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Arbitration, Contracts and the Salary Cap |
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It’s that time again when NHLers and their Agents grumble over the offers made to them by their clubs. Not a lot of them, but some. The Articles of Arbitration are an interesting document that can be used against unscrupulous employers or by unscrupulous agents. It’s all how you look at it.
Is there any other work environment where you can go in and plead your case about your salary by basing your worth by the production of others? Wouldn’t you love such a thing in your own job? How would it be to look at someone else in your workplace and say “Hey!!! They make $15,000 more than me! I can prove I produce just as much as they do. Here’s my representative to show you the numbers.”
Agents used to be armed with a program and database that they could use to compare the players within a category. This came to light during the dark days of the work stoppage by an agent that was tossed out of the NHLPA on his ear. Numbers, numbers and more numbers all equating to something close to blackmail.
And that is what it is -- all numbers. But what gets lost in the translation of the entire thing is that it then leaves the employer hard pressed to reward others as such things can and may be used against them or another employer down the road. It also has the potential of ruining a working relationship should the employer feel they were run over by the arbitrator and employee. So the employee may get the contract they wanted, but they will lose the benefit of a pleasant working environment.
Currently the only NY Islander to file for arbitration is Nate Thompson. When I read that, I had to laugh. I can’t imagine what the reason for that would be, but everyone has their reasons. Especially Garth Snow. If Snow offered Thompson something that he didn’t feel was good enough, he may be in for a surprise. Certainly Garth will not be able to make Nate cry the way Milbury did during one salary arbitration. But I certainly wouldn't want to have to negotiate with the man.
As the arbitration season begins, I’m beginning to wonder what these ridiculously long contracts will do to the negotiation tactics of the agents. Could we be seeing even MORE insanely long contracts in the long run? Will they use the total dollar amounts as leverage to increase their client’s worth to a club? Are we headed for the same owner/player fiasco of 2004?
I’m hopeful that the arbitrators go into negotiations with the clear understanding of the salary cap. And while the cap has increased slightly for next season, they also should realize that the cap will be going DOWN in the 2010 season as this year’s financial situation catches up to it.
Players should also realize that numbers are only numbers and it doesn’t mean that you are worth the same as someone else to your club. There are so many factors that go into an employee’s worth. Or at least, there is in the real world. It’s never smart to bite the hand that feeds you.
Tuesday is the Lighthouse LI meeting at the Town of Hempstead and Wednesday is the day John Tavares is introduced to Long Island. I wish I had slept longer. This looks like a busy, busy week in Islanders country!
New York Islanders Blogger • 
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