Having played the great sport of hockey for several years, and at several different levels, I feel compelled to remind my professional hockey playing counterparts of where they come from.
First, let me explain I’m no fantastic hockey talent, hence I am a writer. I don’t exactly expect someone to take my words to heart, but merely to think about them. I know all those who have played will agree, and probably many who wish they had and are just die hard fans, with what I have to say.
Lately it seems to me that the real talents, the real players worth having on a team, have become a minority. I remember the days of the amazing rosters of the Stars, Wings, and Devils. The rosters of good upstanding guys who played for love of the game and less for money are long gone now.
I’ll begin my explanation with ripping on my own team, the Anaheim Ducks. How could Brian Burke ever rationalize signing Todd Bertuzzi to such a long, expensive contract? He was a liability from the get-go. Bertuzzi no longer is worth $4 million, and I doubt he ever will be again. But, that is only part of the argument here—the brunt of this is rooted in the players who play for money.
My fight lies with Marian Hossa, and those like him. Many in Pittsburgh will agree that one day we are hearing he would pick “winning over money,” but man did he hitch a ride to Hockeytown fast. True, he took the winning and money route, but it was major back-stabbing to Pittsburgh. If he didn’t like the city, or fans, or team, say it! They wouldn’t care as much as being lied about.
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Wade Redden, you have been terrible lately, yet you still expect large amounts to end up in your coffer? So, of course you go to the Rangers, who will fork over cash to any guy who thinks he’s worth it.
The Rangers have a great team, and it would really sadden me for them to not do well, and you to demand a trade or something stupid, but anything is possible with you. I like your play as a younger guy, but lately, you’re in the same boat as Hossa, a money grubbing wuss!
Mats Sundin, I gave you a lot of credit for being an upstanding guy and all with the Leafs, but after having so many teams tossing you contracts, you ignored them. It’s like your going for broke of a hockey team. I’m very sure I’m jumping the gun here, but just bear in mind—it's about the game, not the money. The players above you have forgotten that.
Most of my anger lies with Marian Hossa, and the fact he is as highly paid as Nick Lidstrom, but hasn’t even proven himself as a steady contributor for Detroit. It's sort of stupid on Detroit’s part, but hey, do with your money as you wish.
It seems to me, from my former hockey days, that too many in the NHL only care about the paycheck, and not the game. An NHL team could pay me $100,000 a year and I'd be happy, and this is considering I was that talented.
Talent shouldn’t dictate the entire salary. Why not pay a guy more for being loyal to the team and being a good role model along with on ice performance? Andy McDonald, a favorite example of mine, was a loyal, hard working, goal scoring, undrafted Duck who gets $3.3 million. True, he is no Wayne Gretzky, but I’d take him on my team any day over a punk like Hossa.
Bottom line—the lockout solved nothing! Fix the salary issues Bettman, before I invest in becoming an AHL fan. It’s not Brian Burke’s fault, or Lowe’s in Edmonton. It’s yours! Hockey is a business; GM’s are forced to pay some players insane amounts in the name of winning.
So Mr. Bettman, please do your job, and end this money grubbing insanity and let it be about hockey again.
To Marian Hossa, keep your head up, pretty boy, that expensive face of yours could get a nice Penguin elbow come fall.
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about 1 month ago
I think its pretty easy to say you would take $100,000 to play in the NHL when you won't actually get that, no doubt 99.9% of the people would be demanding as much as possible like the other players if you were actually in the NHL thats why I don't like it to much when people say they would play for 100,000 grand. Marian Hossa took a one year offer, spurning 80 MILLION DOLLARS from the Oilers and Detroit signed Hossa on a one year contract meaning they will not lose any players in the process and they will add a top ten player to the exact same team that just won a cup. This gives Hossa the best chance he has had to win, its a win-win for both sides and very FAR from the worst signing with players like Redden, Campbell (the same as Hossa!?!?!?!), Huet, Naslund, Streit, Finger, Theodore, tucker and those are just contracts from this year.... I could probably name hundreds worse then Hossa's. Quite frankly, Hossa was almost a steal!
from about 1 month ago
Steal or not, it was about the money, not about being a good upstanding player. Especially after point blank saying he wouldn't make his choice over money. True, he can win in Detroit, but its just a shady move on his part.
from about 1 month ago
I don't think Hossa's decision was about money at all, looking at what he left on the table.
It was about 1) winning and 2) flexibility. If Detroit doesn't end up being a good fit for him, for whatever reason, he can try somewhere else next summer.
from about 1 month ago
I really do fail to see how this is about money. He took a smaller per year salary to go to a winner, accepted less than Lidstrom (it's team policy) and turned down a huge offer from Edmonton. This looks like he just wants a great shot at the Cup and to give himself flexibility after the season.
about 1 month ago
Any sport where tooth loss and the possibility of having a skate blade slice a carotid artery couldn't pay me enough to play it.
about 1 month ago
You definitely make some points that most would (or should) agree with. As a Pens fan, I knew Hossa was a rental; and it was worth it for the opportunity the Pens had in the Finals. Was I disappointed that he left? Yes. Going to the Cup champs? Moreso. I personally do not think he is worth much over $7 million (if that), as he hasn't had to lead/carry a team. He said he was willing to play for less money for a good team. I'd assume the Pens, Detroit, & maybe one or two other teams were on his mind. Detroit has kept just about their entire team for next year and added one Ty Conklin, while the Pens have made difficult, but sound decisions to let a number of guys go. It's hard to ignore the allure the Red Wings offer. Anyway, my point is that I believe he did go to a 'good team' for less money. I'm sure other teams offered him significantly more than he accepted in Detroit. It was fun while it lasted, but I'm moving on. Mind you, I wouldn't mind seeing the Pens take advantage of Hossa when they next meet.
about 1 month ago
I think you've got it wrong. The players deserve their fair share of revenue. If the NHL brings in $2 billion it would be vastly unfair to give the players only a $500 million cut of that. What if we found out that the guys that own this site were making $500 million a year on our content which we upload for free? We should get our fair share of that revenue because it's our work that's bringing people to the website. On the other hand, if someone is gonna give you $100000 for a job you've been doing happily for $30k, you'd take that money in a blink because it's understood that the employer pays you this money because they can afford it.
You can't blame players when the GM's and Owners are throwing as much money as possible at players working within a flawed cap that allows you to spend upwards of 20% of cap space on a single player of a 23 man roster. If Hossa was about the money he'd have landed in Edmonton. If Sundin was about the money, he'd be in Vancouver right now, but he's still considering retirement.
about 1 month ago
Ken, first and formost I would like to say that I really do enjoy you as a writer. No knock to you at all but I have to agree with Adam in the fact that Hossa left his reported 9 year $81 Million contract to come to a contender. He has stated that it came down to Pittsburgh and Detroit and he felt he had a better chance at winning the cup with the Winged Wheel.
Up to this signing I had the same feeling about Hossa as you Ken, a money hungry, no love for the game European. As far as Im concerned if another high-profile player threatens to go to the Euro leagues to make more money, GO! PLEASE!
I am a die hard Wings fan and I still do have a problem with this signing. I cant help but feel like a rebound. Hossa and Ken Holland have both said that they hope this is a long term commitment and hope they can get an extension done to hold on to Hossa long-term come next off-season. However I dont believe Hossa for one second to be quite honest. The guy wants to win the cup - who doesnt. It seems his mentality is lets just hope on the coat-tails of the Wings and win a cup AND THEN go to the highest bidder and send the NHL into another strike over the salary cap.
Either way you look at it, its a great pick up and definitlly puts us in a better spot to win the cup next year.
about 1 month ago
wow great article ken! really loved it
about 1 month ago
How bout giving some credit to a guy like Brooks Orpik. The free agent market went loopy for defensemen this year. Look at some of these deals:
Campbell $7.1 million per
Redden $6.5 million per
Rozsival $5 million per
JEFF FINGER $3.5 million per
I'd have taken Orpik over pretty much all of those guys and he stayed in Pitt for a very reasonable $3.75 per over six years.
about 1 month ago
Agreed about Orpik...he is a guy you dont hear a lot about but really had a steady playoff run. I may not have taken him over Campbell but for the price I definitlly think that he is the best value.
The fact that the leafs signed Jeff Finger for just under what the Wings signed Brad Stuart for. Apparantly the Leafs are staying the course ahah
about 1 month ago
Hockey has not sold out anywhere near as much as the NBA or NFL and it never will.
about 1 month ago
Just a question what do you want Bettman to do about it? If the GMs go for players within their cap space then they should be able to offer anything they want. And if I'm a player why would I not accept the bigger check? It just makes sense... and secondly if Hossa's first commitment was to winning he just joined the reigning Stanley Cup Champs so if that's not winning I don't know what is.
from about 1 month ago
I'm just upset that the cap hasn't solved any problems. Sure, to a certain degree teams aren't stacked like they once were but were heading back to pre-lockout issues with financial stuff.
about 1 month ago
I agree with you Ken that the system needs an overhaul and I think Bettman (and eventual NHL Commissioner Brian Burke) also know it. The players know it, too, and realize it will end soon which is why they are grabbing as much as they can now.
I mean, paying Dustin PENNER $25 million? If Penner gets $25 million, my 101 yearl old grandmother should get $500,000 to play for the Oilers. (She could only make them better.)
I suppose Penner had to take it and its not the players fault but, Lowe is irresponsible and still angry about getting punked in the Chris Pronger deal. (Thanks for giving us the draft choices back, Kevin. Smart move.)
I also disagree with you that Kevin Lowe is not at the heart of this. This concept of the "second contract" that Burke talks about has been destroyed by Lowe's offer sheets to Vanek and Penner. Now, you go from first level to third level contract. Because of, and ONLY because of, the jealous loose cannon in Edmonton.
Oiler fans will never admit because they truly LOVE that team and will never speak ill of it (which as a Green Packer fan, I understand.). They always deflect the argument to Anaheim's signing of Todd Bertuzzi or Mathieu Schneider. But Schneider and Bertuzzi were veteran players who had already played for the first and second level contracts and now earned the right to the third level.
Penner was an average minus 2 first level contract player who benefited from a stacked Ducks roster and Lowe paid him a superstar third level veteran contract of $25 million. (Maybe he was betting on the USD continuing to lose its value and that $25 million USD will be worth $1 canadian some day soon. If so, then I retract everything Ive said about him...)
The fact that Oiler fans get a kick out of annoying Burke and the Ducks fans because they are still bitter about Pronger's wife wanting to live in Southern California rather than Edmonton (no brainer) notwithstanding, Lowe is at the heart of the problem. Yes, he is "just playing by the rules" but other GM's realize the rules are broken and refuse to hurt the league and their own team's out of revenge, bitterness, and anger.
The Ducks got Pronger from the Oilers for Lupul and some draft choices. Lupul is now gone from Edmonton and Pronger's name is on the Stanley Cup as a Duck. The Ducks got the draft choices back in the Penner deal. So, Lowe spent $25 million for Penner and Anaheim spent about the same for Pronger. Sounds like Burke punked the Oilers again.
Hossa on the Wings? Yet another reason to hate them.
Avery on the Stars? Perfect. Cant wait for this season to start. Brad May vs Sean Avery 8 times per year? Get out the popcorn, folks. Unbelievable.
about 1 month ago
I think I have the same illness Ken.
I don't understand how a league without a decent TV contract and with teams losing money in buckets can be shelling out this much in contracts.
Contracts in the NBA, NFL and MLB sicken me too, but at least they have the revenue to back it up.
The NHL is dangerously close to a major crash.
about 1 month ago
My freind what you are talking about is a sign of the times. All professional athletes are out for a big pay day regardless of what they say and it's sad to see. I was shocked to see what Hossa did but not very surprised. In his case I guess the old saying if you can't beat them you might as well jion them came true.
about 1 month ago
Not all players are in it for the money. Many still take the "hometown discount." Corey Perry did not even entertain offer sheets as an RFA, and you know he would have gotten some in the stratosphere. Instead, Perry made it clear he wanted to remain a Duck, not merely go to the highest bidder.
To play devil's advocate - in a case like Penner he would have been crazy not to sign an offer sheet like that. As an undrafted college guy who was lucky to be in the NHL, but never going to be a star, you take the money and run. Careers are not 40 or 50 years and the time you have to make enough money to see you through to the golden years is small.
Another favorite of yours, Brent Severyn, told me he can't afford to live in California full time. This is a former player, now broadcaster, who has made decent money over the years.
The salary cap was supposed to help keep some of these excessive contracts in check, but as the cap goes up, it negates a lot of what was intended.
from about 1 month ago
I do see what you mean, and I do agree that if offered an insane amount any one would take me. It just feels like these guys are selling their souls for money now.
about 1 month ago
Its just economics. If someone feels they are worth X amount of money and a GM offers it to them, what right do YOU have to say they don't deserve it. They may not live up to the contract or ever have lived up to the contract in the first place. However, YOU can not say that they shouldn't take the money. What YOU can do is not support the NHL, their revenue will go down and therefore GM's will be forced to spend less on players. Vote with your wallet.
about 1 month ago
I don't think Hossa made his decision based on money. I'm a huge Pens fan and what he did was shady which makes him a bad person but he did not chase money. Ray Shero said if it came down to 7.4 million over the 7 million the Pens offered him over 7 years, Shero would have made up the difference. However, Hossa said he wanted to return to the Penguins because they are going to be winners, he just wanted to test the waters on July 1st. Instead, he chose another winner when he said that was why he wanted to stay in Pittsburgh. I think this is stupid on his part because the Red Wings have been the President's Trophy winners almost every year except the year Buffalo won it and while I'm sure the Red Wings will win that again it most surely does not guarantee a Stanley Cup, as Buffalo and Detroit have proved in recent years. As far as getting back to the Stanley Cup finals I think the Penguins have a better chance than the Red Wings simply because the Eastern Conference is weaker than the West especially with the way deals are going. I just cannot say anything bad about Mats Sundin though. I guarantee you that the reason he has not signed yet is he is worried he can't produce worth the money or the expectations people will have of him. This is all due to the horrible Maple Leaf fans combined with their horrible management. And what I like the most is he told a Swedish newspaper he will play anywhere besides the Red Wings it is all a matter of whether he can keep playing or not. We need more Mats Sundin's who won't be rental players or just chase money.
about 1 month ago
All pro players are overpaid. None of them are worth that much. At least not for playing a game.
Sadly, the NHL salary cap is rising at an unbelievable pace. Just when we all thought that the salary inflation was over with the new deal. :D
about 1 month ago
uninformed bloggers give me the runs...
from about 1 month ago
I haven't seen you write anything, and if it causes you bowel issues. Don't read it.
from about 1 month ago
Uptight, over-serious people commenting on bloggers give me the runs..
about 1 month ago
I can appreciate the fact the overwhelming consensus here is that I'm wrong, sometimes you gotta test the waters a bit in this sorta thing, as going for edgy normally isn't my deal. Thanks everyone for your input, you have given me some stuff to think about.
I think in general, for every player they're being paid too much. I'm also sure my hating on Marian Hossa could have easily gone on someone else, but sadly, none came to mind at 3am.
Thanks everyone for the comments, and opinions. I always enjoy seeing how the NHL section feels.
from about 1 month ago
Oh I wouldn't say that they aren't overpaid I just don't think Hossa chased money. Brian Campbell also took less money than he was offered to go to Chicago because he liked the location and how the team is on the rise. Don't get me wrong, gone are the days where Wayne Gretzky argued with the owner of the LA Kings to take less money than the owner was offering him when he got traded there. Wayne Gretzky did not think he deserved to make 1 million dollars a year! Whether people disagree or not it was a well written article.
about 1 month ago
The sad thing is that this "story" appears in a Google NEWS search.
Is the Bleacher Report a blog, filled with opinion, commentary, and rants.....
Or is it news?
You can't have it both ways.
about 1 month ago
brutal article...you should point the finger at other sports (basketball) when talking about overpaid athletes
about 1 month ago
In your opener, you claim that you "must remind professional hockey playing counterparts of where they come from."
Have you done so, or do you just write in cliche? Not that I agree with your slant in your article, it's just that if you claim something, why use a keyboard and an essentially unheard of blogsphere to do so? After all, you are in a position to walk into a locker room, or catch a player to and from his car in the lot, and "remind him".
If hockey players getting paid so much really does make you sick, perhaps you should consider getting out of the sports business. Your stomach will not be so upset.
As equally as important, perhaps more so, I think you meant "from where they come" instead of ending with a preposition. An editor would probably know better.
It seems as if college professors aren't doing their jobs these days.
Perhaps your internship would give you an excellent opportunity to read more and post less.
Good Luck to you in the future.
from about 1 month ago
You should become a college professor, and revitalize the system. Thanks for the kind words.
from about 1 month ago
Ba-zing
from about 1 month ago
Ken, Uncle Rico is right whether you like it or not. Check your premises. You even took a stab at Mats Sundin which I did not think was possible.
If it is really bothering you, the only proper way to protest is to not support the NHL to have the earnings go down. But I have a feeling you don't want to do that so you wrote that comment in response to Uncle Rico.
about 1 month ago
Yes, i admit i was a little rough on Sundin, I'm just a little confused as to why hes still sitting available.
I think all sports are overpaid, hockey players in general i think deserve the large amounts of money more than football players do, i mean 82 game, thats a strain. I just don't want to see the money grubbing nature so prevalent in other sports happen to hockey.
from about 1 month ago
My only guess would be is that he isn't sure whether he could wear another jersey besides the Leafs, and he is also married now and probably wants to start a family.
I do agree with you though, bad players making money they don't deserve. Unfortunately the GM's are the one determining the price for a player and they more often then not overpay.
about 1 month ago
Definitely don't understand the crazy contracts these days. Bettman has to solve the craziness.
from about 1 month ago
It won't happen. He's only there to appease the owners. We're headed for more gloom if something doesn't happen to calm the rising salaries.
about 1 month ago
The money is there in the League so why not use it?
from about 1 month ago
because in like 5 years, there will be more issues on a lockout.
about 1 month ago
Ken, your ending statement is why I love the game of hockey. Great article
about 1 month ago
Ken, I liked your article big time, and I agree with what Chris said in the 3rd or 4th comment. I think that Hossa cannot be blamed here, because THIS move, and I put the emphasis on this because you'll see what he does next year, but THIS move is about winning. He is looking for a quick cup, before he hits the big payday next summer. Who could blame him? I'm a big time Bruins fan, and I was all for Hossa and Chara teaming up on the B's next year, alongside Ryder now, but to be honest, he went to a proven playoff team. I also as a Stars fan, hoped he would join them, but there was absolutely no way of that happening. Anyways, I think Hossa did a good thing. You make some good points about other players, and I'm a little shocked Sundin is still hitting the pavement with his butt, but in time he'll find a fit. As for the title of the article, I think that you have to keep in mind that hockey, much to my dismay is a very UNDERPAID sport, when compared to the others. Do you see Crosby or Ovechkin getting A-ROD salary? Nope. What about the young athletes who come into the league? There was mention earlier about $100,000 to play in the NHL. You know what the NFL's starting salary is for a player? $250,000 per year. Damn good money...as a hockey fan, great article.
from about 1 month ago
I do agree that hockey studs are underpaid when looking at other sports. As long as it doesn't lead to another NHL lock out I'm all for better salaries as long as the cap permits it. I just don't want to see another lockout on the horizon, like some rumors have regarding such high salaries.
about 1 month ago
I'm with ya Ken. Lockouts suck in any sport. I don't think though the NHL needs to worry right now. Wait till 2010 when it happens in the NBA, and maybe just as soon in the NFL. Very bad for the world.
about 1 month ago
Most of us who complain about athletes' high salaries ignore the fact that the highest salaries are paid to absolutely elite performers, who are approximately among the top 1-2% of NHL players, which places them among the top 0.01% of professional hockey players world wide--and in spite of this, they get paid a lot less than most CEO's of major corporations. Even lousy TV contracts together with very high prices for tickets to games (which somebody is willing to pay) and merchandising of hockey gear are sufficient to support the current salary structure. If nobody bought tickets or jerseys, then the current Cap would collapse.
What's more, most of us don't risk career-ending injuries when we go to our jobs every day, and even if a player doesn't get injured, even the elite players are forced to retire when they still have to support their families for an additional 20-30 years.
So I agree that salaries seem excessive, but not in the context of what the owners and/or elite performers in other professions earn.
about 1 month ago
I can't agree more with the comment above mine. What about players like Pavel Bure? One of the fastest, most skilled players in his prime happened to break his leg in a freak accident and can never play again. Should he have only been making $200,000 a year? What is he to do? He came from Russia and most likely knows one thing only, and that's playing hockey. So good for him that he got his money when he could, and I'm sure he is happy he did it. And he's probably happy that his brother is nailing Candace Cameron from Full House too.
from about 1 month ago
now that is hockey trivia! LOL
about 1 month ago
Great fact about C.C there Andrew ahah
I do believe that Hossa is obsessed with winning a cup.
He told A-T-L that he wasnt going to re-sign and it wasnt about the money, it was about the direction of the team and he basically told Pittsburgh the same thing. Pens fans are bitter, and they should be. But the Pens fans are bitter for the wrong reasons. They are upset that Hossa left their team for only $400,000 more money that Shero said he would have given Hossa but thats not what Hossa wanted. He has a better shot at winning the Cup in Detroit and anyone that says something different is obviously biased. Id say the same thing even if I wasnt a Wings fan to be quite honest.
I have come to accept that professional athletes make an obscene amount of money. But when people are going to offer that kind of cash flow in a business that could end your career at anytime it's nice to know you have SOME security. The thing that gets me is these men are playing a sport. Playing is the key word. Doctors and surgeons are saving peoples lives and don't get even close to that amount and dont get to demand that kind of money that players in the NHL, MLB, NBA, and NFL can.
But as is the world today. Great article Ken, I love the edgy stuff because its a point of view and obviously people are going to disagree with you but that is part of the reason for writing it. To date you have over 40 comments so obviously you did your job! Keep it up.
from about 1 month ago
Sometimes being the guy people go, ok cool, hes a good Ducks writer gets old. Its much more fun pissing people off! LOL
about 1 month ago
Speaking of overpaid hockey players and pro athletes that may be in it for the wrong reason, check out this link about Georges Laraque.
http://proathletesonly.com/news/locker-room/penguins-tough-guy-georges-laraques-a-pushover-when-it-comes-to-charity/
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