Did Savard's contract violate "the spirit of the CBA"?

by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Dec 8, 2009 6:01 PM EST

The NHL is investigating whether or not Marc Savard's 7-year $28 million contract extension is against "the spirit of the CBA".

Shrewd general managers throughout the NHL have found a major loophole in the league's collective bargain agreement. Since only a player's average salary for the life of his contract is used to determine their yearly cap hit, teams can offer a player a higher salary during the prime of his career without taking a large cap hit during their big pay day years and soften the blow for buy-out options during the later years of a player's contract.

You could make a strong argument that the NHL needs to crack down on this practice. However, I don't think that they can go back and void contracts based on a concept as abstract as "the spirit of the CBA". What the hell is the "spirit of the CBA"? Is that Gary Bettman's new expansion team in Mobile, Alabama or some sort of Hockey-themed casino?. The NHL needs to have a more concrete policy for contract structure. Until then, you simply have to reward the GMs you are creative enough to work the CBA in their favor.

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Wouldn’t it just be so fitting if the NHL took this away from us.

We can’t have original 6 teams being strong, we need The Coyotes and The Predators winning cups!!!!

by ike6116 on Dec 8, 2009 7:26 PM EST reply actions

Yes, I’m sure that will happen. Just look at how Detroit and Chicago got screwed by the investigations into the big contracts they handed out.

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by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Dec 9, 2009 9:45 AM EST up reply actions

The “spirit” of the CBA? There are obviously loopholes in the CBA, the GMs found a way to get around it. If the NHL doesn’t like it, they and NHLPA need to get back together and re-write the thing. This “investigation” is a waste of time, money, and energy. They are looking at Savard and his 7 years over Luango and his 20 years? Or Keith’s shiny new 15 year contract? Ok then. confused stare

by MattS on Dec 8, 2009 7:45 PM EST reply actions

This is just madness.

If these contracts violate the CBA, then the very first one should have been voided. Instead the NHL does this insane dance of fake investigations. What are they investigating? Everyone knows what these deals are about, and they’re allowed by the rules. End of story.

This all feels like the league is annoyed, is having a little sulk about it, and is going to make the Bruins waste a bunch of time on paperwork before officially approving the deal like we all know they will.

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by Down Goes Brown on Dec 9, 2009 10:48 AM EST reply actions

If they really want to stop these deals (which benefit both clubs and players, mind you), then they need to change the CBA. I understand these dog-and-pony show investigations to placate offended parties, but if there’s no specific rule to prevent this stuff, then there’s no means by which to penalize them.

The situation, in a weird way, parallels a NASCAR story – Jeff Gordon’s T-Rex car from the the 1997 Winston that, while not illegal, exploited so many loopholes in the rules that NASCAR hastily changed them and told the team never to bring that car back to the track.

by Arenacale on Dec 9, 2009 11:08 AM EST reply actions

That was the first time that NASCAR was ever reference on this site in a serious manner and probably the last. New rule: no more NASCAR references unless you are using tired stereotypes to make fun of Carolina Hurricanes fans.

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by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Dec 9, 2009 6:27 PM EST up reply actions

I’m sorry, I’ll try to stick to IndyCar references from here on in.

by Arenacale on Dec 9, 2009 6:44 PM EST up reply actions

I thought it was an interesting article. Very sean-avery-rule.

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by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Dec 9, 2009 7:47 PM EST up reply actions

Bending rules is not breaking them.

Waste of everyone’s time.

by 13_Legion on Dec 9, 2009 6:27 PM EST reply actions

A big part of this

is the fact that unless you are Chicago, Detroit, Pittsburgh, or Philadelphia you aren’t allowed to have more than one big name star. The Bruins already have Chara, so they can’t have Savard.
The NHL can’t understand a player taking less money to play for a team and city he loves. Playing for the love of the game certainly is NOT in the spirit of the CBA.

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by c6hor8 on Dec 9, 2009 6:29 PM EST reply actions