Friday, October 19, 2012

NHL Lockout Update 10/19/12

Welcome back hockey fans to another Penguins/NHL/anything hockey update. This week, the NHL's owners proposed a plan to solve the debate over the Collective Bargaining Agreement that would offer a 50/50 split for the players and a full 82 game season that would be likely to start in the middle of November. While this sounds like an excellent deal at first, you have to look at the offer from the player's perspective. "The Player's Association proposes that owners pay what they have promised to pay." tweeted former Penguin and current New York Ranger Mike Rupp. After debates over the current contract ensued, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman called the debates "a step backward". In response, many players are demanding to see how getting paid what was promised is seen as a step backward. Many players and sports analysts view the 50/50 deal as a publicity stunt to try to get opinion on the side of the owners.
"The owners' most current proposal was to reduce players salaries 12.3 percent," said Winnipeg Jets Right Winger Eric Fehr on Thursday. "Players asked me, 'How could that be fair?'"
Currently, I am starting to debate my viewpoint on this whole issue. I originally saw both sides to blame for the lockout, seeing everyone as being greedy. Now, I am beginning to see more of the player's perspective.  A 12.3% pay cut is significant. Many hockey players make less than a million dollars. This makes the NHL one of the lowest paying professional sports leagues in the country. Even as the NHL is making a huge revenue climb over the past decade, the owners are proposing that player's salaries to be cut. Also, many players suffer injuries during their career, and often find themselves unable to work after their hockey career, therefore making their salaries crucial. Because of these reasons, I have now decided to favor the players in this debate, as they are only asking for what they are promised.
Well, that is it for this week. Check in next week for more NHL news!  
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2 comments:

  1. Arielle SlossOctober 22, 2012 at 4:37 AM

    I feel bad for the players. They are expecting a certain amount from the owners as promised. But then the owners get greedy. These people already make millions of dollars a year. And I think the owners are being selfish. They don't play the game and still get paid. However all of them are making tons of money, so I really don't think anyone should be complaining.

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    1. Daniel KerschnerOctober 22, 2012 at 10:57 AM

      While this is true that many are making millions, many players cannot do much with their lives after they retire from hockey due to the amount of injuries they most likely will receive throughout their career and, for many players, their lack of education after high school. As this is their only way to make money, every cent counts. A 12.3% pay cut is very significant in their salaries. The players that make less than a million dollars really rely on their income, and require every little bit of it, even if it is worth a fight. But, this does not mean that the players are completely innocent in their fight. While their cause is more just, there is still many things wrong with this whole situation.

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