The NHL gets a little more creative and the NHLPA says no thanks

Yesterday, Bob Goodenow and Bill Daly dropped by the NHLPA's head offices and offered up to implement the NHLPA's last offer IF they would agree to switch to the NHL's last offer if some financial trigger points were hit to prove that, in the NHL's opinion, the NHLPA's system didn't work.

http://www.nhlcbanews.com/news/nhl_compromise020905.html

As expected, the NHLPA dismissed the notion because they felt that the trigger points would easily be hit.

Here is my analysis of where things are at currently given the contract data placed on NHLPA.com:

Based purely on salary numbers posted on NHLPA.com today, there are 4 teams that would likely break the $42 million threshold even with the 24% rollback.

Toronto has 21 players signed that would put them at over $47 million after the rollback.

NJ has 23 players signed that would put them at over $45.5 million after the rollback.

Philadelphia has 19 players signed that would put them at almost $45.5 million after the rollback.

Detroit has 19 players signed that would put them at just over $42 million after the rollback.

And teams like Dallas and the NY Rangers could easily top the $42 million mark by merely filling out their rosters even after the rollback.

If that $42 million threshold includes all player compensation (base salary + bonuses, insurance, pension, etc.), then I highly doubt that trigger wouldn't be hit the first season that the triggers can be hit.

Also, after the rollback the average team salary is at just over $27.5 million. However, teams only average 18.5 players under contract, so that average team compensation number might be in danger as well.

I also think that 33% gap between the top 3 and the bottom 3 payrolls is all but guaranteed to be triggered as well.Right now the top 3 would average in the $45 to 46 million range. And after everyone gets signed, my guess is that the bottom 3 would average less than $30 million. As is, the bottom 3 would be averaging around $11 million per team after the rollback. Although, those teams have more roster spots to fill than the top 3.

I can agree with the NHLPA's assertion that accepting this deal would basically be agreeing to the NHL's last offer that they've already turned down. However, I don't believe Bob Goodenow when he says that this proposal couldn't be the basis for an agreement.

This offer by the NHL puts forth the first true framework for a comprimise, IMO. There has to be a way that this deal can be tweaked such that it is palatable for the NHLPA.

Heck, add a clause that says that if the trigger is tripped to kick the NHL's cap system into effect, the NHLPA then has the right to end this CBA after the same number of cap years have been played out as there were non-cap years. Basically, if the NHLPA's offer is in place for only 1 season, the NHLPA would have the right to end the CBA after one season under the NHL's system.

There has to be a way to get things done. Especially after this major move by the NHL.

The NHL also put forth a drop dead date

At the same meeting the NHL also said that if a deal was agreed to this weekend, that the season would be cancelled.

There are many fans and members of the media that are happy about this.

Personally, I'll be happy if the setting of a deadline forces both sides to get a deal done.