The Semi-Official Hockey Thread...
I agree.
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Joined: May 2001
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From: Nowhere
Originally Posted by WestSideBilly,Dec 10 2004, 08:58 AM
- Salary Rollback
Immediately cuts 24 percent off all existing contracts. NHLPA says that will save teams $270 million in the first year and $528 million over three years. The previous offer of Sept. 9 offered a 5 percent rollback. - Salary Restraints
Would restrict rookie contracts to $850,000 a year for three years, down from last season's $1.2 million level. There would also be reductions in qualifying offers to restricted free agents, and would give clubs the chance to elect arbitration in a system similar to one used in baseball. The union estimates clubs will save $400 million over the next six years and reduce the aggregate qualifying offers due to restricted free agents by $285 million over three years. - Luxury Tax
Would penalize teams 20 cents for each dollar they spend between $45 million and $50 million. The penalty would increase to 25 percent the second year and 30 percent in the third. Teams spending between $50 million and $60 million would be taxed 50 cents on the dollar the first year, 55 cents the second year and 60 cents the third. Those with payrolls above that would have to pay 60 cents for every dollar the first year, 65 cents the second, and 70 cents the third year on each dollar over the threshold. Includes a revenue-sharing plan to bring the bottom 15 teams within 30 percent of the revenues of the top 15 teams. - Joint Players-Club Committees
Committees would be designed to ensure improvements in the game, its marketing and its revenues. The players proposed to play in the 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics.
Bettman will counteroffer on Tuesday.
- Salary Rollback
Immediate one time graduated rollback:
2003-2004 Salary Rollback # of Players
Less than $800,000 0% 349
$800,000 to $1.499 mm 15% 191
$1.5 mm to $1.99 mm 20% 58
$2.00 mm to $3.99 mm 24% 133
$4.0 mm to $4.99 mm 30% 24
$5.00 mm and greater 35% 41
Averages out to be within a few million dollars of the NHLPA's flat 24% offer. Of course, a guy with a $5.0m contract will end up making less than a guy with a $4.9m contract. - Salary Restraints
The NHL accepted the PA's rookie contract maximum (and adds a higher minimum salary); and added a mandatory year clause and eliminates signing bonuses and performance clauses. - Luxury Tax
Not accepted. Fixed salary cap between $34.6 and $38.6 million; no inflationary increases during the length of the CBA. 10 teams are currently over that threshold (using the NHL's graduated rollback), and several teams like Colorado and Toronto (both around $55 million) would have to gut their rosters. - Misc
Different qualifying offer structure, entirely eliminate arbitration, unrestricted free agency age lowered to 30 (from 31), revenue sharing in plans.
Basically more of the same. The owners took the NHLPA's generous offer and added to it. Not much in terms of compromise by the league at all.
Ironically, even the NHL admits that the two proposals are only a few % points apart; but Bettman obviously thinks his owners aren't capable of restraining themselves.
I would say this counteroffer all but officially ends the season.
So no hockey this year at all I take it?
HOCKEY TOWN!!!!
