Report: NHL, NHLPA agree on cap formula

[sahyder1]

Report: NHL, NHLPA agree on cap formula

TSN.ca Staff with CP, Globe and Mail files

6/8/2005 2:06:13 PM

The Globe and Mail reports that the NHL and NHL Players' Association have agreed on a formula for a salary-cap system based on team-by-team revenue.

The salary-cap issue was seen as the biggest hurdle in talks for a new collective bargaining agreement.

According to the Globe's league and player sources, a salary floor and cap will based on a percentage of each NHL team's revenue. The paper adds that in the first year - based on revenue projections by both sides - the salary cap will range from $34 million to $36 million US, with the floor from $22 million to $24 million US.

The Globe also reports that the formula calls for a dollar-for-dollar luxury tax to kick in at the halfway mark between the floor and the cap. If the floor of the lowest team is $22 million US and the cap on the highest team is $36 million US, then the 'tax level' will be $29 million US.

The formula would allow wealthier teams to spend a bit more money, but would also bridge the large gaps in spending between higher payroll teams and lower payroll teams.

Small group labour talks between both sides ended late Tuesday night and resume today in New York with a larger group meeting.

Both sides have carried over the momentum from last week when 34 hours of talks were described as 'progressive' from both sides.

There are several issues to iron out, but sources in both camps believe there's a chance a deal could be done before July. Still, both sides also concede there are potential pitfalls that could prevent an agreement from being reached.

Today's session is the 21st meeting between the two sides since the season was cancelled Feb. 16.

NHL vice-president and chief legal officer Bill Daly and NHLPA senior director Ted Saskin declined to confirm or deny anything to The Globe and Mail.

Files from CP and The Globe and Mail were used for this report.

[Summers]

Either way, players get paid WAY too much. But the same happens in all sports, it's just clear more of a problem in Hockey. Which is a damn shame, as it's my second (third if you count F1 as a sport) favourite sport.

[Enter Blue Guy]

Bah, all that bullshit is behind me now.... I'm going to buy Leaf season tickets A.S.A.P... Ok, I don't have that kind of cash, but you can bet your sweet ass I'm going to as many games as humanly possible (on my budget) next season.

I've been had Matt Stajan withdrawl syndrome for too long.

Edited June 8, 2005 by Enter Blue Guy

[The Sultan of Swank]

Oh this is good stuff. I'm gonna convince my dad the benefits of spending money on season tickets on the company's account.

I need Souray!

[Miami Vice]

Good to hear. Now my Sens can finally win the cup!

[Lowerdeck]

Some Canadian team better win the Cup now.

I don't have a favorite NHL team, I don't follow any level of hockey well, but my AHL team left (Worcester, for Peoria IL).

[Miami Vice]

I was thinking more about this new system and I came to realize that several teams are FUCKED!

The Leafs are screwed big time. They like the Yankees of hockey as in they're all old with one or maybe two young guys ready to make any type of contribution. With their payroll being so high and no talent in the farm team to come in I think we may see a couple of years where the Leafs miss the playoffs! And you know what, I'd love it! I'm a big Sens fan so to say I hate the Leafs is like saying the sky is blue.

Others teams fucked include Detroit, New York Rangers, Colorado and I think Boston.

Looks like the age of Minnesota, Nashville, Edmonton, Montréal and Calgary ruling the NHL are coming, and I think I'm really going to enjoy it!

[Gabriel]

Either way, players get paid WAY too much. But the same happens in all sports, it's just clear more of a problem in Hockey. Which is a damn shame, as it's my second (third if you count F1 as a sport) favourite sport.

←

[Malenko]

This is good news though. There better be some fucking hockey this year, because I really missed it.

←

[Lowerdeck]

I was thinking more about this new system and I came to realize that several teams are FUCKED!

The Leafs are screwed big time. They like the Yankees of hockey as in they're all old with one or maybe two young guys ready to make any type of contribution. With their payroll being so high and no talent in the farm team to come in I think we may see a couple of years where the Leafs miss the playoffs! And you know what, I'd love it! I'm a big Sens fan so to say I hate the Leafs is like saying the sky is blue.

Others teams fucked include Detroit, New York Rangers, Colorado and I think Boston.

Looks like the age of Minnesota, Nashville, Edmonton, Montréal and Calgary ruling the NHL are coming, and I think I'm really going to enjoy it!

←

Boston's owner is cheap as hell. Which is why I've never been a Bruins fan. I too will enjoy seeing the small market teams doing well.

And seriously ... the Rangers already have been fucked. They're strategy of spending on overpriced, aging crap has not been working for years now.

[Jester of Death]

It will be interesting to see how they handle the draft, with Sidney Crosby being the no-brainer #1 pick.

I've read they are going in a fantasy-style draft order.

Round 1: 1-30 Round 2: 30-1 etc...

Maybe a lottery or fan vote!!!

[The_Icon]

Actually, Boston are safe as hell. I think they have something around $18 million committed to the payroll for the upcoming season. A lot of teams are like that nowadays.

I'm just worried about what'll happen with my 'Nucks. Rumors around town have Nazzi and Bert leaving sometime soon, which isn't too surprising.

[Guest Wrestling_Man]

This is good news though. There better be some fucking hockey this year, because I really missed it.

←

echo.

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[triplexpac]

This is good news though. There better be some fucking hockey this year, because I really missed it.

←

echo.

←

[Guest sabresfan11]

I miss hockey alot esically going to the games and proudly cheering for Satan

[oldskool]

From what I saw, they're considering increasing the goal size 4 inches, shrinking goalie pads, making the red line the line for offsides (but the blue line stays the line for offsides when you enter the zone; once you're in, it switches to the red line).

EDIT: Wohoo, 1500 posts. I'm hardcore! I'm hardcore!

Edited June 16, 2005 by oldskool

[Malenko]

I miss hockey alot esically going to the games and proudly cheering for Satan

←

[Miami Vice]

Some of the rule changes they will 100% use include smaller goalie equipment and no touch icing. I think the tag up offside are almost a sure thing too. As for the nets and other fundamental changes, they are still talking things over and looking at different ideas.

Needless to say the NHL as we knew it will be long gone whenever they get back to playing. New economics, new rules, new game.

[sahyder1]

AHL's Toronto Marlies appoint Paul Maurice as head coach Friday

PIERRE LEBRUN

June 24, 2005

TORONTO (CP) - The Toronto Maple Leafs put their AHL farm team in the care of former Carolina Hurricanes coach Paul Maurice on Friday.

The move was more than just an AHL coaching hire. It's part of GM John Ferguson's planning for the NHL's new economic landscape, where drafting and developing players will take on a more important role given the financial constraints around the corner.

Draft picks will no longer be thrown away for big-ticket stars with big-ticket salaries. Those draft picks must now become players the Leafs will count on down the road.

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That's why Ferguson hired former Calgary Flames GM Craig Button last year as one of the Leafs' professional scouts. Button is a respected hockey mind who has a sharp eye for talent and will help the organization beef up its talent depth.

Appointing Maurice head coach of the AHL Toronto Marlies can also be read as another effort by the Leafs to beef up their player development portfolio.

"Absolutely," Ferguson said at a news conference. "He has earned that big name through his record, his experience, and at one point being the longest tenured NHL head coach. And he's still only 38 years old. And yes, this is an area that we have chosen to re-allocate our funds and invest wisely in our future.

"Paul, really, in so many ways, is an organizational asset that we identified and we have now procured."

So while the Leafs can no longer outspend other teams on player salaries, they can certainly throw their cash around elsewhere. And one can assume Maurice will likely be among the highest-paid coaches in the AHL next season.

Maurice, who led the Carolina Hurricanes to the 2002 Stanley Cup final, succeeds Doug Shedden, whose contract was not renewed after last season, when the AHL club played its last year in St. John's before moving to Toronto for next season.

There could have been NHL offers down the road, and there still may be, but Maurice said he was sold by Ferguson on the idea of coaching the Marlies, the idea of developing players the Leafs could later count on when it mattered.

"I think 20 minutes into the conversation I was very interested," Maurice said of his interview with Ferguson.

He first talked to Ferguson at the IIHF world championship in Austria last month before formally meeting with in Toronto earlier this month.

"It became clear to me that he was not only my first choice, he was absolutely the right person for this position," Ferguson said. "He becomes a critical component in our development plan. And his NHL experience, his discipline, his character - he's a tremendous asset to this organization now and in the future."

In the end, the fit is right on many levels. Maurice gets to move his young family back to Ontario - he's a native of Sault Ste. Marie while his wife is from the Windsor area. And just as important, Maurice couldn't see himself sitting through next season waiting for an NHL offer.

"Before meeting John my thought was: 'Be patient and wait.' But you know, I didn't want to spend a year of my life like that," Maurice told reporters at the Air Canada Centre. "I've seen guys go through it, watching games on TV, hoping for some poor fellow to lose five in a row and then praying for your phone to ring. I don't want to live like that.

"This clearly is the best place for me, no question."

He's believed to have signed a four-year deal and insists he won't jump ship at the next NHL offer. Perhaps that's because he's in line to replace Pat Quinn down the road, when the 62-year-old Leafs head coach decides he's had enough.

The worst-kept secret in hockey is that Quinn has signed an extension with the Leafs, an announcement that should come shortly.

"It's all about timing," Ferguson said. "Pat's not here this week. It'll be done in the right environment very soon."

Still, it begs the question, did Ferguson just hire Quinn's replacement?

"Paul's proven that he's an exceptional NHL head coach," Ferguson said of Maurice, who coached 674 games with the Hartford/Carolina franchise become getting fired in 2003.

"We've hired our coach for the American Hockey League. And we're certainly proud to have Pat going forward. That deal is done. We couldn't have a better situation at both levels right now."

Edited June 24, 2005 by sahyder1

[Cactus Drags]

Cancelling the Allstar Game is stupid. The NHL needs more positivity and exposure right now, not less. Why can't they just reschedule?