Superstar Trading

[NsHLPA Director Mark]

In the NHL the superstars have choices. In the NsHL, under the current system, the GMs control the situation for the most part.

The prime example was Eric Lindros a few years back (NHL). This is common and something that happens with every franchise whether you read about it in the papers (like Lindros, Fedorov) or not.

The NsHLPA is not about dictating where every player in the league goes and would not, under any circumstances, attempt to sway opinion without merit or fair reason. However, it VERY MUCH is the position of the NsHLPA to protect the impact players from being traded to a situation that would be detrimental to our clients.

By impact player, I mean all players that are 77OV and higher. My advice to you, if you are trading FOR a player such as this, is that you ask the offering GM to contact the player agent on the player's behalf.

Superstar and impact players will not be passed around like a bottle of whiskey at a campfire. This appears to be exactly what is going on here in the NsHL and is certainly not realistic and not what is in the best interest of the league. Although I would never speak for any other member of the BOD, these comments that I have said would be agreed upon by our hierarchy.

For everyone's information I will define superstar players as players who have achieved a 77OV rating and higher.

The player agents should be contacted when/if you are trading such a player to avoid an upleasant situation for both the accepting team, the player, and the NsHLPA.

The Jaromir Jagr situation certainly qualifies in this case. I support Mike Henderson 100% in this case and will demand that Jagr is no longer available for trade from Pittsburgh unless you talk to his representation (player agent) first. There are several players that qualify for this and Jagr is most certainly one of these players.

Of course, you can throw caution to the wind and trade an impact player without consulting his representation, however, be prepared for the train wreck that ensues. I would not want to be on the accepting end of a deal that involved a superstar who was not contacted that he was going to be traded. It is both the responsibilty of the trading party and the accepting party to make sure the trade of an impact player (superstar) is done professionaly. Or, deal with the potential for consequences.

Please understand that it is the goal of the BOD to govern the rules, the ethics, and the standards of this league in relationship to what is realistic and what is fun. Although we strive to make everything as fun as possible here, we also want to protect the integrity of the league and it's relationship to realism.

Thank you for your time. If there are any questions please contact me at [e-mail]

[NsHLPA Director Mark]

BTW, Nate......I will give you 10 minutes to change me from Goon back to what I was there, funnyman. Hilarious that the agent has to be a goon...hehehe. I already have a bad name, I don't need everyone confirming it. ;D

[NsHLPA Director Mark]

Ah, now I am simply a Junior Player......oh well, it's better than goon right? ;D Bastage!

[thrashersgm]

This is a interesting topic and one that I see alot of problems happening. There are alot of deals for players 77ov and above as you stated. They are the cream of the crop and that is what teams want because they can make a difference. I see and understand the BOG/NsHLPA stance but I must also include the GM stance.

You mention Lindros case in the NHL. How many deals do the agents and players really have a say in? Maybe when they are older or if they have a no trade clause. I don't think it is that common in the NHL. How many players hold out when they are traded in the NHL? The power is in the GM's hands untill they are 31. We all know this. The only time a player has a say other than at 31 or a no trade clause is when his contract is up. Be it at 24,27,29, etc. he can hold out. How often is a contract not played out in the NHL. I can think only of Yashin in that case. He had a year left on it and held out. I feel that agents can have a voice where a player plays, but unless he is 31 or a UFA, I don't think the agent has much say.

I got Turco in NsHL. I expected and understand that agents were upset. But he has two years remaining on his contract and then he is a UFA? Will he not honor his contract if I keep Belfour and him? Who knows, it is not common for that to happen in the NHL, so why should it be common here.

I just don't want to lose more good GM's over a "grey area" subject.

[Commissioner]

I understand what you are talking about with these contracts, ages, etc.

When a team signs a player to a contract, it has certain stipulations and agreements. Now, we are not lawyers and do have actually documents concerning each player in the NsHL, but we do have 'principles' for signing a contract.

Signing a player contract is a two way street. The player agrees to play for the certain monetary amount allotted. The organization agrees to play this player where they feel he will be effective and happy. When an organization is unhappy with an individual, they waive him, release him, or trade him to a team that will play him.

If a player is not happy with this playing time, contract, etc., he has the right to hold out and/or demand a trade. It happens ALL THE TIME in the NHL and professional sports. ALL THE TIME. THE AGENTS ARE THE VOICE OF THE PLAYERS.

A player agent wants the best for his client. The most playing time and the best chance for his client to be successful. If you, as an organization, do not hold up your end of the bargain(ie. sending a good player to the minors, depriving players of playing time, etc.) or can't offer the type of environment that is conducive to the players needs, then their can be consequences for these actions. You can't hold a gun to a player's head and tell him to go play. If he's not happy, he may or may not play. Put yourself in the players shoes as well. Would you want to go from a starting job to a back-up role where you'll be used sparingly. Does that lower your value? Will that effect your contract negotiations? Of course it will.

So, case in point....if a player agent is NOT happy with you on your dealings with a player, you'd better make things right.

I don't really understand what kind of 'grey' area we're talking about here. And, I will tell you.....that in any sports, the PLAYER AGENT knows their client has been traded even before the player does....just about 100% of the time.

The agents are looking out for their clients best interests. Period. No grey area. As an organization, sometimes you may have to tell the agent why it is in his best interest for his client to play for your organization, or to be traded from your organization,etc.

My suggestion is simple: Talk to your agent on a regular basis. I guarantee that you develop a repoire with him that will allow you more latitude in dealings with other teams.

Thank you.

Nathan Kopsack
NsHL Commissioner

[thrashersgm]

I consider a "Grey Area" as something not defined in the rulebook. Grey as in every situation is different and will be dealt with differently by humans. Errors will be made, bad judgement can be used.

I view this the same as I view "Judges in Olympics". No defined method. As a GM, we can do as we choose with our teams as long as we are not hurting the league. The BOG can veto trades as one measure to defend this. Player Agents seek contracts for their clients. That's where it should stop. Cut and dry, black and white.

This is the best sim leauge out there and to have the full affect of realism, we must be able to police ourselves. Some times, less is more and I feel in the case of NsHLPA, less involement is better for the league.

Just my 2 cents and I guess it would be 1.33 American. ;D

[torontogm]

1.37 if using Paypal ;D

[thrashersgm]

TorontoGM said:

1.37 if using Paypal ;D

hehe. So true!

[carolinagm]

If you talk to your player agent before making any drastic move that concerns a player.. there shouldn't be a "grey area" since no problems will arise.

As far as rental players go.. each time that happens in the NHL, the player will become UFA after the playoffs anyway. Picking up a 10 mil player a year player which has 3 years left on his contract is NOT renting him.

[NYIsles]

First of all, a player can be as unhappy as he wants about being traded from a certain team or to a certain team, but that shouldn't have any affect on the team that's trading him away. It is more the responsibility of Pittsburgh to make sure Jaromir would be happy playing for them than it is Buffalo's to make sure Jaromir would be happy getting traded again. So, I don't feel it's right to have anything against Justin. If JJ was unhappy about being traded, than Pittsburgh should have known that before pulling the trigger. Further, I think Jaromir's actions were rather out of line considering he was being traded out of a losing situation and back to Pittsburgh where he has spent most of his career and won cups. Pittsburgh is far from a "detrimental" situation for this client, Mark.

For him to start looking for a team in the czech rep. upon hearing of the trade is kind of crazy. If Jagr and his agent are unhappy about Buffalo not telling him he was going to be traded, fine, but don't take it out on Pittsburgh by threatening to not honor your contract.

As a huge Rangers fan living in New York, the similarity between this situation and the real life NHL situation that occured this past spring with Jagr is amazingly similar. The Rangers (like Buffalo) traded for Jagr and his huge contract while they were still in the race (even though, like Buffalo, it was obvious they weren't going to make the playoffs). Before the season ended, and far out of the playoff race, the Rangers changed course and decided to trade any veteran who could be traded (much like Buffalo has decided to do this offseason). The Rangers (like Buffalo) shopped Jagr... unfortunetly neither team recieved much interest. But, you can bet that had the Rangers recieved atleast a half way decent offer they would have taken it (much like Buffalo did when Pittsburgh came knocking). Now, had Jagr been traded by the Rangers, do you really think he would have declined to honor the trade? Would he have said "I don't feel like getting traded again", and moved back to Europe? I don't think so. And even if he was upset, would that have been the Rangers problem? No, he barely played there (like Buffalo) and shouldn't be upset about leaving. He would understand that the Rangers (like Buffalo) tried to make a move that didn't work and now they had to cut their losses.

Bottom line is, there are plenty of players who are traded in this league. Plenty of guys who are traded a couple times in a season. Jagr was traded for a playoff run that failed, and now he's being traded away because the team is going in a different direction. No big deal, a smart move. And, with 2 years and $22 million left on his contract, Jagr should be happy as hell to play for anyone who will pay him. If agents in this league want to have control of the superstar players, fine, but demonstrate that control when the player is a RFA or a UFA, not when the player gets traded and wants to walk out on $22 million because he's "upset". In 2 years JJ will be a UFA, and than his agent can work a no-trade clause into his contract. But at this point, Jagr is fair game.

[thrashersgm]

SenatorsGM said:

First of all, a player can be as unhappy as he wants about being traded from a certain team or to a certain team, but that shouldn't have any affect on the team that's trading him away. It is more the responsibility of Pittsburgh to make sure Jaromir would be happy playing for them than it is Buffalo's to make sure Jaromir would be happy getting traded again. So, I don't feel it's right to have anything against Justin. If JJ was unhappy about being traded, than Pittsburgh should have known that before pulling the trigger. Further, I think Jaromir's actions were rather out of line considering he was being traded out of a losing situation and back to Pittsburgh where he has spent most of his career and won cups. Pittsburgh is far from a "detrimental" situation for this client, Mark.

For him to start looking for a team in the czech rep. upon hearing of the trade is kind of crazy. If Jagr and his agent are unhappy about Buffalo not telling him he was going to be traded, fine, but don't take it out on Pittsburgh by threatening to not honor your contract.

As a huge Rangers fan living in New York, the similarity between this situation and the real life NHL situation that occured this past spring with Jagr is amazingly similar. The Rangers (like Buffalo) traded for Jagr and his huge contract while they were still in the race (even though, like Buffalo, it was obvious they weren't going to make the playoffs). Before the season ended, and far out of the playoff race, the Rangers changed course and decided to trade any veteran who could be traded (much like Buffalo has decided to do this offseason). The Rangers (like Buffalo) shopped Jagr... unfortunetly neither team recieved much interest. But, you can bet that had the Rangers recieved atleast a half way decent offer they would have taken it (much like Buffalo did when Pittsburgh came knocking). Now, had Jagr been traded by the Rangers, do you really think he would have declined to honor the trade? Would he have said "I don't feel like getting traded again", and moved back to Europe? I don't think so. And even if he was upset, would that have been the Rangers problem? No, he barely played there (like Buffalo) and shouldn't be upset about leaving. He would understand that the Rangers (like Buffalo) tried to make a move that didn't work and now they had to cut their losses.

Bottom line is, there are plenty of players who are traded in this league. Plenty of guys who are traded a couple times in a season. Jagr was traded for a playoff run that failed, and now he's being traded away because the team is going in a different direction. No big deal, a smart move. And, with 2 years and $22 million left on his contract, Jagr should be happy as hell to play for anyone who will pay him. If agents in this league want to have control of the superstar players, fine, but demonstrate that control when the player is a RFA or a UFA, not when the player gets traded and wants to walk out on $22 million because he's "upset". In 2 years JJ will be a UFA, and than his agent can work a no-trade clause into his contract. But at this point, Jagr is fair game.

Bingo!

It is not the first time something like this has happened and it will not be the last time, either. I just don't want to lose more great GM's because of matters outside the actual sim.