The More Things Change....
With federal mediators presiding over CBA talks for a second straight day yesterday, progress had to have been made...right?...
Doesn't sound like PA is willing to work with the NHL's 3 main issues. League responded by saying it won't budge. No progress. As you were.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) December 13, 2012
The three main issues are "make whole," free agency and arbitration rights.
...i'm sorry folks, unless Bettman and Fehr have the greatest poker faces of all time this ain't happening.
Meanwhile, one person who has been watching these negotiations intensely is Michael Del Zotto's agent says Craig Custance at ESPN.com...
"The coming transition rules debate between the league and NHLPA may impact the Del Zotto negotiations more than any of the five big RFAs. According to CapGeek.com, the Rangers are at $59 million in cap payroll, which gives them plenty of cap space if there's a temporary $70 million salary cap coming out of the lockout.
But the league has been resistant to the idea of amnesty buyouts and is fighting to count large AHL salaries against the cap, which means the Rangers will have to do something with Wade Redden who still has two more seasons that come with a cap hit of $6.5 million. After this season, both Derek Stepan and Ryan McDonagh are restricted free agents, and the team can start talking to goalie Henrik Lundqvist about a contract extension on July 1. If the cap drops to $60 million next season, things get tight in New York."
...how is this Redden contract still killing the Rangers? Easily the worst contract in professional sports history.
...for all the crap I give Del Zotto on the blog, I do hope the Rangers can get a deal done with him. The skill is there and I'd hate to see the Rangers give-up on a player who could potentially be their power play point man for the next decade.
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This Redden thing feels like its been hanging over our heads for as long as I've been a fan! Also, if we have to give up DZ, a kid we drafted and taken lumps with, JUST when he's maturing into a pretty good top 4 offensive defender I will freak out. This cap thing is a joke. My love for the NHL is slowly being replaced with an absolutly awesome Knicks team. Gary, don't push me cause I'm close to the...edge!
The PA should accept the 5 yr contract limits, the problem obviously is what is the NHL giving in return? It's a joke.
