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Rumored Proposal Concept. Winter Classic Cancelled. |
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UPDATE: The Winter Classic Has been cancelled. Some are saying it could still be revived...to maybe a later date.
Good morning, hockey world. It actually could be a good day! We may have some traction in the CBA negotiations today, ladies and gents...
As always, as I have said many time throughout these negotiations, it is vital to stay on an even keel. As hard as it is, keep your highs and lows in check and avoid riding an emotional roller coaster. Things are rarely as great or as dire as they appear. It is all a matter of degrees, and the current NHL lockout is a case in point.
I see many of you bailing on the sport. I totally get it. Just remember when you say you are "done" with this sport ask yourself, "Who am I hurting really?" If the answer is "The NHL" then you are just being spiteful. If you only love hockey because the NHL exists then I get it. But if you love all of hockey and want to watch it at its finest then you are just hurting yourself.
The NHL will come back. The players will come back. This will all be a lousy memory. Great players will do amazing things again. And I will be watching it.
New Proposal Getting Legs...
There are a few proposals out there...concepts which I love...but today I was told a new one by two influential people..1 from each side. I am not saying this is the proposal which is causing the new optimism, but I am also not saying it isn't. I simply don't know.
Actually I will say this. I am not sure the sides themselves are making as much progress with each other as they are individually right now...which may sound bizarre, but there is much to it. There are people at both the NHL and NHLPA, smart people, who are getting more involved and a little less polite right now...the kinds of people who don't think the other side is "the boogey monster." Smart people who aren't letting egos get in the way.
Anyway...what I am hearing are two concepts..
1. This is pretty simple...increase the revenue sharing pot to 300M...how it helps the players is that if the bottom 15 teams are stronger then they will spend more money on salaries. The lockout isn't supposed to make the top 10 richer...
2. Agree to the 50/50 but have the floor go to wherever that would be in each of the next three years...the catch is that the cap goes to 70M in '12-13 68M in '13-14 and 66 in '14-15...then the next year the floor and the cap narrow back to where the natural progression of the 50-50 goes to. This gives the GM's time to work around their big contracts and it makes the players whole on all contracts signed.
I think this takes care of many of the issues.
The Winter Classic.
It may or may not get cancelled today. Some are saying we are looking at a possible extension by Michigan and others who are expecting deposits today. I just talked to a very influential NHL person and he said , "The fact it isn't cancelled yet shows Gary wants to make a deal."
Stay tuned..
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