should be fired... out of a cannon. Fucking idiot, especially after that awful joke of an offer initially made by the owners.

Bettman's devotion to things like putting more teams in the south is really what pisses me off about him. Things like teams in San Jose and Dallas (well for the most part there) worked really well but Florida, Tampa, Phoenix and on and on need to either be moved or solutions figured out instead of just letting them ride in the red more and more. He's just unwilling to admit his mistakes it seems.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

Bettman's devotion to things like putting more teams in the south is really what pisses me off about him. Things like teams in San Jose and Dallas (well for the most part there) worked really well but Florida, Tampa, Phoenix and on and on need to either be moved or solutions figured out instead of just letting them ride in the red more and more. He's just unwilling to admit his mistakes it seems.

The fact that he still wants southern expansion is ridiculous. I would rather put a second team in a market that would support two instead of going south again.

 

[leaffan]

Bettmans quick stats: Last 20 years. 4 Work stoppages.


Killgod would be banned from VSN if that happened here :shifty:

 

[killgod]

Bettmans quick stats: Last 20 years. 4 Work stoppages.


Killgod would be banned from VSN if that happened here :shifty:

The owners hire the commish, clearly they don't give a fuck.

 

[leaffan]

The players proposal goes in today.