Speculation: Derek Stepan Negotiations (9/19-Dreger: "Unlikely" Stepan signs before season opens)

[Gardner McKay]

Put things in perspective.

someone making 3 million and holding out for 500k, is different then someone maknig 70k and holding our for 500k.

He wants to hold out over that, go for it. Because the money he could be getting paid, could be in investments and compounding. Instead he won't see a dime and can sit on his hands, then have a crappy season when he comes back and that 2 year bridge will turn into a long-term contract.

Or he can wait for an offer sheet that may never come.

Again, giving into Stepan now could potentially set a precedent, if other youngsters have good years prior to the bridge time.

We wouldn't be able to pay all of the guys. Kreider, Fast, Lindberg, Kristo, McIlrath, Miller.

What if these guys have good seasons and god forbid, put up those numbers over a full year.

Then we'd have to lock them in to long term, high end contracts.

This isn't as much about Stepan as it is about the future of the team.

Thank you voice of reason.

 

[94now]

Not having a particular player in the lineup isn't gonna make fans stop going to games.

No, but not making a playoffs would. The games we lose w/o Step will cost us comes April.

 

[pld459666]

You are. To say that not one player in a single sport cares about the fans? Yeah that is delusional.

when it comes time to negotiate their contracts?

one example of a player signing for less than he could get because the fans wanted him to.

I'll wait.

 

[NYR Viper]

And we had this discussion yesterday.

Putting real numbers like $500,000.00 into fractions and percentages to make it seem smaller (because that is what you are doing) doesn't take away the fact that it's STILL FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.

Just because you are making 3 mill per year doesn't mean that it's anything less than what it is.

I'd hold out right now for a 10% increase in my own salary. And $500k is not 10% of $3 million.

 

[nyr2k2]

They should care. Fans provide the revenue for the team & sport to exist as a professional organization. You are so jaded and delusional it is scary.

The revenue will be there regardless of whether Player X treats the fans like **** or takes their support for granted. When Player X goes into a negotiation, it's about his bottom line. He doesn't care about the fans at that point. He's concerned with himself, as he should be. Certainly some players are more in tune with the average fan than others, but by and large none of them care.

 

[NYR Viper]

No, but not making a playoffs would. The games we lose w/o Step will cost us comes April.

Would it? I don't think so. The Garden will sell out no matter what.

 

[Gardner McKay]

And we had this discussion yesterday.

Putting real numbers like $500,000.00 into fractions and percentages to make it seem smaller (because that is what you are doing) doesn't take away the fact that it's STILL FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.

Just because you are making 3 mill per year doesn't mean that it's anything less than what it is.

Its not making them seem smaller. Its reality and perspective. Something you are lacking. 16 to Stanley summed it up perfectly.

 

[Boruto]

And we had this discussion yesterday.

Putting real numbers like $500,000.00 into fractions and percentages to make it seem smaller (because that is what you are doing) doesn't take away the fact that it's STILL FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.

Just because you are making 3 mill per year doesn't mean that it's anything less than what it is.

In all fairness, as a realistically optimist who's sometimes unnecessarily pessimistic, Stepan might not see it as "STILL FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS" and maybe only see it as "still five hundred thousand dollars".

 

[Gardner McKay]

The revenue will be there regardless of whether Player X treats the fans like **** or takes their support for granted. When Player X goes into a negotiation, it's about his bottom line. He doesn't care about the fans at that point. He's concerned with himself, as he should be. Certainly some players are more in tune with the average fan than others, but by and large none of them care.

Im not talking about one player. Im talking about Athletes as an entity in response to his point of not one single player cares about the fans and that is simply not true.

*Edit

As I re-read what he said, not a single player cares about fans when negotiating contracts. I missed that part when I first read it and to be honest, I don't disagree with that.

 

[Dalagaze]

Where did the word entitled come into play and what do I feel like I am entitled to? My opinion on Stepan? Yeah I am entitled to have an opinion. That's the purpose of these boards IIRC.

Right now you sound like one of the many fans who feel like the players owe something to you. They don't. Their job is to play hockey, not to be a nice a guy to the fans or even the city. Hell, I'll forget this ever happened if Step has a career year and we go on a good playoff run. The success of the team is way more important than our feelings, and I have no problem with that.

 

[Off Sides]

What percentage is 500K of Richards cap hit? I mean if it's really about cap space that it probably where to look. I don't think this is about cap space, they could demote and move players need be, it's about a peeing contest at this point based on a clause in the CBA that basically creates these situations.

The player with more experience and a longer and better résumé should get paid more than someone with lesser qualifications but it's the opposite in many cases. I guess I blame Ron Hainsey.

 

[Gardner McKay]

Right now you sound like one of the many fans who feel like the players owe something to you. They don't. Their job is to play hockey, not to be a nice a guy to the fans or even the city. Hell, I'll forget this ever happened if Step has a career year and we go on a good playoff run. The success of the team is way more important than our feelings, and I have no problem with that.

Please tell me what I said that gives you that impression.

 

[16 To Stanley*]

Yep. And he should.
Just for those not so good at math: 1 million will allow you to spend extra 70K per year for 20 years.

I believe NHL players are paid out over 8 or 9 months, not the full year.

So for every month that Stepan sits out it costs him (assuming 9 months and a 3 Million/Year contract) $333,333.

So if he sits out for September and October, he will have lost $666,666.

And if he sits out until december for that "extra" $500,000, he will have lost out on $1,333,333.

Now my math isn't so great, but by golly, that seems like more than the 1 million he would have made had he go the extra 500K per year.

Shocker.

 

[Dalagaze]

No, but not making a playoffs would. The games we lose w/o Step will cost us comes April.

If Brassard plays like he did for us last year, we'll be fine. Richards, Nash, and the health of Cally and Hags are the x-factors.

 

[McRanger]

Larger than necessary....hmmm.

Let me ask you a question, don't you think Stepan deserves more than Nazim Kadri?

Deserve in what way? As a player? At his current salary? What about if Kadri was over payed even more than he already is, say like 4 million a year?

Of course "larger than necessary" doesn't have anything to do with deserving. Stepan deserved to be paid much more than his entry level salary the last three years. But that doesn't mean the organization owes Stepan anything.

As I said, this goes beyond Stepan.

 

[16 To Stanley*]

No, but not making a playoffs would. The games we lose w/o Step will cost us comes April.

And for each day he sits out, it costs him $11,000.

But you're all right, he's smart for fighting for more money....

 

[BBKers]

Sign and trade.
Who saw that coming?

 

[Gardner McKay]

And for each day he sits out, it costs him $11,000.

But you're all right, he's smart for fighting for more money....

But some are fixated and would hold out until December for $500k. Not realize that if they signed now for less money, they would make more than holding out for that extra $500k.

 

[OverTheCap]

a little secret, when it comes to negotiating contracts, not one player in any sport cares about the fans.

They just don't.

Why should they. What does the fan do for them?

Player gets traded, he's got new fans. Signs with a new team, new fans. Plays in another league...NEW FANS

We are replaceable.

fans feel entitled to things that they are not entitled to. I get a kick out of that.

I agree with you here.

I've seen fans suggest that homegrown players take a hometown discount (even though this is becoming a rarity in this league). Then these fans get pissed when the players demand market value, which should have been the expectation all along.

The only thing that players owe to fans is giving them an honest effort on the ice. But when it's time for them to make business/personal decisions, they are going to do what's best for them. Gotta look out for #1.

 

[Gardner McKay]

I'd hold out right now for a 10% increase in my own salary. And $500k is not 10% of $3 million.

No its 10% of 5 million. Was just using numbers to make a point.

 

[Dalagaze]

Please tell me what I said that gives you that impression.

Pretty much your response to pld, and the responses where you were saying why the players should care about the fans.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

Please tell me what I said that gives you that impression.

Your attempts at cognizant points sure do perplex the masses -- must be reading comprehension on our parts, though.

 

[Jim Morrison]

Why should they. What does the fan do for them?

Well, without us, they wouldn't even discussing a mere ****ing 500k difference. Without us, they do not play hockey.

 

[Gardner McKay]

Pretty much your response to pld, and the responses where you were saying why the players should care about the fans.

See above. I admitted I missed where he said the "negotiating contracts part" and actually agree with PLD on that.

I never once said the players should care about the fans. I said its delusional to think that some don't. But again, I skimmed over the negotiating contracts part when I originally read his post.

So if theres anything else, put up a quote.

 

[Dalagaze]

None of this would be happening if we had just bought out Richards