Renard
Registered User
I read a book a while back about Ted Lindsay and the early efforts to get players involved in collective bargaining.
In the old (pre WHA) days, none of the players had agents or lawyers or accountants. Most had other jobs in the offseason. They signed one-year contracts offered to them by the GMs and left the building without a copy of their contracts. They did not discuss their compensation with their teammates. They had little bargaining power.
There must be a few players from that era still alive and alert. What amazement they must have at today's NHL players, the top ones able to accumulate tens of millions of dollars, get long term contracts and no-movement contracts to boot.
I don't like reading about salary caps, free agency, etc. Rooting for a professional sports team is irrational process, and when I know that my heroes are in it for the money, it spoils it for me.
In the old (pre WHA) days, none of the players had agents or lawyers or accountants. Most had other jobs in the offseason. They signed one-year contracts offered to them by the GMs and left the building without a copy of their contracts. They did not discuss their compensation with their teammates. They had little bargaining power.
There must be a few players from that era still alive and alert. What amazement they must have at today's NHL players, the top ones able to accumulate tens of millions of dollars, get long term contracts and no-movement contracts to boot.
I don't like reading about salary caps, free agency, etc. Rooting for a professional sports team is irrational process, and when I know that my heroes are in it for the money, it spoils it for me.