NHL Rejects Union Proposal

[Kahran Ramsus 0]

NHL to reject NHLPA proposal

 

TSN.ca Staff/CP

 

12/13/2004

 

The outlook for this National Hockey League season has never been more bleak than it is today.

 

TSN has obtained a copy of a confidential eight-page memorandum sent by the NHL to all 30 member clubs, outlining the league's reaction to the NHL Players' Association proposal of last week and clearly stating the NHL's intention to reject the proposal and counter with one of its own.

 

"In sum, we believe the Union's December 9 CBA proposal, while offering necessary and significant short-term financial relief, falls well short of providing the fundamental systemic changes that are required to ensure that overall League economics remain in synch on a going-forward basis," NHL executive vice president Bill Daly wrote in the Dec. 12 memo which went to all governors and alternative governors, including many NHL general managers. "While the immediate 'rollback' of 24 per cent offered by the Union would materially improve League economics for the 2004-05 season, there is virtually nothing in the Union's proposal that would prevent the dollars 'saved' from being re-directed right back into the player compensation system, such that the League's overall financial losses would approach current levels in only a matter of a couple of years."

 

The memo reiterated NHL commissioner Gary Bettman's intention to provide a counter-proposal to the NHLPA at a 1 p.m. meeting on Tuesday in Toronto. The memo said the counter proposal "will be an appropriate response to the Union's offer and will ensure the League's future stability and long-term health."

 

In other words, the counter-proposal is likely to contain "cost certainty" or a linkage between salaries and revenues, which the NHLPA sees as a "salary cap" and a non-starter for negotiations.

 

"It would not assist the collective bargaining process to comment on excerpts from a leaked league document. We will comment on the NHL's response to our proposal when it is finally delivered to us on Tuesday," said NHLPA Senior Director Ted Saskin in a statement Tuesday .

 

Trevor Linden, president of the NHLPA, said he was surprised the NHL leaked its answer to the players offer.

 

Linden told Vancouver radio station AM 730 it would have been nice to sit in a room and talk it over with the NHL.

 

Linden says with all the concessions the union has made, he can't believe the owners still can't be responsible enough and set a budget they can stick with.

 

``I don't think there's too many businesses out there that don't have to set their own budgets and don't have to be responsible, and I find it amazing that they need us to do that for them,'' Linden said.

 

Not only does this league document provide a specific reaction to every aspect of the NHLPA's Dec. 9 proposal, but also "cynically" questions the motives of the NHLPA, especially with regard to the proposed salary rollback of a whopping 24 per cent.

 

"We believe the Union's offer was more about trying to unify the players and ensure player solidarity with what they would perceive as a very substantial proposal than it was about making a good faith effort to reach agreement us..." Daly wrote. "...The Union needed the 'rallying point' that it felt this offer would provide with the players to effectuate this strategy. Under this scenario, the Union will likely (and quickly) break off negotiations."

 

The league document does not specifically spell out what may be in the NHL's counter-proposal, but does touch on some of what will be part of it, including the abolition of salary arbitration in its entirety and a "restructuring" of the NHLPA's 24 per cent salary rollback.

 

"We plan to make a counter-offer to the Union on Tuesday in Toronto consistent with our mandate from (the governors) in that regard," the memo said.

 

It's not difficult to figure out what will be in the counter proposal when you look at how the league reacted to the NHLPA's specific proposals:

 

On the NHLPA-proposed 24 per cent rollback for all existing contracts, the NHL reaction is: "...(while) the Union's offer in this regard was significant in the same approximate range of magnitude that will be necessary, we believe the 'rollback' should be structured among the players in a more equitable manner than the Union's current proposal envisions."

 

On the NHLPA-proposed changes to the entry-level system, the league's reaction is: "...we do not believe the Union's proposed changes to the Entry Level System go far enough...while the Union's proposed changes to the Entry Level System are positive and, in certain cases, might lead to cost savings, history has proven that because there is no absolute limit on the amount an Entry Level Player can earn in a given year, the Entry Level Salary Cap can (and will) still easily be circumvented."

 

On the NHLPA-proposed changes to the qualifying offer system, the league reaction is: "We do not believe the proposed changes to the level of required Qualifying Offers are meaningful, and certainly would not result in the savings of the magnitude projected by the Union."

 

On the NHLPA-proposed changes to salary arbitration, the league reaction is: "We believe these changes would have very limited impact (if any) on a Club's or League-wide economics...We intend to reiterate our proposal to eliminate salary arbitration in our next offer to the Union."

 

On the NHLPA-proposed luxury tax system that would start with a tax of 25 per cent on payrolls over $45 million with additional tax rates at thresholds of $50 million and $60 million, the league reaction is: "...the Union's actual proposal on Thursday demonstrated its continuing objective to avoid at all costs placing meaningful restraints on a Club's ability to spend excessively on player salaries...we remain firmly opposed to any new economic system that is premused on salary restraints encouraged by a luxury tax...The League's economic problems are too significant, and the future success of this sport too important, to accept a system based on projections and guesswork, particularly when we believe that the underlying dynamics of operating af team will not have been addressed."

 

On the NHLPA-proposed revenue redistribution plan which would see high revenue teams provide funds for lower revenue teams, the NHL reaction is: "we envision a revenue sharing pool that will be funded primarily by a portion of revenues generated in the Stanley Cup playoffs," as opposed to revenue sharing on the basis of regular-season revenues.

 

Clearly, in spite of the NHLPA offer of last week, the two sides could not be further apart. With both sides so entrenched in their current positions on the issue of cost certainty or linkage or salary cap, there is no reason to believe there will be any negotiations coming out of Tuesday's session in Toronto.

 

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=107996

[bob_barron 0]

I already posted in the Off Season thread Kahran.

 

But I understand why this might deserve its own thread

[Kahran Ramsus 0]

I already posted in the Off Season thread Kahran.

 

But I understand why this might deserve its own thread

It is a pretty big deal up here, so I thought it did, but if Al decides to merge them I'll stand by his decision.

 

I don't think there is any way that the season is going to be saved at this point.

[Guest Rrrsh]

If Gary comes back tomorrow with no changes to his old proposal (which is the rumor) I hope he gets fired.

[the max 0]

Wonder what else is on...

[The Czech Republic 0]

Shut up and skate already. Fire Bettman and put in someone who's as reactionary as they get and does everything but hit a giant reset button that puts us in 1994.

[MrRant 0]

Russo?

[Matt Young 0]

It's all my fault.

 

After over a decade of watching every sport but hockey, I became interested in the NHl during last season's Stanley Cup playoffs.

 

Now, since God hates me and wants to destroy everything that gives me pleasure, he has seen fit to cancel the hockey season.

 

Sorry, guys...

[The Czech Republic 0]

Russo?

David Arquette just won the Stanley Cup!

[Guest Olympic Slam]

Bye bye NHL

[Vern Gagne 0]

When this lockout does end. Will we see more scoring and more of an emphasis on offense.

[the max 0]

When this lockout does end. Will we see more scoring and more of an emphasis on offense.

We may.

 

Just before we all die of old age.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

When this lockout does end. Will we see more scoring and more of an emphasis on offense.

Actually Verne, the offensive explosion in baseball occured in 1994, before the Strike.

[Youth N Asia 0]

While I love watching Red Wing hockey...I make $7.85 a hour, these guys can go fuck themselves. Their ratings sure as hell don't justify theit paychecks.

[the max 0]

Go see minor league hockey. I'm planning on bringing the gal to a game soon and we'll be sitting center ice, about five rows back. Tickets for that? $38 total.

[Youth N Asia 0]

No kidding, we have a local minor league team (Flint Generals)...I'm going to try and get out to see them sometime this season.

[Guest Jason]

People need to quit blaming Gary Bettman. He is just trying to do what is best for the NHL. People keep thinking that he is some evil dictator who is trying to get rid of professional hockey forver. I think most of the fault here lies with the NHL. Sure, they're professional athletes and they do some ricky work and deserve a lot of money, but lets not forget that a lot of these guys also make a lot of money in endorsements, and something tells me that your not going to starve to death only making 1.5 million a year.

 

Of course, the NHL needs to stop acting like a bunch of non-negotiating BUTT holes. They should invite the NHLPA to the table a LOT more and at least TRY to look like they want an NHL season this year.

[Red Baron 0]

There is no one to blame for the strike itself, and switching different commissioner/presidents isn't going to change a thing on the table.

[2GOLD 0]

Here is a question: What brings the fans back to the NHL?

 

The league was already losing fans and now this strike just feels like the death nail in a coffin they built a few seasons ago.

[Damaramu 0]

I don't watch Hockey but I was wondering if it's possible that we could lose professional hockey in America all together?

I mean like I said I'm no real fan but I know people that are and I think it'd suck if it was pretty much gone forever.

[The Man in Blak 0]

It's all my fault.

 

After over a decade of watching every sport but hockey, I became interested in the NHl during last season's Stanley Cup playoffs.

 

Now, since God hates me and wants to destroy everything that gives me pleasure, he has seen fit to cancel the hockey season.

 

Sorry, guys...

You need to get laid.

 

I would wager that 20% of sports fans in America don't even realize that the NHL is on strike right now. To wax melodramatic about how hockey is lost in America because of the strike would be insinuating that America ever really had hockey in the first place.

 

When the labor agreement gets settled and they play next year, there will be a collective shrug in the U.S. and then everybody who watched hockey before will watch again. It'll be like waking up from a long nap for the majority of the American "fanbase."

[Vern Gagne 0]

I'd wager 80% of the US population doesn't care.

 

Why should anyone expect Hockey to be popular in areas where people don't skiate, and play the game itself? Outside of some indoor ice rinks, it's a Northern climate sport.

 

Let me throw this out. What are 3 things you'd do too make the game better, or bring a bigger fan base to the game?

 

More offense. Smaller pad for goalies, and contracting some teams. However, no matter the advantages the skilled players get, if coaches want to use a defensive style it's hard for scoring to go up.

 

With more scoring. I think the league needs some Marquee names. All the other sports have LeBron, or Vick, or Jeter. The closest in the NHL is Jerome Iginla.

[The Czech Republic 0]

People need to quit blaming Gary Bettman. He is just trying to do what is best for the NHL. People keep thinking that he is some evil dictator who is trying to get rid of professional hockey forver.

I DISAGREE.

 

Bettman came in and tried to turn the NHL into "The NBA On Ice." He's not from the NHL front-office system, he's not a hockey fan, he's not even Canadian. Get him out of there.

 

 

Woody Paige just had a great idea: eliminate the rest of the country from hockey and get back to what works: Canada, the Northeast, the Midwest, St. Louis, and the old Norris Division. Los Angeles too.

[CanadianChris 0]

Here's a great idea for divisional realignment, after we clear out some of the dead weight:

 

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Atlantic: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, New Jersey, NY Rangers, NY Islanders, Washington

Northeast: Boston, Montreal, Buffalo, Carolina, Colorado

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Central: Detroit, Chicago, Minnesota, St. Louis, Toronto

Pacific: Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Phoenix, Los Angeles

 

Now, I know this doesn't make sense in a few places, so let's move Carolina to Hartford and Colorado to Quebec City. And just for kicks, let's move Phoenix to Winnipeg. Oh, and name the divisions and conferences after some guys a lot of people have never heard of.

 

Now let's have a look:

 

PRINCE OF WALES CONFERENCE

Patrick Division: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, New Jersey, NY Islanders, NY Rangers, Washington

Adams Division: Boston, Montreal, Buffalo, Hartford, Quebec

CLARENCE CAMPBELL CONFERENCE

Norris Division: Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis, Minnesota, Toronto

Smythe Division: Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Los Angeles

 

Well, that's so crazy, it just might work.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

 

Canadian Conference:

 

Pearson Division: Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec, Halifax

 

Trudeau Division: Vancouver, Winnipeg, Regina, Calgary, Edmonton

 

American Conference:

 

Kennedy Division: Boston, Buffalo, Hartford, Philly, New York

 

Lincoln Division: Detroit, St Louis, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, Chicago

 

Expansion candidiates:

 

PD- Hamilton

TD- Victoria

KD- New Jersey

LD- Columbus

 

-Top 2 make the playoffs in each division, plus a wild card in each conference.

Division leaders get byes, and each team can be declared a division champion if applicable.

 

5-7-7 series.

 

 

[Highland 0]

People in Alberta would boycott the NHL if their teams were in a division called "Trudeau".

[Prophet of Mike Zagurski 0]

The NHL/teams should have marketed/advertised better when they had a season. I know when certain NBA teams and games are being played but rarely do I hear the Ducks @ Red Wings. The NBA, NFL, and MLB have so much national converage and like 2 NHL games a week are being played on national TV.

 

This is going to make some of you mad. What if they change hockey season from starting in October to around April. WHY?!? Because the NHL has to compete with the NFL and the NBA. If they play in the summer and they have to do is compete with baseball. That is a fairer fight.

[The Czech Republic 0]

This is going to make some of you mad. What if they change hockey season from starting in October to around April. WHY?!? Because the NHL has to compete with the NFL and the NBA. If they play in the summer and they have to do is compete with baseball. That is a fairer fight.

Are you stupid?

 

Do the words "ice surface" mean anything to you? And aren't you from ANAHEIM?!? If you're running a league that starts in April, you better have a game with the Anchorage Anchors visiting the Nunavut Minimalists, or you're going to be skating on slush with a super-ball puck. Tampa Bay and Dallas have been maligned for shitty ice surfaces in the beginning of the season and the postseason. The Not-The-Northlands Coliseum, up in Edmonton, is renowned for having a superb ice surface. Likewise, Edmonton is renowned for being pretty fucking cold in the winter.

 

April?!? Come on! This is as "winter sport" as winter sports get! In case you didn't notice, AstroRink hasn't been invented yet, and they're playing on FREAKING ICE. FROZEN WATER. A PHENOMENON THAT TAKES PLACE IN WINTER. CANADIAN CHILDREN PLAY HOCKEY ON FROZEN PONDS, THEN GO INSIDE AND WATCH IT ON TV.

 

Ice hockey in the summer. Don't insult people's intelligence.

[the max 0]

Then there's only one choice.

 

Roller hockey. Get the puck with the little wheels in it, college hockey helmets and a sponsership with Mountain Dew. Also, change at least five team names to something involving "Extreme" and I'll have the NHL back in NO TIME.

[The Czech Republic 0]

Windy City BLAKKHAWKZ YOOOOOOOO