My point was simply this. If Fehr and the players would reject the maximum salary percentage change you proposed, they then would be thinking about the top 10%.
- MJL

Yeah, which is why they would reject it. They talk a big game about protecting the middle and lower tier players, but the reality is that the union is all about protecting the stars.

Incorrect? How and what are you basing this on? Because as it stands right now, on average only about 3% of each team have contracts with higher than a 5 year term. That's including all the latest big deals that happened right before the lockout.
- MnGump

I'm basing it on the reality of it. Have you been reading up on this? Everyone from people covering the sport to the players. They're all talking about how the contract term limit is going to affect the middle class. How the top players are still going to get their money, and it will leave less money available to the middle class player. If you're not aware of this. You're not paying attention.

OK...I would like to think I'm a reasonably intelligent man however I guess at this point I need someone to talk to me like I'm a 5 year old. I have the following questions:

1.) Why...just why are the players so against 5-year contract limits that would put them into free agency (either unrestricted or restricted) in quicker intervals therefore virtually guaranteeing them a raise EVERY 5 YEARS?

2.) Is there something I'm missing as a result of #1?

3.) I need to understand this. Does the NHL's offer mean that EVERY player contract that currently is greater than 5 years (Parise, Suter, Weber, Crosby just to name some) must be re-worked to 5-year deals or are those going to remain as is?

Let's start there---Thank you everyone!

They haven't been? The NHL's entire game plan in this was to lock the players out/ Crush the Union. And gain massive concession in all areas. Isn't quite working out that way for them. They met their match in Fehr.
- MJL

The owners will get most of what they want or they simply will not settle.

The players will lose more than they would have had they taken the October offer.

So your statement here is simply beyond stupid. The bolded part especially made me laugh.

Yeah, which is why they would reject it. They talk a big game about protecting the middle and lower tier players, but the reality is that the union is all about protecting the stars.
- niedermayer27

So your stating a hypothetical answer to a hypothetical situation, as proof that the Union is all about protecting the stars? Instead of what actually is happening. Got it!

From getting cheap shotted by Lucic?

Wait till Scott gets to see Lucic face to face for the first time this season .

We here in Buffalo have not forgotten about that dirty hit by Lucic on Miller.

Exactly the resaon why we picked up Scott. Cant wait to see Lucic get ragdolled by Scott!
- BuffaloHardHat

we all heard about how the sabres were going to go after him the next game etc, didnt really happen

didnt miller swing his stick at lucic after?

may have been dirty but i wouldnt say it was a cheapshot, miller came out so it was kinda free game

1. Hank
2. Flower
3. Quick
4. Lou
5. Miller


Done.
- Deadmau55

When all are on their games.
Miller
Lundquist
Rhinne
Thomas
Price

When I see another good year from Quick I will put him on the list.

They won't make money either. Which is kind of the whole idea. They also won't grow their brand and their fan base. Which is also the idea. You want to make the NHL better, have some of the struggling teams increase in those areas. To be able to increase revenue. That's kind of what my point is.

But yea, Bettman's plan is working out great for that. A cancelled Season isn't good for anyone.
- MJL

Except the teams losing money by paying the overpaid out of touch idiots in the PA.

I bet they are glad you are their champion. I think only Scott Hartnell or PurseDog could do the same bang up job you do around here.

I'm basing it on the reality of it. Have you been reading up on this? Everyone from people covering the sport to the players. They're all talking about how the contract term limit is going to affect the middle class. How the top players are still going to get their money, and it will leave less money available to the middle class player. If you're not aware of this. You're not paying attention.
- MJL

The players and the pro-player writers agree, so it must be true.

When all are on their games.
Miller
Lundquist
Rhinne
Thomas
Price

When I see another good year from Quick I will put him on the list.
- BuffaloHardHat

Schneider
Lack
Luongo
doesn't matter

Miller
Lundquist
Rhinne
Thomas
Price
- BuffaloHardHat

ok, now I know you're not serious. I'm sorry, but what exactly has miller done for the sabres?

Edit: You're out to lunch if you think miller is better then hank.

The players and the pro-player writers agree, so it must be true.


- niedermayer27

Not just pro player writers. Pretty much the entire community. But believe what you want.

we all heard about how the sabres were going to go after him the next game etc, didnt really happen

didnt miller swing his stick at lucic after?

may have been dirty but i wouldnt say it was a cheapshot, miller came out so it was kinda free game
- dmarsden2988

Gaustad went after Lucic. So it "did happen" .

Sabres picked up Scott for this reason. To beat the snolt out of Lucic.

Guarantee you the very first game against the Bruins , Scott will be dressed and on the ice the very first shift against Lucic when the Sabres can get him out there.

Miller never forgot about that hit and neither have his teammates nor the fans!

So your stating a hypothetical answer to a hypothetical situation, as proof that the Union is all about protecting the stars? Instead of what actually is happening. Got it!
- MJL

I am saying: do you really think the union would go with a change like that? No way - because they are all about protecting the stars. In the same way, their objection to the contract limit is really about protecting the stars, not about protecting the middle class player.

I feel like I am banging my head against a brick wall....

Pronouns are your friend, bro....
- Giroux_Is_God

This isnt school son .

Yeah, which is why they would reject it. They talk a big game about protecting the middle and lower tier players, but the reality is that the union is all about protecting the stars.
- niedermayer27

I like how they come up with colorful stories about how their 5-year limit fight is to protect the middle players. What the F ever. Anyone who actually believes that is a drooling idiot, I think we know we are are talking about.

I also like how no-one can even coherently comment when I point out that, if the top players get even more, and the other players get less... Well, that is just the reality of supply and demand isn't it.

That argument works beautifully when NHL players try to justify earning more than a Tim Horton's employee, or just about anyone else in society, but they apparently don't like it when it justifies a widening earnings split!

The 5 year contract limit fight is about the top 10%. We all know it.

I can't believe I fell into the MJL trap.

I forgot that he is living in a fantasy world.

Make the most concessions? What concessions are they making? The players and Fehr have done the most compromising by far. The NHL has done very little. They've just agreed to take less.
Do you know how ridiculous you sound when you you compare Fehr to a schmuck off the street?
And what the NHLPA has accomplished here is going to have lasting implications for many years in the future. If they had came into this and caved into the League, do you grasp what that would do for future of the players. What happens after this CBA is over, and the next one. And they were willing to give up some salary this year to do it.
- MJL

I'm starting to wonder if you even know what a concession actually is. And I hate to be the one to tell you, but if you want to start slinging mud and telling people how ridiculous they sound, put down your laptop, smart pad or what ever you're surfing on and walk over to a mirror, stop and take a good long look in it...

You're pontificating as a means of right or wrong is your down fall. Opinions and theories are not a means by which you can place yourself in a position to always believe you are right. More a means of self righteousness.

OK...I would like to think I'm a reasonably intelligent man however I guess at this point I need someone to talk to me like I'm a 5 year old. I have the following questions:

1.) Why...just why are the players so against 5-year contract limits that would put them into free agency (either unrestricted or restricted) in quicker intervals therefore virtually guaranteeing them a raise EVERY 5 YEARS?

2.) Is there something I'm missing as a result of #1?

3.) I need to understand this. Does the NHL's offer mean that EVERY player contract that currently is greater than 5 years (Parise, Suter, Weber, Crosby just to name some) must be re-worked to 5-year deals or are those going to remain as is?

Let's start there---Thank you everyone!

- Flyerboy2013

Contracts already signed are unaffected.

Here's the deal with the 5 year contract limit and why the players are against it. top players can no longer get deals with low years on the back end to lower the Cap hit, or get front ended deals in exchange for long term security. But they are still going to want to get paid top salaries. So what's going to happen is that top players Cap hits are going to be inflated. That in combination with the lower Salary Cap Upper Limit is going to mean less Cap space, and less salary available to the Middle class player.

When all are on their games.
Miller
Lundquist
Rhinne
Thomas
Price

When I see another good year from Quick I will put him on the list.
- BuffaloHardHat

well can you base this on anything? or are you just a miller fanboy? he hasnt put up the numbers of other goalies, and he is only good for stretches, the others on your list have shown they can play top level throughout a whole season

thomas showed he can step it up in the playoffs, lundqvist has played very well in the playoffs?

what exactly has miller done?

I'm starting to wonder if you even know what a concession actually is. And I hate to be the one to tell you, but if you want to start slinging mud and telling people how ridiculous they sound, put down your laptop, smart pad or what ever you're surfing on and walk over to a mirror, stop and take a good long look in it...

You're pontificating as a means of right or wrong is your down fall. Opinions and theories are not a means by which you can place yourself in a position to always believe you are right. More a means of self righteousness.
- MnGump

I know exactly what a concession is. I wonder if you know. I'd be glad to talk about what a concession is if you'd like. It was a ridiculous statement in my opinion.

When all are on their games.
Miller
Lundquist
Rhinne
Thomas
Price

When I see another good year from Quick I will put him on the list.
- BuffaloHardHat

You forgot James Reimer

I'm basing it on the reality of it. Have you been reading up on this? Everyone from people covering the sport to the players. They're all talking about how the contract term limit is going to affect the middle class. How the top players are still going to get their money, and it will leave less money available to the middle class player. If you're not aware of this. You're not paying attention.
- MJL

So...

It is OK for a hockey player to earn more than almost everyone else in society because they have a rare and in demand skill set.

But it is NOT OK for the top hockey players to widen the earnings gap between them and their "dime a dozen" brethren, even though the supply/demand reasoning is exactly the same?

Can't address that coherently can you?

I'm basing it on the reality of it. Have you been reading up on this? Everyone from people covering the sport to the players. They're all talking about how the contract term limit is going to affect the middle class. How the top players are still going to get their money, and it will leave less money available to the middle class player. If you're not aware of this. You're not paying attention.
- MJL

All completely unproven. A theory is not fact. It's a theory. Based on the number of contracts that exceed 5 years at present, it's a baseless theory at that.

ok, now I know you're not serious. I'm sorry, but what exactly has miller done for the sabres?

Edit: You're out to lunch if you think miller is better then hank.
- Deadmau55

That's your opinion which is fine.

Miller pretty much single handed won that silver for us Americans.

I respect Lundquist but every important game including their last playoff series against one another they have played head to head , Miller usually prevails.

So I dont know what you are getting at when you ask what has Miller done for us ?

What has Lundquist done for the Rangers for that matter?