According to several well placed sources of mine familiar to the matter associated with both the NHL and the NHLPA....
Yes, yes they are.
There is a growing belief that the new CBA will include a clause that will allow teams amnesty on one bad contract, similar to the one the NBA passed through where teams are given the chance to waive a single player contract... but teams are still bound to pay the players' salary... however, the salary comes off the Cap and the player becomes a UFA again....presumably a UFA who might play for very little given he is already making pretty good money. And while a big contract guy like a Luongo, a Lecavalier, a Jeff Carter (despite hat trick last night), a Gomez, or a Bryzgalov might have a contract currently that is crippling the franchise, those players would have value elsewhere, perhaps even big value elsewhere if able to ask for the minimum.
Of course, the first option would always be to trade a player...but what if the player is unwilling to accept a trade..or you simply can't trade him.
So who would be against this concept?
The Wealthy teams sure wouldn't be against it.
I guarantee you, while it's not the case, people will speculate the Flyers signed Bryzgalov to the huge deal with the realization they may get a do-over. Again, not true. The Flyers would still be paying Bryz for 8 years no matter what. There is zero reason they would have gone into this with this as a plan B.
The Players sure wouldn't be against it.
All it does it essentially open up more cap space for guys to make money. And the unwanted players with big deals may want to get out of town...
The less wealthy teams could benefit as well.
As noted, these players could potentially be re-signed for far below their value. And remember this would be a ONE-time thing. You could see the lesser teams being upset if this was something you could do every year.
So...will this happen?
I honestly don't see why it won't. The details may be negotiated and maybe the owners might want some kind of discount on the money they have to put up (I have heard the idea of a percentage of whatever the player makes if he re-signs could be discounted from the original team's financial commitment...
You may be thinking, why not just "Wade Redden" the contract and bury the contract for player in the minors? Well, these guys with these monster deals almost certainly have No Movement Clauses. So you can't bury him.
The last time around, as I am sure you remember, the players took a salary hit across the board. It was a chip thrown in by then NHLPA Chief Bob Goodenow (wow writing his name brings me back. Good Times). The negotiating chip was meant in lieu of accepting a salary cap and ending up being what most feel was Bob's biggest blunder (although there were so many to choose from in that fertile crop).
So when looking forward to the draft trade rumors, don't be shocked if some teams currently with a ton of money tied up in goalies, get very active and go after other goalies...Be careful when you say "Well, they are tied to that player for life.." They may not be.
Will there be a lockout?
I get asked this question ten times a day via email or PM or twitter...I am working on a long, in depth story regarding this that is close to being completed, but as a sneak preview I will say this...I am starting to believe the NHL will go dark for a period of time....it sucks to say it, but I almost get the impression it is being planned on by both sides... There is a deadline of Sept 15th out there and the sides have yet to formally even meet. (although there are murmurs the sides may hold formal talks during the Cup Final)
The issues couldn't be more different than the last time around and that will be my what my story gets into....It will be Why we could miss time despite virtually everything trending positive in the NHL today?
On LA and Phoenix.
I WAS WRONG. 100% Wrong. The Kings are completely capable of playing the attack game, as opposed to the counter attack game they played in rounds 1 and 2, and defeating the Coyotes. Especially a Coyotes team who needs to step up, get focused, and stop feeling sorry for itself.
Usually in a series one team is either playing out of their minds or the other team is stumbling all over themselves...In this series both are true. Phoenix will probably be happy to get out of the desert and play road hockey...but to be honest if they just sit back and wait to lose they will....lose.
btw...still not ready to say I was wrong about NJ. Tonight could go a long way towards me being wrong, but I actually liked a lot of what I saw in game 1 from the Devils...
Update: Per Kevin Allen. The NHL sends CBA termination notice to players association See article
HERE 
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