Is NHL Hockey Right Around the Corner?



The Ball is in the NHLPA's Hands Now -
DON'T "F" This UP!


I can't even describe how excited I was yesterday when I saw that the NHL and the owners have put forth a proposal to the NHLPA.  It wasn't that I thought the deal would be done immediately, but its the first time that there was ANY optimism given to the fans to hang on to.  Before I go any further, I must say that the NHL and the owners have played their cards beautifully...especially when it comes to public perception.  I wrote yesterday about how the NHLPA was possibly thinking about proposing a "radical" proposal to the owners.  You don't think the owners saw that?  They did, and they decided to be the first to move.  Why is that a good thing for the owners?  Think about this...if the players turn this deal down the public finds them to be selfish, money hungry a-holes.  If the players agree to the deal in this new proposal then the owners can say that they didn't turn their back on the fans and THEY were the ones that put forth the proposal that got the NHL and players back on the ice.  Its a thing of beauty to see the owners using the players as little pawns in their game.  I can't say I like it, and I think the players need to realize the situation that they are in, but the owners are billionaires for a reason...they aren't stupid.

Nonetheless, with this specific proposal that was given from the NHL to the Players Association, they had several different factors in this proposal.  The most important thing that the fans are clinging to is the 50-50 proposed split in HRR (Hockey Related Revenue).  This was better than previous proposals, but the players would be going from 57 down to 50 percent.  In other words, the players better get other perks to sign this deal.  One of those perks would be the fact that any player who signed a contract prior to the new CBA will be able to honor their contract.  This means that players like Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin who have "lifetime" contracts with their perspective teams will be able to still make their money without hesitation.  However, there will be restrictions on the new contracts under this proposal.  Currently there is a 5 year proposed cap on contracts in the future.  There are plenty of other small details (salary cap, luxury taxes, etc) that are also in the proposal. 

The question is now, do I think the players will sign this deal?  As much as I hope and pray that they do, I don't think they will.  If you've seen the Fehr boys negotiate, they always find something to complain about.  I don't think the players will simply turn it down and walk away though.  I think they tweak things they want tweaked and send a counter proposal back to the owners.  Its at least a step in the right direction.  There is a timetable that needs to be followed though.  David Bettman still wants an 82 game schedule (its all about the money), and he wants to start the season on November 2nd.  For the teams to have a little over a week for training camp, the deal would have to be done by October 25th at the latest.  My gut tells me that if this thing doesn't get done before the 25th then the owners will lock out the entire season. 

The proposal is a step in the right direction, but the players might not like the idea of the season going until the last week of June after games that have been missed would be tacked onto the end of the season.  I wrote a post about how a shortened season might be the best way to go for the NHL and the Players.  Simply have a 70 game schedule and juggle a few divisional games and everything will be just fine.  I am excited about the prospect of a deal getting done, but I've lived through enough lockouts that I know not to get too excited.  Just the thought of seeing hockey again gets me pumped up...but also cautious at the same time.