The NHL Lockout

[Guest Rrrsh]

Ah, the NHL has as much FA's as eveyone else. Thats more of comment on all NA pro sports, not just the NHL.

[EVIL~! alkeiper]

I actually have a radical idea.  EXPAND free agency.  The increase in available players would drag down player salaries.  And the players' union would have a much harder time fighting it.

A good reason why there is a decreased connection between fans and players is because they come and go far more often in the post-free agency era. This does nothing but decrease the connection further. You might as well start selling the fans jerseys with velcro letters and numbers so they don't have to waste their money on a new player's jersey every 2 years.

That's actually not true. If you look at pro sports pre-Free Agency, you'll see just as many players switching teams as you do now. The difference was that the team made the decision, instead of the player. Players like Musial, Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle, etc. have always been the exception, not the rule.

[EVIL~! alkeiper]

Ah, the NHL has as much FA's as eveyone else. Thats more of comment on all NA pro sports, not just the NHL.

There are subtle differences. The NBA has restricted free agency, where the team has the option to match the contract. The NBA also lets players enter free agency far earlier into their professional careers. Each sport has their own little nuances.

[Guest Rrrsh]

I get that. But all sports have increased player movement drastically in the past 10 years. So, I think its more of a general comment on sports.

[Brush with Greatness]

The NHL also has restricted free agency where the team has the right to match. The reason you never see restricted free agents signing contracts elsewhere is because the compensation is WAY too steep. If I wasn't lazy, I'd look it up. You can probably count on one hand how many guys have been made offers from other teams as restricted free agents.

 

Only two major ones I can think of where the Blackhawks offering Tkachuk a big money deal when he was with the Jets and Carolina's offer to Fedorov. And both were matched.

[EVIL~! alkeiper]

The NHL also has restricted free agency where the team has the right to match. The reason you never see restricted free agents signing contracts elsewhere is because the compensation is WAY too steep. If I wasn't lazy, I'd look it up. You can probably count on one hand how many guys have been made offers from other teams as restricted free agents.

 

Only two major ones I can think of where the Blackhawks offering Tkachuk a big money deal when he was with the Jets and Carolina's offer to Fedorov. And both were matched.

That's essentially what I'm talking about. That restriction upon player movement reduces the number of available players, and pushes prices upward for the limited players remaining. It's simple supply and demand.

[EVIL~! alkeiper]

I get that. But all sports have increased player movement drastically in the past 10 years. So, I think its more of a general comment on sports.

I can't vouch for other sports. But it's simply not true for baseball. There has ALWAYS been player movement.

[treble]

Only two major ones I can think of where the Blackhawks offering Tkachuk a big money deal when he was with the Jets and Carolina's offer to Fedorov. And both were matched.

The Rangers made one to Sakic that Colorado matched.

[Red Baron]

I actually have a radical idea.  EXPAND free agency.  The increase in available players would drag down player salaries.  And the players' union would have a much harder time fighting it.

A good reason why there is a decreased connection between fans and players is because they come and go far more often in the post-free agency era. This does nothing but decrease the connection further. You might as well start selling the fans jerseys with velcro letters and numbers so they don't have to waste their money on a new player's jersey every 2 years.

That's actually not true. If you look at pro sports pre-Free Agency, you'll see just as many players switching teams as you do now. The difference was that the team made the decision, instead of the player. Players like Musial, Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle, etc. have always been the exception, not the rule.

I have to disagree about FA in Hockey. The only way to be moved in the NHL was your contract is up. No one rarely tested free agency until players saw potential to use it, and ultimately abuse it.