[EmpireWF]

Canucks GM Dave Nonis was publicly critical of the NHL's CBA when it comes to free-agency with his recent comments. The bone of contention is the age which NHL players can become free-agents, as agreed upon in the agreement between Ownership and the Players Union.

The new agreement states: "Under the collective bargaining agreement, a player aged 29, with eight seasons in the league, could have been a free agent for the 2006-07 NHL season. In 2008-09, a player aged 27 or one with seven seasons in the NHL, can become an unrestricted free agent."

Nonis commented on the biggest young name in the NHL, Sidney Crosby. The Penguins may lose the kid when he becomes 27 because he'll already have seven seasons in the league. If he wishes, Crosby could opt to become an unrestricted free-agent when he's entering his prime.

If that occurs, the Penguins would suffer BIG TIME.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by EmpireWF

Canucks GM Dave Nonis was publicly critical of the NHL's CBA when it comes to free-agency with his recent comments. The bone of contention is the age which NHL players can become free-agents, as agreed upon in the agreement between Ownership and the Players Union.

The new agreement states: "Under the collective bargaining agreement, a player aged 29, with eight seasons in the league, could have been a free agent for the 2006-07 NHL season. In 2008-09, a player aged 27 or one with seven seasons in the NHL, can become an unrestricted free agent."

Nonis commented on the biggest young name in the NHL, Sidney Crosby. The Penguins may lose the kid when he becomes 27 because he'll already have seven seasons in the league. If he wishes, Crosby could opt to become an unrestricted free-agent when he's entering his prime.

If that occurs, the Penguins would suffer BIG TIME.

Geez, what's the problem?...Imagine if someone told you, you have to stick it out 7 years in the job you got and you can't leave for higher pay until then...you tell them to go pound sand.

Free Agency is not what's broken in the league...its owners who feel that you have to make millionaire out of role players...that's the problem.

[EmpireWF]

But don't you see a problem in the fact that in this hypothetical situation, Sidney Crosby will leave Pittsburgh when he is 25. He will leave and receive a higher salary elsewhere. Where will this leave the Penguins as a franchise?

[blueandwhite]

It's got good and bad on both sides. Maybe they hope a player might actually develop an allegiance - which is mostly a joke. There just might be an Yzerman or a Lemieux who will want to stick around.
But they deserve the freedom to choose as well. Too much control is like an owner dictatorship.
It's a seesaw. i do believe players make way too much $$$.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by EmpireWF

But don't you see a problem in the fact that in this hypothetical situation, Sidney Crosby will leave Pittsburgh when he is 25. He will leave and receive a higher salary elsewhere. Where will this leave the Penguins as a franchise?

With Malkin and Staal....

The NHL is better off with Crosby playing in front of a major audience (like New York)...which indirectly would benefit the Penguins...so no, I don't see a problem.

[soriano33]

I think that this is a perfectly legitimate rule in the NHL. The players are out there because they want to make money doing something they love, if they have the oppurtunity to make the big $ then I'm all for it. If the Penguins are that worried they should try to satisfy Crosby with a new deal in the future that would go beyond his 25th birthday. The Penguins should not be depending on Crosby to uphold the franchise, Crosby should be depending on the Penguins to better the team and suit his needs during his tenure.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by soriano33

I think that this is a perfectly legitimate rule in the NHL. The players are out there because they want to make money doing something they love, if they have the oppurtunity to make the big $ then I'm all for it. If the Penguins are that worried they should try to satisfy Crosby with a new deal in the future that would go beyond his 25th birthday. The Penguins should not be depending on Crosby to uphold the franchise, Crosby should be depending on the Penguins to better the team and suit his needs during his tenure.

I'd be trading him for a slew of picks at age 23 if I did not feel I could sign him long term...

[ThePundit]

The one thing we have to remember is that there is a salary cap in the NHL. So it's not like in baseball where the Yankees can outbid anybody . Teams like the Rangers may not be able to fit him under their cap to entice him to come to the Rangers. And as Blue said, maybe he'll develop an allegiance and will take a little less money to stay in Pittsburgh.

Personally, I thkink it's bad for any sport when iconic stars leave their home cities and hop to the highest bidder.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by ThePundit

The one thing we have to remember is that there is a salary cap in the NHL. So it's not like in baseball where the Yankees can outbid anybody . Teams like the Rangers may not be able to fit him under their cap to entice him to come to the Rangers. And as Blue said, maybe he'll develop an allegiance and will take a little less money to stay in Pittsburgh.

Personally, I thkink it's bad for any sport when iconic stars leave their home cities and hop to the highest bidder.

Yeah, real shame there that Reggie Jackson landed in the Yankees in 1977...Shaq got a titles for both the Lakers and Heat (as opposed to Orlando)...Messier lead the Rangers to a Cup...freakin mercenaries killing sports I tell you...

[ThePundit]

Actually the Messier things was terrible. I can't chant "1940" anymore.
But seriously, it's good for the cities that can afford to pay the players...What about the cities who lose the players? Or are the smaller market teams only there for the big city teams to cherry pick off of?