This notion just hit me, the cap CEILING has grown to $56 plus million. The mid point is $48 million. Forty-eight million dollars times 30 teams is collectively what we can all spend on salaries. This means the NHL has grown dramatically in its revenues and the cap has controlled spending by the very biggest, most profitable big market teams.
In any other world or industry, when revenues increase and the employees get a disproportionate percentage of the revenue increase in payroll, management is looked at as being “benevolent” and is well-liked and respected.
Why is it though that there are media reports that the players’ union is upset with the league? What is there to be upset about in terms of revenue growth and salary cap increases?
In real business, to grow revenues in the double digits and then to give more of the revenues as a percentage back to the employees would be seen as a very positive gesture. Sometimes I just don’t get it. 
The real world is hard yet the players get paid more and more money. I think at times they should be happy that the league is doing so well even in very tough economic times. We should be re-embracing our fan base and saying thank you more to our fans. We are in partnership and the partnership must be doing something right.
I live in such a weird dichotomous world. Today, I am working with 100 homeless people serving them lunch and dinner and taking them all to a movie. At the same time, I am trying to give some players literally tens of millions of dollars; begging them to take our money; and hoping that at least some one somewhere will be grateful that they are getting paid a lot of money to play such a wonderful game as hockey. Today truly puts some things in perspective for me.
Hey Mike L: Good point and I stand corrected. I really like your comments on Ted’s blog btw.
I understand your points, but how much of the growth is simply due to the strong Canadian dollar?
Also, we missed an entire season for this… players making $8-10 mil per season and ticket prices just as high as ever. How may more seasons before the owners start complaining about loosing money again?
Q1
Olie Kolzig has probably donated more money in charities in this area the past decade than I’ve spent on Caps tickets during the same amount of time. There are lots of other players on the Caps (and other NHL teams) that donate tens of thousands of dollars. I would bet that NHL players donate a higher percentage of their salaries to charitable organizations than most other pro athletes (the only exception might be NASCAR drivers…)
At your limit of 0.1%, I would bet a majority (if not all) of the Caps players give at least that…
On the one hand, Ted, it’s so remarkable what you give in time & $ to such important charities. On the other hand, I would be absolutely blown away to learn that just one Capital or Wizard made a substantial $ or time contribution (note 0.1 % of $5m = 5k or 7k w/ the tax deduction).
If I was a player I’d probably do the same thing. You want to makes as much money as you can. You never know when your carrer will end.
The only key part missing from continuing NHL growth is a major television contract. MLS has a better TV contract than the NHL.
Speaking of the MLS, I’ll be at the DC vs LA game tomorrow, then I’m going to see Kicking It at E Street Cinema, and then I’ll be watching the Homeless World Cup finals. Thanks for all your involvement and charity Ted!
Maybe you should take those players, who are not grateful, with you the next time you are feeding the homeless and treating them to the simple pleasure of a movie. Show them that the majority of the world does not live like they do. I’d hate to think that any of our beloved Caps feel that way.
Can’t wait until the fall!!!
If you’re having some trouble with one or more of the players and their offers, have them come help you serve lunch and dinner to the homeless folks.
Actually, knowing the team and some of the players in the negotiations, I don’t think you’d have too much trouble getting them to help as they’re good guys in the community (Morrisonn, Laich, Green, etc.)
I know the team will be ready in September with the right players….
Perhaps the players’ union is still upset with the fact they were perceived as the “losers” in the agreement that ended the lockout. Ted – I personally completely adhere to your point of view, and find it ironic that the players’union is still upset over the agreement, when in fact said agreement may have saved the game for everbody(players, owners and fans).
Uh oh, sounds like someone’s team is having a tough time negotiating.
Here’s hoping it all goes well in the long run. Hopefully, anyone who’s a bit problematic will realize how good they’ve got it playing hockey in this town and how some fans are struggling to choose between filling up their cars and going to hockey games and make a good call.