Comments on: Bissonnette says he’d take a salary rollback

By: jimw81

jimw81 — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 17:30:18 +0000

it’s the only thing players could do at this point. i wouldnt be surprise they do it within a week. owners are so anti-mediator, that’s the problem. there position is it’s our way or arena doors stay lock up.

By: id4joey

id4joey — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 17:28:26 +0000

shotzongoal, It was reported that the NHL would like the next CBA to be retroactive. That is, all previously awarded front loaded contracts would be subject to the new CBA terms. We’re not talking about only contracts signed over the summer of 2012, not that it matters because one would think that anything signed before the expiration of the last CBA would not be affected by the next CBA, of course exception is made for the players share of HRR which should be a percentage anyways. In other words, the structure of a contract should be honored based on the CBA in existence when the contract was signed. Again, the PA would like front loaded contracts like Luongo’s and Hossa’s to be honored. However, the owners don’t want to honor them. So, this could lead to the players making a request to decertify the union, which will give them other legal avenues to pursue the owners to have current contract structures honored.

By: shotzongoal

shotzongoal — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 16:57:49 +0000

The player’s salaries are based on the CBA percentages of gross revenues or total sales. The owners know this, the players know this, the player’s agents know this and the union knows this. Before the old CBA expired, when all the multi-million dollar, multi-year contracts were, sought out by the agents, offered by the owners and gleefully accepted by the players, everyone involved knew these would be contingent on the new CBA. There should be no surprises. The owners may have to cram a 57% salary into a 50% limit. Again everyone, player, agents, union officials and owners knew this could be a possibility. Both the players and owners are at fault for this mess but in reality it think everyone involved went into this with eyes wide open.

By: tbbolts91

tbbolts91 — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 15:50:37 +0000

God I feel bad for you. The lightning lucked out with Jeff Vinik. $40,000,000 rennovation and ticket prices stayed the same (for me at least)

By: gallyhatch

gallyhatch — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 14:29:14 +0000

Glad to know I’m not the only person who subscribes to the completely insane idea that Bettman is an extension/ employee of the owners and not the other way around. Do people really think he would still have a job if the owners didn’t like what he was doing? It’s their league, not his.

Thumbs down all you want, but this lockout is between the players & owners, not Fehr & Bettman; blaming the representatives of the two parties is ridiculous.

By: pastabelly

pastabelly — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 14:04:02 +0000

He’s right about Jacobs. He is a selfish POS. The Bruins are very profitable and now spend to the cap. He’d love to spend much less and make obscene profits. Thanks for doubling ticket prices over three tears, you selfish prick. He is why I side with the players.

By: id4joey

id4joey — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 09:45:47 +0000

At this point one has to wonder if the players will take a page out of the NBA labor negotiations from last year. Will the players make a move to decertify the PA to force the hand of the owners, or will they push for a mediator. Certainly viable options as dissention will continue to increase within the membership.

By: stakex

stakex — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 07:16:16 +0000

The thing is, people who attack the owners for giving out big contracts right before fighting to roll back said cotnracts have a narrow minded view of the situation.

First of all, it wasn’t just the owners giving out these deals like candy during the summer… it was also players demanding these deals. Why? Becuase the players knew damn well that a salary rollback was a very real possibility going into the CBA talks, and that other changes might be made to contracts (like length limits). So yeah, you can say its hypocritical for owners to give out these deals and then demand a rollabck. However in a lot of cases the owners were pretty much forced to give out such deals or risk losing valuable players.

Theres really no one to blame in all that and no fingers should be pointed. Its business. The players wanted to get the best deal possible, and the owners didn’t want to miss out on or lose good players due to CBA uncertainty… and both sides were well aware of the pending CBA talks.

By: stakex

stakex — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 07:03:26 +0000

These are probably the most all around level-headed comments I’ve seen from either side in a long time. He not only accepts that this is just business…. but also accepts the reality of the situation.

By: antkowiak666

antkowiak666 — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 05:43:24 +0000

i imagine Cole will be posting any second now saying that he is pissed off at Biz as well.

By: valoisvipers

valoisvipers — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 05:04:28 +0000

For all those of you out there that feel the owners that signed players to big contracts knowing that they would roll them back, therefore cheating the players out of money. I ask this then, how would the players feel if the owners signed them to their regular sized overpaid contracts then went for a roll back? Now that would be more like cheating them out of money wouldn’t it?

By: jimw81

jimw81 — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 04:49:31 +0000

Bissonnette nailed it. there will be no real progress unless a owner like jacobs is involved on the other side. You don’t see an reasonable person like shananhan or a yzerman in the room on the owners side and there is reason for it. Look at the last lockout, lou lamoriello was the voice of reason for both sides and they were able to get it resolved.