swflyers25
7-24-05, 2:21 PM
On the NHL | Free-agency rule could pose problems
By Tim Panaccio
Inquirer Columnist
Among the changes about to unfold in the NHL is the face of free agency.
It's the one area where the players have the upper hand in the new collective-bargaining agreement.
Under the old agreement, players had to wait until age 31 to sell their wares for millions. Now it will take just seven years in the league for a player to become unrestricted.
Which means every 18-year-old drafted this summer can become unrestricted by age 25 in 2012. That's pretty good.
The other part of that equation is that going into July 2007, any player, regardless of age, can become an unrestricted free agent if he has seven years in the league and is not under contract.
Starting Aug. 1, when NHL clubs can begin signing free agents to contracts, general managers will have to project money against the cap vs. talent performance several years into the future. Just like GMs do in the NFL.
Because no one knows if the $39 million salary cap will grow - or shrink - next season, clubs initially will balk at deals three years or longer.
And that could pose some problems. For instance, the Flyers prefer locking up their young talent to three-year contracts.
Simon Gagne, Robert Esche and Kim Johnsson are restricted free agents. By the summer of 2007, all three would qualify as unrestricted free agents, as would Todd Fedoruk, who is under contract. (That assumes they enter that summer without contracts.)
As part of the agreement, all players who were under contract in 2003-04 will receive a year's credit for "service" during this lockout season.
Thus, Gagne, now 25, will enter his seventh season this fall. He is the most intriguing case because his stock rose considerably by his outstanding play for Team Canada during the International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships last spring.
Of course, it helped that Gagne played with Joe Thornton and Rick Nash. That line was the most dominant in the tournament.
With prospects Jeff Carter and Mike Richards coming aboard this fall, plus Patrick Sharp, the Flyers have a terrific nucleus of young forwards to build around.
Question is, do the Flyers re-sign Gagne this summer to a three-year deal that carries him past unrestricted free agency in 2007-08? Surely, that should cost them because Gagne would be giving up unrestricted free agency and expect more money is return.
Or do they opt for a one- or two-year deal and see how the cap unfolds?
General manager Bob Clarke said he won't sign any of his players past free agency... for now.
"I don't think we do that this summer," Clarke said. "We try and get through this winter and see how all the rules work and then make some decisions. I doubt if we do that this year. Maybe somewhere through the winter we might find someone could become unrestricted. We have to make some decisions for next year."
Gagne wants to remain a Flyer for life.
"I love Philly," he said. "This is where I want to spend my entire career. I want to be one of those players who stays with one team his whole career. But it's all new with the salary cap."
Clarke won't rule out giving Gagne a long-term deal at some point.
"We would like that," he said. "We want to keep Simon. I am not sure if this summer is the right time to do it. We will certainly address it. It may not be until next summer that we do it. Whatever it is, we want to keep Gagne and not lose him."
Bob Sauve, who represents Gagne, understands this summer's free-agency period will be chaotic. Teams will proceed cautiously on contract lengths. So will agents.
"We need to study this deal and see what we can make of it," Sauve said.
"It's a whole new ball game for free agency. Simon has become a very good player. He can adopt to any style of play. That is his finest quality.
"He can go from being a defensive forward on a line to being an offensive threat like he was in the World Championships. He can play any role now. Whatever we do will be in Simon's best interests. I would assume, from the Flyers' standpoint, that Simon is a major part of their future."
The bet here? The Flyers sign Gagne past free agency a year from now.
Comcast and the NHL
Now that there is linkage between revenues and salaries in the NHL in the new collective-bargaining agreement, broadcast rights are more crucial. What would happen if Comcast were to outbid ESPN for the rights to televise nationally? Is the league obligated to accept the higher bid? "There is not a contractual obligation," said Ted Saskin, NHL Players Association senior director. "But you still have to make good business judgment. We have a joint committee who will now consult on marketing and broadcast issues. Hopefully, you don't always take the offer that's the most money, but what is right for the sport. I am sure that is something the league will focus on, and we will have input in those discussions."
That certainly means the NHL will likely do all it can to woo ESPN back to the table for 2005-06 and beyond because of its long-standing relationship. Still, you wonder whether the NHL would turn Comcast down if its offer were tens of millions of dollars more than ESPN's.
Stay tuned.
A key promotion
Peter Luukko's new title as president and chief operating officer of Comcast-Spectacor (he was already president of Comcast-Spectacor Ventures) comes at a critical time, with the lockout ending and a healthy number of disgruntled Flyers season-ticket holders. Luukko now has to lend a hand to the marketing department in coming up with ideas to win fans back into the building. That shouldn't be a daunting task given that Luukko is a huge hockey fan and has been part of Ed Snider's regime for two decades. Luukko will oversee day-to-day operations of Comcast-Spectacor.
Loose pucks
Edmonton general manager Kevin Lowe is talking about a payroll approaching $35 million, or $4 million under the salary cap. The biggest gripe among the large-market revenue producers who make and spend oodles of money is that they harbor a nagging suspicion that most small-market clubs won't even hit $30 million in payroll but will be more than happy to receive revenue-sharing checks from teams like the Flyers, Toronto, Colorado, Detroit, etc. It's a legitimate fear. And an unfortunate reality... . Finally, random drug testing is part of the new agreement. Players will be hit with a 20-game suspension for a first offense and a 60-game suspension for a second. A third violation results in expulsion from the league. Bravo!
Contact staff writer Tim Panaccio at 215-854-2847 or tpanaccio@phillynews.com.
Philly.com (http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/sports/hockey/nhl/12207004.htm)
By Tim Panaccio
Inquirer Columnist
Among the changes about to unfold in the NHL is the face of free agency.
It's the one area where the players have the upper hand in the new collective-bargaining agreement.
Under the old agreement, players had to wait until age 31 to sell their wares for millions. Now it will take just seven years in the league for a player to become unrestricted.
Which means every 18-year-old drafted this summer can become unrestricted by age 25 in 2012. That's pretty good.
The other part of that equation is that going into July 2007, any player, regardless of age, can become an unrestricted free agent if he has seven years in the league and is not under contract.
Starting Aug. 1, when NHL clubs can begin signing free agents to contracts, general managers will have to project money against the cap vs. talent performance several years into the future. Just like GMs do in the NFL.
Because no one knows if the $39 million salary cap will grow - or shrink - next season, clubs initially will balk at deals three years or longer.
And that could pose some problems. For instance, the Flyers prefer locking up their young talent to three-year contracts.
Simon Gagne, Robert Esche and Kim Johnsson are restricted free agents. By the summer of 2007, all three would qualify as unrestricted free agents, as would Todd Fedoruk, who is under contract. (That assumes they enter that summer without contracts.)
As part of the agreement, all players who were under contract in 2003-04 will receive a year's credit for "service" during this lockout season.
Thus, Gagne, now 25, will enter his seventh season this fall. He is the most intriguing case because his stock rose considerably by his outstanding play for Team Canada during the International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships last spring.
Of course, it helped that Gagne played with Joe Thornton and Rick Nash. That line was the most dominant in the tournament.
With prospects Jeff Carter and Mike Richards coming aboard this fall, plus Patrick Sharp, the Flyers have a terrific nucleus of young forwards to build around.
Question is, do the Flyers re-sign Gagne this summer to a three-year deal that carries him past unrestricted free agency in 2007-08? Surely, that should cost them because Gagne would be giving up unrestricted free agency and expect more money is return.
Or do they opt for a one- or two-year deal and see how the cap unfolds?
General manager Bob Clarke said he won't sign any of his players past free agency... for now.
"I don't think we do that this summer," Clarke said. "We try and get through this winter and see how all the rules work and then make some decisions. I doubt if we do that this year. Maybe somewhere through the winter we might find someone could become unrestricted. We have to make some decisions for next year."
Gagne wants to remain a Flyer for life.
"I love Philly," he said. "This is where I want to spend my entire career. I want to be one of those players who stays with one team his whole career. But it's all new with the salary cap."
Clarke won't rule out giving Gagne a long-term deal at some point.
"We would like that," he said. "We want to keep Simon. I am not sure if this summer is the right time to do it. We will certainly address it. It may not be until next summer that we do it. Whatever it is, we want to keep Gagne and not lose him."
Bob Sauve, who represents Gagne, understands this summer's free-agency period will be chaotic. Teams will proceed cautiously on contract lengths. So will agents.
"We need to study this deal and see what we can make of it," Sauve said.
"It's a whole new ball game for free agency. Simon has become a very good player. He can adopt to any style of play. That is his finest quality.
"He can go from being a defensive forward on a line to being an offensive threat like he was in the World Championships. He can play any role now. Whatever we do will be in Simon's best interests. I would assume, from the Flyers' standpoint, that Simon is a major part of their future."
The bet here? The Flyers sign Gagne past free agency a year from now.
Comcast and the NHL
Now that there is linkage between revenues and salaries in the NHL in the new collective-bargaining agreement, broadcast rights are more crucial. What would happen if Comcast were to outbid ESPN for the rights to televise nationally? Is the league obligated to accept the higher bid? "There is not a contractual obligation," said Ted Saskin, NHL Players Association senior director. "But you still have to make good business judgment. We have a joint committee who will now consult on marketing and broadcast issues. Hopefully, you don't always take the offer that's the most money, but what is right for the sport. I am sure that is something the league will focus on, and we will have input in those discussions."
That certainly means the NHL will likely do all it can to woo ESPN back to the table for 2005-06 and beyond because of its long-standing relationship. Still, you wonder whether the NHL would turn Comcast down if its offer were tens of millions of dollars more than ESPN's.
Stay tuned.
A key promotion
Peter Luukko's new title as president and chief operating officer of Comcast-Spectacor (he was already president of Comcast-Spectacor Ventures) comes at a critical time, with the lockout ending and a healthy number of disgruntled Flyers season-ticket holders. Luukko now has to lend a hand to the marketing department in coming up with ideas to win fans back into the building. That shouldn't be a daunting task given that Luukko is a huge hockey fan and has been part of Ed Snider's regime for two decades. Luukko will oversee day-to-day operations of Comcast-Spectacor.
Loose pucks
Edmonton general manager Kevin Lowe is talking about a payroll approaching $35 million, or $4 million under the salary cap. The biggest gripe among the large-market revenue producers who make and spend oodles of money is that they harbor a nagging suspicion that most small-market clubs won't even hit $30 million in payroll but will be more than happy to receive revenue-sharing checks from teams like the Flyers, Toronto, Colorado, Detroit, etc. It's a legitimate fear. And an unfortunate reality... . Finally, random drug testing is part of the new agreement. Players will be hit with a 20-game suspension for a first offense and a 60-game suspension for a second. A third violation results in expulsion from the league. Bravo!
Contact staff writer Tim Panaccio at 215-854-2847 or tpanaccio@phillynews.com.
Philly.com (http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/sports/hockey/nhl/12207004.htm)