NHL Looking At Rejecting Signed Contracts.

Erik Karlsson · 09-01-2010, 10:59 PM

Quote:

The NHL has given the NHLPA an ultimatum regarding the contested front-loaded contract of not only the Devils' Ilya Kovalchuk, but Vanocuver's Roberto Luongo and Chicago's Marian Hossa, as well, The Post has learned.
A well placed source reports that the league has informed the Players' Assn. that the league will grandfather the recently submitted Kovalchuk 15-year, $100M contract, Luongo's 12-year, $64M deal that is entering its second season and Hossa's 12-year, $63.3M deal that also is entering its second season into the CBA under the following conditions:

1. That the cap hit on future multi-year contracts will not count any seasons that end with the player over 40 years of age. The cap hit would be calculated on the average of the salary up through age 40 only.
2. That the cap hit on future contracts longer than five years will be calculated under a formula granting additional weight to the five years with the highest salary.
The league has given the PA, which is being directed by Donald Fehr, until Friday at 5 pm to accept these conditions. If the PA refuses, or if negotiations fail to yeild a common ground, the league has informed the PA that:
1. It will reject the Kovalchuk contract.
2. It will move to immediately devoid the Luongo contract.
3. It will move to immediately open proceedings for a formal investigation into the Hossa contract.
The NHL owns sweeping punitive powers against teams and players judged guilty of circumvention under Article 26 of the CBA.

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/devil...ixzz0yKoS9N001

This has trouble spelled all over it.

What will happen to Loungo and Hossa.

_13_ · 09-02-2010, 06:24 AM

Does Lou go back to Florida? Does Chicago forfeit the cup? What about Pronger? Isn't his contract retarded too? Isn't this best solved when the current agreement expires and a new agreement deals with this issue?

Jasmine · 09-02-2010, 06:44 AM

13..I think Pronger's age is the difference maker here...because he was over 35 when he signed, nothing is sponged if he retires before the end of this contract.

But this is Bullshit. IMO, you don't play with contract that were already accepted by both the league and the players...and specially since players have already played a year off said contract..

Matt the Aussie · 09-02-2010, 11:10 AM

But Luongo's contract has not started yet. It starts at puck drop for this season.

Hossa's is going to be the one that's a headache. That's why they'll only "investigate" it...

MatchesMalone · 09-02-2010, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by _13_

Does Lou go back to Florida? Does Chicago forfeit the cup? What about Pronger? Isn't his contract retarded too? Isn't this best solved when the current agreement expires and a new agreement deals with this issue?

No, it is best solved now, while these contracts are getting out of hand. The CBA has a clear cap circumvention clause in which it states that if a team is found to circumvent the cap they are liable to forfeit draft picks, cap space and yes, even games effected by said cap circumvention. Obviously the NHL won't forfeit the Blackhawks cup, and it would be silly to void contracts that have already started. But they can and should penalize all of these teams heavily via cap penalties and taking away draft picks.

_13_ · 09-02-2010, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Innocent_bystander

No, it is best solved now, while these contracts are getting out of hand. The CBA has a clear cap circumvention clause in which it states that if a team is found to circumvent the cap they are liable to forfeit draft picks, cap space and yes, even games effected by said cap circumvention. Obviously the NHL won't forfeit the Blackhawks cup, and it would be silly to void contracts that have already started. But they can and should penalize all of these teams heavily via cap penalties and taking away draft picks.

Maybe it is best solved now, but I don't know if its legally possible. Somehow this loophole exists and that's the problem, I guess both sides would have to agree to an amended agreement.
And I was being facetious when I suggested that Lou go to back to Florida and the Hawks forfiet the cup

MatchesMalone · 09-02-2010, 03:03 PM

I know you were being facetious when you made those comments. Well, I actually don't know what that word means but I think I get the gist of it. But see, you're wrong about this supposed loophole and both sides having to come to an agreement. They already came to an agreement in the CBA, that agreement being the anti-cap circumvention clause. The NHL does have the clear and written authority to penalize teams who intentionally circumvent the salary cap.

All of this stuff about teams having found a loophole and there is nothing the NHL can leaglly do about it is entirely false and was fabricated by fans and media persons who have never read the CBA.

Matt the Aussie · 09-02-2010, 03:27 PM

Well at the very least IB they are trying to be sporting about it by giving the NHLPA the out on contracts already signed. I do agree with you though, there is very general language stating that trying to circumvent the cap is against the spirit of the CBA. Now that the NHL have gone out of their way to set a precedent (the Kovalchuk Arbitration), they have the firepower to enforce it.

Jasmine · 09-02-2010, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt the Aussie

But Luongo's contract has not started yet. It starts at puck drop for this season.
Hossa's is going to be the one that's a headache. That's why they'll only "investigate" it...

Not according to this article:
NHL gives union ultimatum on Kovalchuk, Luongo, Hossa - NYPOST.com

Quote:

A well placed source reports that the league has informed the Players' Assn. that the league will grandfather the recently submitted Kovalchuk 15-year, $100M contract, Luongo's 12-year, $64M deal that is entering its second season and Hossa's 12-year, $63.3M deal that also is entering its second season into the CBA under the following conditions

But according to NHLnumbers, it is kicking in like you said..this coming season. So which one is it? I don't remember when he signed, to be honest..

MatchesMalone · 09-02-2010, 06:16 PM

That article is wrong. Well, right in the sense that it has been about a year since the contract extension was signed, but he was already under contract through last year, so the extension was set to begin at the start of this season. I guess the point is Vancouver has not started paying him yet, Chicago has already paid Hossa 7.9 million dollars.

Jasmine · 09-02-2010, 06:27 PM

Thanks for clearing that one out for me IB

Erik Karlsson · 09-03-2010, 02:34 AM

By the way guys. I thought i'd make a new thread but decided that it's all relevant so here is some more info to talk about:

Savard's agents says he will sue the NHL if Savard's contract is void.

Savard's agent will sue if contract revoked - sportsnet.ca WAP

Jasmine · 09-03-2010, 08:46 AM

And that's why you don't touch existing contracts after they have been approved. I think we are heading into a serious ugly mess!

GooSsens · 09-03-2010, 05:23 PM

I agree... if its been previously approved, you can't say eh wait a minute.

I mean, I signed a contract when I started work, with yearly pay increases and what not. And if they just went and said, yeah we are gonna dock you 20,000 a year.. I'd probably be upset. Or you can't work until we figure out a different cheaper pay contract.