We are starting to hear murmurs of how both sides are dug in and what separates the two sides as both Bill Daly and Donald Fehr have done radio interviews today.
There are some issues which need resolving as the NHL and PA are clearly attempting to move the conversation to issues they may have more luck selling than the difference between 5 year contract max and 8 year contract max and the length of the CBA.
The new issues that are being touted are the compliance issues.
#1 The Mulligan
The NHLPA would like the teams to be able to have a one time buyout of a player...essentially the amnesty clause the NBA put forth. In this instance players a team would be able to buyout a contract they would like to take a Mulligan on...like Gomez, Redden, Bryzgalov, Luongo, etc... On the surface this would be a win/win...The players get their money (which does in way increase the make whole pot) and the owners of wealthy teams could get out from under a mistake...
However, the teams NOT named Philly, Detroit, Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, or New York don't feel it is fair that teams would be able to buy their way out of an error and feel the salary cap system is in place and if you make a mistake you should have that mistake affect you in a negative way. I can see that point as well.
Is this worth missing a year for? Not even close. When you can only name 5 or so teams and players where this could play into anything at all? Not even close.
#2. The Salary Cap next year.
So let's assume the NHL gets their 50/50. How do teams who have already spent to a 57% cap over $70M get down to a 50/50 cap where the amount a team would be allowed to spend on players would be closer to $60M? Would teams be unable to sign anyone new and in many cases have to make trades of salary to get under the cap and play?
Not this year for sure. The NHL has already agreed that teams will be allowed to have players who's salaries could equal the old cap of $70M+ but the players will only be getting paid whatever 50% is at the end of the season. Therefore the money put into escrow will not be getting paid to the players for the first time...
So how about next year? Next year is the problem year given the hit the NHL will take from fans once they return. Will fans re-up their season tickets? They have already paid for this season.
Most feel the Cap next year, with minimum growth would likely fall around 63-65. The NHL believes that the Salary Cap should fall to wherever the natural point is. The NHLPA wants another year for GMs to be able to transition and want another year where the Cap itself is higher. The NHLPA wants a guarantee of around 67. Remember, this number doesn't really much matter because the escrow assures the NHL will only pay out 50/50 and all the cap number means is teams have to get below that number to field a team.
Is this an NHL deal breaker? I don't see it either.
So while these issues aren't as meaningless as the contract years or CBA years (which as I said the fans should demand to be 10 years) they are still two issues which neither side, especially the NHL, should allow the sport and league to suffer the permanent damage of a lost season over...
This coming weekend...
Don't be shocked if we don't hear about talks happening and then suddenly we are informed they have been going on this weekend.... I am hearing there is a push left before Christmas...but it may be way undercover.
Fine by all of us...
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