Different Kind of Cap

[Detroit Cherni]

I know lately there's been plenty of discussion on whether or not there should be a salary cap in the NsHL, which I'm totally NOT in favor for. But what I haven't really read much of, if at all, is what about the idea of having a cap on contracts?

I'd think it might be wiser, and just as pleasing to GM's to see a max on contract offers without a salary cap per team. I think a contract of 5-years at $40,000,000 is plenty for one player.

Afterall, I think we can all agree there's plenty of players overpaid in our league. But none of us want a cap, but a free market system. So I look at this as the next best thing would be to put a cap on contracts by years and the dollar amount.

Just wondering what the rest of the league's thoughts are. Because to quote NYI GM Mark Hoggan, I too wish for a league where the Anson Carters of the world aren't making 9-million per season.

[FlyersGM]

I don't think this solves the Anson Carter problem. I think it would make it worse, because people would just offer the max with incentives/bonuses and hope the player signs with them.

[ex-BluesGM]

Jack's probably right.

[formerDevilsGM]

It is a very tough subject because both sides have a very valid points.
But it really affects the leagues bidding process by tie the bidders hands, Most players will get many offers with the maximum salary that leaves a lot more work and responsabilty to the Player Agent on deciding where the player goes. So changes would be needed to the Bidding Process.

[Red Wings GM]

Let's all just stop raking on Anson Carter. I would pay $12, not just $8 or $9, a season to have him on my team.

[formerDevilsGM]

I will pay the $12 million and pull of a Ditka and trade my entire draft for him.

[nyigm]

I think were just raggin on Carter because hes Black...ok maybe not.

I guess would id like to see is some sort of incentives for teams balancing their budgets and penalties for those who dont whether that comes in the form of a cap or not, im not sure.


A ceiling on individual contracts im not in favor of, I like Daves original proposal of a cap with a ceiling around 48-50 million.

[CalgaryGM]

I don't think we should have any cap of any kind. The present system is working just fine. If finances start to get out of hand, then fix it. Right now it's not broke.

[CapitalsGM]

I totally agree Andrew. Just spend wisely; however, I would love the challenge to have a salary cap and I think it would make the league that much more fun!

[ColumbusGM]

calgarygm said:

I don't think we should have any cap of any kind. The present system is working just fine. If finances start to get out of hand, then fix it. Right now it's not broke.

Exactly.

If you're low on cash, you could always sell some draft picks away ;-)

[Anaheim GM]

You can trust that this BOD has both the real life experience and the analytical abilities to decide if there are multi-million dollar fiscal issues with the league.

I have discussed this at great length in other posts regarding the nature of the NsHL's business cycle. Currently we have not been around long enough to see the cycle swing, however, there are definent trends already taking place. Supply and demand models will be driving our league's salaries. In addition to this, the BOD watches the financials very, very closely. Although we would like people to be smart fiscally, there is a margin of error that is going to be allowed to make the league realistic.

We do not want robots here. We want GMs who can make decisions (both good and bad ones) and can live with the repercussions and ramifications. People who drive their teams into the ground only to quit are just those types of people when it comes to life...Quitters.

(People who maintain there teams well and have to leave for other reasons, well, that's a different story. Life demands time and a league like this is a pure luxury plain and simple. If people's time gets pulled in other directions, that is completely understandable).

The beauty of this league is the intelligence of the GMs and their ability to run their teams IN their own way that they see fit. However, the BOD monitors the integrity of the league via transactions, finances, etc. and will continue to do so very closely.

The current system that includes endorsements, bonuses, etc. has been carefully thought out and forumlated to be balanced. The balance is covered and modeled after the former NHL system so making wholesale changes would not only be difficult to do, but as I will prove to you, is unnecessary.

The current CBA seems to work effectively. I have learned something throughout the course of my life. Do not fix something that is working just fine.

However, I do appreciate everyone's opinion and time regarding this manner. Because another important life lesson that I have learned from my clients:

If I don't know it is broken, I can't fix it.

However, we are very aware of our situation and are monitoring things very closely. The NsHL is doing just fine financially as a league. There are certainly teams that need to tighten the belt a lot more than others, that is for sure. However, the league has sufficient revenue to support its costs.

Have GMs overspent dollars on particular players.? Yes.

Does this happen in the NHL? Yes.

The only reason why we would change this business model after all of the planning that we put into it initially would be to keep the league more realistic. As you all know, realism is what drives this BOD. Our goal and promise to you is provide the most realistic experience that we can without having to come up with $100-$200 million to buy your own team.

We continue to strive for this. We aren't in any danger of colapsing, trust me. We are actually doing quite well as a league. See financial reports for proof.

[Anaheim GM]

washingtongm2 said:

calgarygm said:

I don't think we should have any cap of any kind. The present system is working just fine. If finances start to get out of hand, then fix it. Right now it's not broke.

Exactly.

If you're low on cash, you could always sell some draft picks away ;-)

Don't do that, please!!!! That is the last thing that you should do if your team is that broke. Chances are the BOD would not let it get that far.

[tampagm]

While I will , of course, abide by any decision made by the BOD or a majority vote of the league's owners, I have to say that I'm against a salary cap in any form. I think that if an owner wants to pay a player, say ... 11,000,000 per season, that's fine. And if that player, say ... ends up leading the league in scoring and helps get that team to the playoffs, good move. If it backfires, then it's a lesson learned for the owner and they'll spend several seasons recovering from their mistake. That's the real problem, having good enough owners who will wallow through years of struggle to finally emerge with a winning team. Mark said is best, they want owners who are willing to live with the repercussions of their actions. Judging by what I've seen so far, that shouldn't be a problem for the NsHL.

[Detroit Cherni]

So after reviewing my credit review, where I took over a team where the previous GM gutted it in all facets, please tell me, without regutting my team, how I'm supposed to turn a $10 million dollar loss into a profit? According to the credit report, I'm supposed to sell off I disagreeets and start anew. I can't afford to sell off any more assets, because I barely have any to sell right now. I need some sort of quality hockey players to start carrying the load for me, to help build myself into a contender. But in order to get there, I've got to spend money I don't have, therefore putting myself further in debt. Now I'm against a salary cap of any kind, but looking at my financial picture, I may have to start asking for one, otherwise very soon, my team is going to be in trouble, when really it's no fault of my own, but the previous manager's problem that I'm trying to deal with.

If you have solutions, please let me know!

[Anaheim GM]

cherni said:

So after reviewing my credit review, where I took over a team where the previous GM gutted it in all facets, please tell me, without regutting my team, how I'm supposed to turn a $10 million dollar loss into a profit? According to the credit report, I'm supposed to sell off I disagreeets and start anew. I can't afford to sell off any more assets, because I barely have any to sell right now. I need some sort of quality hockey players to start carrying the load for me, to help build myself into a contender. But in order to get there, I've got to spend money I don't have, therefore putting myself further in debt. Now I'm against a salary cap of any kind, but looking at my financial picture, I may have to start asking for one, otherwise very soon, my team is going to be in trouble, when really it's no fault of my own, but the previous manager's problem that I'm trying to deal with.

If you have solutions, please let me know!

Dave. You need to keep doing what you are doing. Be patient, and things will happen for you. The crop of free agents this season is going to be mindbending so you will have plenty of opportunities to add net worth without having to trade your draft picks, etc.

I like what you have done so far. Hang in there, have fun, and the offseason should prove to be good for teams such as yourself.

We also COMPLETELY understand that this is no fault of your own, however with determination and patience your difficult beginning WILL pay off for you 10 fold. Trust me.