The NHL just recent lost a whole season to a lockout (2004-2005). I blame that lockout for preventing the Tampa Bay Lightning from becoming a strong Southern hockey market. I blame that lockout for slowing the development of Detroit superstars Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg. I blame it for robbing hockey fans from one more season of Nicklas Lidstrom, Teemu Selanne, Brendan Shanahan, Joe Sakic, Steve Yzerman, Chris Chelios, and many more. I blame that lockout for me quitting playing hockey.
It sucked. And here we are again.
The players won't take pay cuts even though some NHL franchises are losing tens of millions ever year. The owners want to impose huge and drastic pay cuts and changes to player contracts. Meanwhile it's the fans and many other organizational employees who really get the shaft.
The players won't budge from their 57% of revenue. The owners are asking them to lower it to below 50%. They're going to end up having to meet somewhere in the middle. What those percentages will be is anyone's guess, though close to 50/50 seems to be a good one. Here's some ideas to help make meeting in the middle easier to stomach for both parties:
- Implement a second contract. Currently, there is a set 3 year rookie contract. The owners wanted this upped to 5 years in their first proposal. Instead, make a second 2 year contract where players don't have unattainable bonuses but have salaries that are relatively easy for teams to stomach (i.e. no more making $6+ million per year after your rookie contract expires).
- Limit contract lengths to ten years. Ten years is still more or less a life contract, and would avoid most of the cap circumventing deals in the league.
- Allow the players to form small committees that work with the NHL in the following areas: health & safety; relocation, alignment, & scheduling; rules; and equipment. This gives the players the partnership that they seem to be seeking.
- Insure players after retirement for any health issues that can be linked to acquiring a concussion from playing NHL hockey or any other health issue that may prevent players from acquiring post-retirement jobs.
- Increase revenue sharing. This shouldn't be a problem as both sides seem to recognize a need for this. Make it work better from the players' point-of-view though.
We'll see which of these happen, if any besides the fifth point. I just hope we have NHL hockey soon.
