2025-2026 NHL Offseason

Indifference71

MayDay10 wrote:

Indifference71 wrote:

Apparently talks have broken off. The owners didn't like the player's latest proposal where the players made a TON of concessions. This whole thing is a fucking joke.

I dont really see any concessions. They took the concessions the owners made, kept them in there, and then threw in some awful ones like a 6 year length of CBA (when NHL (and fans) wants 10 with an option for both sides at 8), The NHL giving back $100 million on the make-whole was based on the CBA length.... and an 8-year limit in contract term.... how many contracts are >8 years? Thats not a concession.

the NHL was ready to make a deal last night. I feel very confident if the NHLPA put last night's deal up for a vote, it would pass

So the players agreeing to go to 50 % of revenue from 57% isn't a concession???

Also, the whole contract length thing is comical. If the owners don't like these long term contracts, then DON'T FUCKING SIGN GUYS TO 13 YEAR CONTRACTS. Pretty simple.

Indifference71

MayDay10 wrote:

After sleeping on it, I still believe we see a deal before Christmas.

A player came out and said they were ready to play Wednesday, but Fehr told them to hang on because he could get more. The player said most players wanted that deal and the lockout is only serving top players like Miller and Richards who are in front of the spotlight making it look like they are sacrificing.

When this is over, Fehr will either look like a genius or a complete fucking moron. I'm leaning towards the latter.

MayDay10

Indifference71 wrote:

Also, the whole contract length thing is comical. If the owners don't like these long term contracts, then DON'T FUCKING SIGN GUYS TO 13 YEAR CONTRACTS. Pretty simple.

they cant do that. It would be illegal. The framwork of the CBA needs to put limits on things such as that.

Indifference71

MayDay10 wrote:

Indifference71 wrote:

Also, the whole contract length thing is comical. If the owners don't like these long term contracts, then DON'T FUCKING SIGN GUYS TO 13 YEAR CONTRACTS. Pretty simple.

they cant do that. It would be illegal. The framwork of the CBA needs to put limits on things such as that.

How would that be illegal? There isn't a limit on contract length right now, is there? I just assumed there wasn't with these 12-13 year contracts that are out there.

MayDay10

they cant "agree" to keep low contract lengths out there. Thats collusion and players' and agents' lawyers would be all over the NHL

With the cap, teams who can afford risk keep tacking on more and more years. There is currently no limit, so that is one way for these teams to up the ante (and stretch into a players' retirement years). Now the smaller market teams, in order to not lose their players and fans are forced to keep up and also provide matching long-terms.

Plus you see players playing hard, signing on for 10 years, then cruise control. f-that. For a fan, a term limit is good IMO.

polaris_x

MayDay10 wrote:

theyll be back next week and I still think there will be a deal by Christmas.

its a frustrating exercise and it didnt need to be this way. Donald Fehr was completely the wrong play IMO.

i think bettman summed it up best by saying this is collective bargaining ... it means there is posturing ... it means you can't take everything at face value ... anyone who's ever been part of negotiations realizes this ...

not sure why the players are holding out for a shorter CBA? ...

Indifference71

MayDay10 wrote:

they cant "agree" to keep low contract lengths out there. Thats collusion and players' and agents' lawyers would be all over the NHL

With the cap, teams who can afford risk keep tacking on more and more years. There is currently no limit, so that is one way for these teams to up the ante (and stretch into a players' retirement years). Now the smaller market teams, in order to not lose their players and fans are forced to keep up and also provide matching long-terms.

Plus you see players playing hard, signing on for 10 years, then cruise control. f-that. For a fan, a term limit is good IMO.

Yeah, that makes sense. I just find it funny that there were a bunch of long term contracts signed over the summer before the CBA expired and now they are adamant about a 5 year max contract for free agents.

A term limit of some sort does make sense, but to expect the players to agree on there being no limit to a 5 year max is a bit much.

This whole thing just sucks.

fife

MayDay10 wrote:

Indifference71 wrote:

Also, the whole contract length thing is comical. If the owners don't like these long term contracts, then DON'T FUCKING SIGN GUYS TO 13 YEAR CONTRACTS. Pretty simple.

they cant do that. It would be illegal. The framwork of the CBA needs to put limits on things such as that.

yes your right that it is illegal. I don't think the 5 year max contract is actually that big of an issue. I think we all know that it will be 6 years max and 8 year for signing your own players. similar to the NBA

MayDay10

polaris_x wrote:

not sure why the players are holding out for a shorter CBA? ...

this is confusing to me. Maybe because the owners want a long one?

I suspect maybe they will be getting down to 50% right before that 6-year mark, and once they do, they can try to get more at that time?

Which would be shitty

polaris_x

MayDay10 wrote:

polaris_x wrote:

not sure why the players are holding out for a shorter CBA? ...

this is confusing to me. Maybe because the owners want a long one?

I suspect maybe they will be getting down to 50% right before that 6-year mark, and once they do, they can try to get more at that time?

Which would be shitty

my theory now is: fehr gets to have another facetime session sooner ...

MayDay10

fife wrote:

MayDay10 wrote:

Indifference71 wrote:

Also, the whole contract length thing is comical. If the owners don't like these long term contracts, then DON'T FUCKING SIGN GUYS TO 13 YEAR CONTRACTS. Pretty simple.

they cant do that. It would be illegal. The framwork of the CBA needs to put limits on things such as that.

yes your right that it is illegal. I don't think the 5 year max contract is actually that big of an issue. I think we all know that it will be 6 years max and 8 year for signing your own players. similar to the NBA

I think that would be perfectly fair.

polaris_x

MayDay10 wrote:

fife wrote:

yes your right that it is illegal. I don't think the 5 year max contract is actually that big of an issue. I think we all know that it will be 6 years max and 8 year for signing your own players. similar to the NBA

I think that would be perfectly fair.

except daly said that the contract limit is the "hill they'll die on" ...

MayDay10

polaris_x wrote:

MayDay10 wrote:

fife wrote:

yes your right that it is illegal. I don't think the 5 year max contract is actually that big of an issue. I think we all know that it will be 6 years max and 8 year for signing your own players. similar to the NBA

I think that would be perfectly fair.

except daly said that the contract limit is the "hill they'll die on" ...

yeah, he did say that, but maybe just to create a perception that moving to 6 years is a huge step.

I think theyll get it done within 14 days

Indifference71

MayDay10 wrote:

I think theyll get it done within 14 days

As shitty as everything is right now, I agree with you. They are way too close to not make a deal. Let all these egomaniacs cool off for a few days and then get back at it next week.

polaris_x

it's really too bad these negotiations are being played out at the expense of the fans ... what with twitter and social media now - it's like that girl in high school who wanted to be friends but then maybe a bit more but maybe not ... just make up your damn mind ... i don't have a car ok ... i can fit you on my bike ... deal with it ... ok - i digress ...

it's clear that the owners are trying to break this union ... they are trying to bust it wide open ... both sides should just stfu and don't bother saying anything until a deal is either done or they cancel the season ...

lukin2006

MayDay10 wrote:

they cant "agree" to keep low contract lengths out there. Thats collusion and players' and agents' lawyers would be all over the NHL

With the cap, teams who can afford risk keep tacking on more and more years. There is currently no limit, so that is one way for these teams to up the ante (and stretch into a players' retirement years). Now the smaller market teams, in order to not lose their players and fans are forced to keep up and also provide matching long-terms.

Plus you see players playing hard, signing on for 10 years, then cruise control. f-that. For a fan, a term limit is good IMO.

It's only collusion if they discuss with other owners their intentions and all owners agree to do the same thing ... nothing says an owner can't tell his GM "no contracts longer than 5 years", the owners are just looking to protect themselves from each other.

MayDay10

polaris_x wrote:

it's really too bad these negotiations are being played out at the expense of the fans ... what with twitter and social media now - it's like that girl in high school who wanted to be friends but then maybe a bit more but maybe not ... just make up your damn mind ... i don't have a car ok ... i can fit you on my bike ... deal with it ... ok - i digress ...

it's clear that the owners are trying to break this union ... they are trying to bust it wide open ... both sides should just stfu and don't bother saying anything until a deal is either done or they cancel the season ...

I agree. They are definitely playing on the fans. Intentionally. At least last time, we had only Eklund's lies to keep us "informed"

I know I chime in a lot here... but I really dont care all that much whether they play or not.
I get excited when they are close.... but not really disappointed when it becomes posturing. I feel more like I want to see both sides cut off their noses to spite their faces.
I have like $2300 in my tickets and the less they play, the more extra money I have.

lukin2006

If a deal gets done it won't be till the middle of January ... then the season will be just long enough that the season looks meaningful ... they'll only have to pay a third of the salaries ... and make big money in the playoffs.

Also would not be totally surprised if season is wiped out.

As long as Jacobs and Snider continue their hardline approach a deal will be very difficult to get done at this point.

lukin2006

Don Cherry’s never seen Gary Bettman like this before.

The Hockey Night in Canada commentator took to Twitter on Thursday night to comment on the NHL commissioner’s heated news conference in New York City.

“I have known Gary Bettman since he was named commissioner,” Cherry wrote. “I have never seen him so livid as he was tonight at the press conference.

“He was almost shaking. That was no act.”

Bettman held the conference after two days of intense but optimistic negotiations with the NHL Players’ Association fell apart.

Union head Donald Fehr held a news conference in the early evening when he said the NHLPA had tabled an offer that he felt made real progress to ending the 82-day old lockout.

Minutes later, Fehr spoke to the assembled media again, saying the owners had rejected the offer.

Bettman then held a third news conference where he explained the NHL’s reasons for turning down the NHLPA’s offer and took some shots at his union counterpart.

Cherry theorized on Twitter as to what happened with the owners behind the scene.

“There were owners who I’ll call doves who were against the hawks. The hawks said ok we’ll do it your way and the doves put an extra 100 million on the table and when the association said ok but . . . The doves turned into hawks themselves,” Cherry wrote. “I believe the hardliners said to the doves ok we did it your way and the association thinks we are weak . . .

“Now we’ll do it our way . . . ”

The former Boston Bruins coach then added: “Looks like I will see a lot more of Marlies, Junior and Minor Midget games this year.”

Cherry was still tweeting on the situation Friday morning.

“The fans are blaming Fehr for the situation we are in now. Remember I said a month ago I don’t like the sound that Fehr didn’t come out of retirement to lose.

“I’ve got a solution so Fehr won’t be blamed. Have a secret ballot, yes I said secret ballot. If you take a show of hands you’re not going to say nay if the guy in front says yay. Guys don’t want to look like a chicken and caving into the NHL.

“If the vote says we carry on with the fight we carry on the war. If the vote says let’s accept the offer, accept it. Majority rules I think that’s the way it should be. With a secret ballot you have nothing to lose!”

MayDay10

I agree with everything Coach says there.