I emailed Paul Kelly, the executive director of the NHLPA, regarding the news over the weekend that the NHL wants to put the chill out there on long-term deals, beginning with the Hossa and Pronger contracts.

This was Kelly's response to me:

"Deals with structures such as Hossa and Pronger are perfectly proper and permissible,” NHLPA executive director Paul Kelly told CSNPhilly.com in an email. “The NHLPA will take whatever steps are necessary to insure that players continue to have unfettered ability to negotiate contracts that are compliant with existing CBA rules.”

Sounds to me like the NHL is worried about all these long-term deals circumventing the CBA. But both parties agreed to the language in the current CBA.

Live with it. Until 2011 when you can do some re-writing ...







**

Did anyone out there think the Chris Pronger contract would cause so much grief?

I can't remember a free agent/extension contract in an off-season that has been under attack like this one.

Of course, we're talking about the news that the NHL, along with investigating the Marian Hossa deal for circumventing the CBA, is also looking at the Pronger deal, and others.

Wait a minute. The NHL approved those deals in advance didn't they? So, if there is anything wrong with them, it's on them, right?

Here's my take on it, running on CSNPhilly.com:

Click Here

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