Jeremy Laura: The Chasm between players and owners

At this point, Walsh is saying that some players are losing 72% of their pay.

Quick clarification: what he said is that players will be receiving 72% of their pay (before taxes, granted), not losing 72%. That's what you'd be left with if you took away 20% escrow and then deferred 10% of what's left.

Quick clarification: what he said is that players will be receiving 72% of their pay (before taxes, granted), not losing 72%. That's what you'd be left with if you took away 20% escrow and then deferred 10% of what's left.
- Sven22

Many thanks my friend.

Not sure how you can blame the league, after they willingly worked with the players
and tried to pay them what they could, looking at 82 games season in July/August.
Now that it is not possible to play 82, of course prorated salary is in play.
Escrow could have been 70% and Salary Cap 50 million, if the league "followed the CBA they signed"
Not to mention the existing "Force majeure" clause in the same CBA.

Just thinking out loud:
If the season is prorated to the # of games to be played, I imagine the cap would be too. But what if it wasn't....... That would put everyone out of cap hell

Question: If TB retained $2M of TJ's salary, can the team that acquires him flip him to another team and retain half of their salary ($1.5M of the remaining $3M) or would the CBA limit them to only half of TJ's original salary and they can retain only $.5M more???

I asked this on another blog, but it was not answered directly.

Not sure how you can blame the league, after they willingly worked with the players
and tried to pay them what they could, looking at 82 games season in July/August.
Now that it is not possible to play 82, of course prorated salary is in play.
Escrow could have been 70% and Salary Cap 50 million, if the league "followed the CBA they signed"
Not to mention the existing "Force majeure" clause in the same CBA.
- StargateSG1

I agree on the work, I wish they would be a bit more clear on the updated requests. Let them know what the debt ratio is, etc.

Just thinking out loud:
If the season is prorated to the # of games to be played, I imagine the cap would be too. But what if it wasn't....... That would put everyone out of cap hell


- HenryHockey

That’s the craziness. Without a definite number of games yet, there is still no talk on what that would look like. The players already got their first check and I believe it was based on a full season. For sure the signing bonuses set things back a bit. 4 players in Toronto can’t defer 10% of their cap hit due to the structure of bonuses (25 m shortfall). Things are messy

Question: If TB retained $2M of TJ's salary, can the team that acquires him flip him to another team and retain half of their salary ($1.5M of the remaining $3M) or would the CBA limit them to only half of TJ's original salary and they can retain only $.5M more???

I asked this on another blog, but it was not answered directly.
- HenryHockey

I have no idea. That is a fantastic question. We’ve seen three way deals where one team retained and got a draft pick. Not sure if more than 50% total can be retained. Got question H2

I agree on the work, I wish they would be a bit more clear on the updated requests. Let them know what the debt ratio is, etc.
- Jeremy Laura

The additional requests are out there, it's not a secret.

https://www.hockeyfeed.co...ayers-over-salary-demands

The additional requests are out there, it's not a secret.

https://www.hockeyfeed.co...ayers-over-salary-demands
- StargateSG1

No, I mean the motivating factors behind the request. All players see is the extra $. If Bettman could sit with the PA and say, “this is the total lost revenue., and it is much higher than our projections. We dont have a tv deal, etc.”. This situation needs special considerations. My hope is that the PA would be much more flexible if all the cards were down on the table. Agents are acting like nothing has changed since June. A lot has changed and the picture is vastly different

If you go back to the 2008 championship DVD, it talks about the recession back then. It’s impressive to hear Draper and McCarty talk about the fans still buying tickets and jerseys. So many guys that moved to the front offices has a grasp on how and where the finances came in. It feels like there is more of a disconnect in the younger generation. This may well help them to realize how much people give up to be able to watch the sport.

what happens if no games are played, do players get paid ?

If you go back to the 2008 championship DVD, it talks about the recession back then. It’s impressive to hear Draper and McCarty talk about the fans still buying tickets and jerseys. So many guys that moved to the front offices has a grasp on how and where the finances came in. It feels like there is more of a disconnect in the younger generation. This may well help them to realize how much people give up to be able to watch the sport.
- Jeremy Laura

Recession? One of my better years! So good I could afford to retire! (my 1st retirement) Took all of 2009 and 1/2 of 2010 off! Then was offered a job I could not turn down for another 5 1/2 year run! Did not have to live in a motel rm that last 5 1/2 yrs!!! Work was all 12 - 16 miles from home! Blessed in da UP!

what happens if no games are played, do players get paid ?
- bosman

They don't belong to the teacher's union!


No, actually that is what they are trying to remedy to pay at a pro-rated basis as to the # of games that will be available to play in. They already recieved their 1st checks for the season and bonus money! I imagine Dec 1 might be another pay day per the CBA.

what happens if no games are played, do players get paid ?
- bosman

Apart from the check they’ve already gotten, probably. The league would have to announce that fairly soon, (before the next payments go out). It would basically be like a lockout at that point

Question: If TB retained $2M of TJ's salary, can the team that acquires him flip him to another team and retain half of their salary ($1.5M of the remaining $3M) or would the CBA limit them to only half of TJ's original salary and they can retain only $.5M more???
- HenryHockey

The second and third teams in this scenario could split the remainder 50-50, or in other words $2 million - $1.5 million - $1.5 million between the three teams. This actually happened like five or six years ago to Devan Dubnyk, whose contract was at one point split 50-25-25 between Edmonton, Nashville, and Montreal (though he never ended up playing any games for the Canadiens).

Recession? One of my better years! So good I could afford to retire! (my 1st retirement) Took all of 2009 and 1/2 of 2010 off! Then was offered a job I could not turn down for another 5 1/2 year run! Did not have to live in a motel rm that last 5 1/2 yrs!!! Work was all 12 - 16 miles from home! Blessed in da UP!
- HenryHockey

That’s awesome! When we were first married, my wife and I asked around St. Ignace how people “make it” up there. For tourism, you make your money in about 6 months and then Buckle up for winter! I didn’t think we could do it. I love the U.P., we’ve got all the way up and then down into Wisconsin. Just beautiful

I keep looking at our roster, and Tyler Johnson is not someone we really need anymore. The fact is that we have 6 that can play center on the roster NOW, and another 4 in GR. True, TJ could be a 2C here, but we already have a crowded roster and trades are not easy right now. I guess that is why the price to move salary is going to sky rocket!
I thought that Stevie could get TJ and then retain more salary and flip him to a team for picks that could use more depth at C, such as the Rangers. But 4 more years on his contract is also a big issue! A depth C should only have 1 or 2 yrs left on his term. We probably would do better to get Killorn in that regard. He only has 2 yrs left.
It would be nice to do this:
Johnson (retain $1M) and Killorn and a 3rd to Detroit for Nielsen ($2.625M retained),
TB cuts $5.725M in salary and a 1st was not required! TB gets a 3rd or 4th line C that is a PK specialist and all around good guy who only makes $2.65M AAV for 2 more yrs. And now JBB can sign Sergachev and Cernak and only has to figure a move to get Cirreli under contract!
Stevie then retains more salary and flips TJ to NYR or someone who needs depth at C for picks!

That’s awesome! When we were first married, my wife and I asked around St. Ignace how people “make it” up there. For tourism, you make your money in about 6 months and then Buckle up for winter! I didn’t think we could do it. I love the U.P., we’ve got all the way up and then down into Wisconsin. Just beautiful
- Jeremy Laura

Yes, I lived in the Iron Mt area for 10 yrs and it is a very desireable location. Would relly like to go back there but for my wife's sense of duty to her family that lives here. Less snow than here too.

No, I mean the motivating factors behind the request. All players see is the extra $. If Bettman could sit with the PA and say, “this is the total lost revenue., and it is much higher than our projections. We dont have a tv deal, etc.”. This situation needs special considerations. My hope is that the PA would be much more flexible if all the cards were down on the table. Agents are acting like nothing has changed since June. A lot has changed and the picture is vastly different
- Jeremy Laura

So, just got my NHL Center Ice bill.....at least I know I’m contributing SOMETHING to the overall health of the NHL. 😕😏

I think there will be movement within the next couple of weeks, something has to give. But I feel COVID is already lending its un-wanted vote.

Be safe ya’ll.

It would seem like a horrible decision to have a bunch of teams opt out of the season and still try to have one. The bottom line either revenue supports having a season or it doesn't.

The NHLPA needs to get the boys on the ice. Their viewership would be through the roof given the severe lack of sports on TV right now. And I'm sorry, but the NHLPA forced their way into being partners with the NHL, and now that times are not prosporous, are going to have to take some losses on their end. That's how business works in the big boy world.

So.... If possible take a larger differal (because you can get that back!!!) and keep escrow as low as possible. That's it. Now if you boys want to make the big bucks, you'd better be prepared to play! Don't expect any compensation for games you don't play.

It would seem like a horrible decision to have a bunch of teams opt out of the season and still try to have one. The bottom line either revenue supports having a season or it doesn't.
- Queenie_5_hole

Yup. Agreed. Think of all the AHL guys who would kill for a shot to wear their clubs NHL jersey, make 900k, and have their family watch them on TV. The show must go on, and I honestly think going back to the Bubble is their best option, only with a couple tweaks. Each club should have 2 teams (split squad), so one squad can be at home, training independently, while the other is in the bubble. There would be no shortage of great stories to follow, and the Bubble was run perfectly for the playoffs. It's not ideal, but it worked last time.

It would seem like a horrible decision to have a bunch of teams opt out of the season and still try to have one. The bottom line either revenue supports having a season or it doesn't.
- Queenie_5_hole

It would definitely change the landscape drastically. The league took ownership of the Coyotes for a few years to keep that team from closing shop. The grim reality of finances for teams that struggle normally is hard to fathom right now.