vancanfan Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/hockey/vancouver-canucks/Canucks+Cory+Schneider+says+players+panicking+over+offer/6942446/story.html VANCOUVER -- Prominent hockey agent Kurt Overhardt called the NHL's first bargaining proposal to its players “embarrassing, arrogant, short-sighted and greedy” but Vancouver Canuck netminder Cory Schneider, a member of the players' bargaining committee, cautioned Monday it's too early to panic. In the proposal, which came to light Friday, the owners want the players to reduce their share of the revenue pie from 57 per cent to 46 in a new collective bargaining agreement while increasing the years of service towards unrestricted free agency from seven to 10. They also want entry-level contracts to increase from three years to five, restrict the length of long-term deals to five years and eliminate signing bonuses, front-end loaded contracts and salary arbitration. “I think the only thing I can say is it's a first offer,” Schneider commented from his off-season home near Boston. “It's a starting point. We're going to consider it and figure out what our counter proposal is going to be. Yes, it is a little shocking when you first look at it but, again, that's how negotiations work. You aim high and then try to move back from there. “There is going to have to be a lot of give and take for us to come to an agreement. So we're not too worried and we're not panicking right now. We're just going to take it one meeting at a time.” Overhardt, who represents Canuck players Ryan Kesler, Kevin Bieksa and Andrew Alberts, as well as Travis Zajac, Kyle Turris, Brandon Dubinsky and Matt Carle (among others), was less conciliatory in his remarks. The Denver-based agent emphasized that he was not speaking for the NHLPA but only voicing his opinion on the owners' proposal. “Based on my understanding of it, what's clear is that there is no real bargaining in good faith,” Overhardt said. “What's clear is that this is a league that received hundreds of millions of dollars in concessions from the last lockout. What's clear is that this is a league which the commissioner, Mr. Gary Bettman, puts up on a pedestal and tells us that revenues are at an all-time high. And what's clear is that all the league wants to try to do is claw back more cash for the owners. It's embarrassing.” Overhardt ventured so far as to say the league has slipped into a fantasy world if it figures its proposal will gain traction. “It's something that is going to take a long, long time with respect to this bargaining process if the league thinks that's anywhere close to earth because right now, in my opinion, they're on Saturn,” Overhardt continued. “It's unfortunate. I think it's really short-sighted. It's pure arrogance and it's pure greed. It's draconian. It's misplaced. Everything they proposed defies sports labour law history.” Overhardt did concede he expected cooler heads would prevail “over time” but also noted the players are well prepared for a fight under new executive director Donald Fehr. “The great news is we have the strongest membership we've ever had in the NHLPA thanks to the leadership of Don Fehr and the people who work with Don,” Overhardt said. “They're more prepared than they ever have been and I just hope that the National Hockey League doesn't try to think it can out-manoeuvre and try to trick the players like they've tried to do in the past. The players resolve is incredibly strong.” The owners locked out the players for the entire 2004-05 season to bring in a hard-cap salary system. The upper limit in 2005-06 was $39 million, based on a formula related to hockey revenues. The upper limit for the coming season was scheduled to be $70.2 million. “In no uncertain terms do I think, and I would say most of the players think, there should be any type of concession as far as the percentage of the upper limit,” Overhardt added. “Gary wanted his parity and he got his parity, ok? Now I think the league needs to fix its own economic problems internally with the money they have and not try to claw back from the players. Their lawyers have to understand it's not a unilateral thing and that good faith actually means good faith.” Schneider said it's far too early to assume there will be another lockout, or work stoppage, based on the league's initial proposal. Training camps aren't slated to open for another two months and the regular season is almost three months away. Players don't receive paycheques until the regular season begins so the parties aren't anywhere near a pressure point. “There is still plenty of time,” noted Schneider. “I mean, we're not thinking in those terms [lockout] yet. I think we're both trying to get a deal done here but it takes time and it takes negotiations.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TyrEnkidu Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 Dont say "Lockout" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coastal1 Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 “In no uncertain terms do I think, and I would say most of the players think, there should be any type of concession as far as the percentage of the upper limit,” Overhardt added. Most of the players he said, and that is from someone plugged in. They only thing that will soften positions is time, a lot of time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vwnuck Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 i really don't know how this agent gets off shooting his mouth off.... seriously though, if i was an owner... i would want the bigger portion of market share.. they are investing there money and taking the risk... and i can under stand the 3-5 year entry level contracts.. a rookie comes in plays 3 years and (if they are good) they are making 5-10 mill..it keeps then tied up for 2 more years and entry level salary.. makes sense. no font loaded contracts... well you have to admit they are stupid and ridiculous.... they are just trying to protect there investment...and its a negotiation.. you start low.. and settle in the middle... if by some chance there is a lock out this year... well Gary and the P.A. should be strung up by the short and curlys.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonshinefe Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 I didn't know Cory Schneider was a member of the players' bargaining committee. I sure hope he's right though, it's only been a couple months and it feels like I've been waiting a year for hockey to start again! A lockout would be infuriating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaku Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 Thanks for the article, it was a very informative article. I hope to God that there isn't another lock-out though. It's good to hear that the players aren't panicking, i can't wait to see what the NHLPA has for a counter offer. I guess we can only hope they get this figured out before training camps begin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drybone Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 Thanks for the article Vancanfan !!! Excellent read Get er done. Lets get on with Hockey !!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YEGCanuck Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 I think it is all about the players contracts. Entry-level at 5 years, maximum lenght at 5 years, and free agency after ten. My guess is the 2 sides will compromise between 50 and 55% on the revenue sharing and the rest of the items open to negotiation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Down by the River Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 I wish Overhardt would just shut up. Thankfully we have an intelligent, thoughtful, and non-impulsive representative in Cory Schneider. This is a bargaining agreement. BARGAINING! You don't start with your best offer. And just food for thought, while the players may have been earning 57% of revenue sharing, keep in mind this deal was made in 2005, when league revenue was a lot lower than it is now. Revenue sharing could drop from 57% to around 50%, but 50% of a billion is more than 57% of half a billion (I'm not saying these are the actual numbers, I'm just using them for comparative purposes only). The players would still be earning a larger gross sum, even if the total percentage is lower Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not A Fruit Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 I would be VERY upset if there was another lockout, I can't wait that long for hockey to start! I think that offer is ridiculous, I know offers are supposed to start high then decline until decision time, but come on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John.Tallhouse Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 Dont say "Lockout" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bure10fan Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 Ill puke if there is no season. But sounds like they will come to an agreement Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raiun Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 And just food for thought, while the players may have been earning 57% of revenue sharing, keep in mind this deal was made in 2005, when league revenue was a lot lower than it is now. Revenue sharing could drop from 57% to around 50%, but 50% of a billion is more than 57% of half a billion (I'm not saying these are the actual numbers, I'm just using them for comparative purposes only). The players would still be earning a larger gross sum, even if the total percentage is lower Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yung dawg Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 Dont say "Lockout" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disisdayear Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 Poor Overhardt...he suffers from premature articulation. I heard that there are treatments for his ailment. It would do him well to keep his pie hole shut while the negotiations takes place. If Cory's sensible and calm posture is indicative of that of the bargaining committee, then the players are in good hands. The game belongs to the players, fans and owners (in no specific order). For some reason, jackasses like Overhardt feels entitled to be part of the ownership group of hockey. He must feel the 10 points he makes on every deal he secures for his clients is in jeopardy...there was a time when players needed protection from the owners (think Alan Eagleson who sold his own association down the river), but those days are long gone. Players are much more educated and sophisticated (led by smart, sensible guys like Schneider) today, and with guidance and leadership of a guy like Donald Fehr, Overhardt is proving that the greed lies with the Agents. Hopefully a deal will be struck soon...I just hope jackasses like Overhardt doesn't screw things up with their asinine comments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UFCanuck Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 Every time the NHLPA rejects an NHL offer they should fax this to Bettman... Your Proposal is.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Armada Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 Just split it 50-50. Don't see why both sides need to be so stubborn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hockey Fever Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 Nothing wrong with what the league wants other than revenues should be split 50/50, you know what they say : Greedy,Greedy makes a hungry puppy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disisdayear Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 Just split it 50-50. Don't see why both sides need to be so stubborn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GradinToSmyl Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 Why shouldn't the players be making the majority of the profit? People don't watch hockey for the owners or the managers or the accountants.. we watch it for the game. No players, no game, no profits. Give them the pay they are due. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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