The trade-off that the NHL players have is that their contracts are fully guaranteed. The question is whether or not that is costing them higher salaries, which are the lowest of the four major sports by a mile.
- buffalofan19

Believe it or not the NBA players average is the highest

$7 million average for the NBA
$2.9 million average for the NFL
$3.4 million average for MLB
$2.4 million average for the NHL

The issues here are the superstars in each league get paid WAAAAAAAY more than hockey players

YOU HAVE NO SORCERERS!!!!

I cant read(reed)
- ImThatGuy

you would fit in with the basketball fans in california


maybe you too can predict the sabres winning a cup if miami heat get a certain player


I kid
I kid

The trade-off that the NHL players have is that their contracts are fully guaranteed. The question is whether or not that is costing them higher salaries, which are the lowest of the four major sports by a mile.
- buffalofan19

The PA caters to the highest paid stars. With the game getting younger, and the attractiveness of signing young players to big buck contracts increases, I think the PA will be seeking to lower the RFA age. That's what the union will fight for imo. If the league is willing to lower the UFA age 2 or 3 years, there might be a conversation about non-guaranteed contracts

Keep current structure the same, current status the same,

if a player opts out introduce and Exclusive RFA signing penalty where you have to give picks (2 firsts) to sign player that opted out if signed in one calendar year.

If club opts out player immediately becomes UFA.

Can only opt if 2 years or less on contract.
- ImThatGuy

So a different type of offer sheet system?

Believe it or not the NBA players average is the highest

$7 million average for the NBA
$2.9 million average for the NFL
$3.4 million average for MLB
$2.4 million average for the NHL

The issues here are the superstars in each league get paid WAAAAAAAY more than hockey players
- Stripes77

That's the key here.

The NBA also has the fewest roster spots (12? 13?) of any sport, whereas the NFL has the most. Those dilute the averages. It would be interesting to compare the median salaries (I'm too lazy to look it up).

The PA caters to the highest paid stars. With the game getting younger, and the attractiveness of signing young players to big buck contracts increases, I think the PA will be seeking to lower the RFA age. That's what the union will fight for imo. If the league is willing to lower the UFA age 2 or 3 years, there might be a conversation about non-guaranteed contracts
- jcragcrumple

5 year max contract length would solve a lot of issues

that way players can enter UFA status much earlier

That's the key here.

The NBA also has the fewest roster spots (12? 13?) of any sport, whereas the NFL has the most. Those dilute the averages. It would be interesting to compare the median salaries (I'm too lazy to look it up).
- buffalofan19

Until the NHL fixes their broadcasts and gets more games out to the casual fan they will always be #4

ESPN getting the rights back or at least a split of them would be pretty huge IMO

5 year max contract length would solve a lot of issues

that way players can enter UFA status much earlier
- Stripes77

Players entering the UFA pool after 3 RFA years would spice up July 1 as well

Players entering the UFA pool after 3 RFA years would spice up July 1 as well
- jcragcrumple

Yeah I wouldn't go that far, it wouldn't be fair for teams to spend all that time developing a player to just lose them as they are starting to really become players

Until the NHL fixes their broadcasts and gets more games out to the casual fan they will always be #4

ESPN getting the rights back or at least a split of them would be pretty huge IMO
- Stripes77

The next TV deal needs to be across multiple networks for sure. The exclusivity clause is absurd. That goes for the US and Canada. ESPN, while it would be nice, is facing big issues for overpaying for their other 3 major TV deals, including the NBA. One of ESPN, FOX, or even CBS/Turner (not sure where they would fit it though) needs to be involved. NBC deserves to stay the top dog though.

5 year max contract length would solve a lot of issues

that way players can enter UFA status much earlier
- Stripes77

It also allows teams to reshape their rosters due to bad contracts much earlier too.

The PA caters to the highest paid stars. With the game getting younger, and the attractiveness of signing young players to big buck contracts increases, I think the PA will be seeking to lower the RFA age. That's what the union will fight for imo. If the league is willing to lower the UFA age 2 or 3 years, there might be a conversation about non-guaranteed contracts
- jcragcrumple

The NHLPA should have major issues with year 4. Players aren't arb eligible and the current offer sheet system is borderline collusion.

I'd say they cater to veterans, more than stars, and they are getting squeezed out right now. I almost expect them to do something that hurts younger players.

Yeah I wouldn't go that far, it wouldn't be fair for teams to spend all that time developing a player to just lose them as they are starting to really become players
- Stripes77

I'd take it if it meant that guaranteed contracts go away, or contracts could be renegotiated. Imagine if we could renegotiate the contract with Okposo, or cut him

Ristolainen will be moved. The only problem is the Sabres will not trade unless they get big value. Don’t be surprised if there isn’t a big trade with multiple players.
Phil Housley was hated in the locker room. He has a lot of issues and should never ever be a head coach.
- Buffalo39

39 I appreciate the information

Any chance the Sabres hired phail lousley to :

Make eichel happy that it was a players coach instead of disco? Especially prior to his extension?

To try and get dahlin/ tkachuk and pick early again last year?

Ristolainen will be moved. The only problem is the Sabres will not trade unless they get big value. Don’t be surprised if there isn’t a big trade with multiple players.
Phil Housley was hated in the locker room. He has a lot of issues and should never ever be a head coach.
- Buffalo39

39 I appreciate the information

Any chance the Sabres hired phail lousley to :

Make eichel happy that it was a players coach instead of disco? Especially prior to his extension?

To try and get dahlin/ tkachuk and pick early again last year?

I'd take it if it meant that guaranteed contracts go away, or contracts could be renegotiated. Imagine if we could renegotiate the contract with Okposo, or cut him
- jcragcrumple

Eh I wouldn't

I also don't see the players union giving up guaranteed contracts

But I think the owners would go for a max term of 5 years considering they are seeing all the buyouts and wasted money they've been shelling out because of bad GMs

The NHLPA should have major issues with year 4. Players aren't arb eligible and the current offer sheet system is borderline collusion.

I'd say they cater to veterans, more than stars, and they are getting squeezed out right now. I almost expect them to do something that hurts younger players.
- Lunaion

I agree to some extent, but i don't think the union cares much about the mid-tier vets at all. At some point i think that the union will realize that the highest potential earners are the increasingly young stars of the game. If Rantanen, Marner and Point had more leverage to hit UFA, there's more potential for money.

Eh I wouldn't

I also don't see the players union giving up guaranteed contracts

But I think the owners would go for a max term of 5 years considering they are seeing all the buyouts and wasted money they've been shelling out because of bad GMs
- Stripes77

Agreed. The crap that goes on with NFL contracts is absurd.

I agree to some extent, but i don't think the union cares much about the mid-tier vets at all. At some point i think that the union will realize that the highest potential earners are the increasingly young stars of the game. If Rantanen, Marner and Point had more leverage to hit UFA, there's more potential for money.
- jcragcrumple

It's coming from the same pool of money though. I think they care way more about the plight of mid-tier vets than young stars. Their salaries are soaring, faster than the NHLPA would like.

Eh I wouldn't

I also don't see the players union giving up guaranteed contracts

But I think the owners would go for a max term of 5 years considering they are seeing all the buyouts and wasted money they've been shelling out because of bad GMs
- Stripes77

What about something like:
- UFA status starts at 25
- Pre-UFA, players can't sign longer than 5 years
- Post-UFA status, players can sign up to 7 years with their original team
- Post-UFA status, players can sign up to 6 years with new team

It's coming from the same pool of money though. I think they care way more about the plight of mid-tier vets than young stars. Their salaries are soaring, faster than the NHLPA would like.
- Lunaion

Yeah, you have to be careful here if you're the NHLPA. You could end up with a system where you don't see very many players over 30 in the league. Paying pensions for an extra 10 years per player is a big deal.

Eh I wouldn't

I also don't see the players union giving up guaranteed contracts

But I think the owners would go for a max term of 5 years considering they are seeing all the buyouts and wasted money they've been shelling out because of bad GMs
- Stripes77

The last two years show that this new wave of GMs are getting smarter.

Who was the last 6-7 year deal other than Panarin?

Max deal is 3-4 years for UFA currently.
Mince the last of the dinosaurs are pushed out UFA is going to change drastically.

In 3-4 years UFA is going to look much much different.

a guy that’s probably going to be a regular 30 goal score Some people want to toss him into deals


If he plays with jack I have no doubt he’ll get 70pts this year
- gerbe75pts

Apparently we just need to have Jack play with everyone so everyone will score 30-50 goals. Can one team have multiple Rocket Richard winners?

The last two years show that this new wave of GMs are getting smarter.

Who was the last 6-7 year deal other than Panarin?

Max deal is 3-4 years for UFA currently.
Mince the last of the dinosaurs are pushed out UFA is going to change drastically.

In 3-4 years UFA is going to look much much different.
- ImThatGuy

skinner
bob

It's coming from the same pool of money though. I think they care way more about the plight of mid-tier vets than young stars. Their salaries are soaring, faster than the NHLPA would like.
- Lunaion

That's where i think it will change. The market has changed, and the PA will realize that their most valuable asset is the young players. A lot has changed in 10 years. Some of the biggest deals given this summer will be RFA deals