Taking stock of the CBA

So my Hockey News finally arrived five days after I first saw the issue's glorious cover. If you get a chance, Ken Campbell pens a nice piece on the CBA not being the victory the owner's expected.

The cap floor is larger than the pre-lockout payroll of a number of teams. Front loaded, long-term contracts are the new rage. Offer sheets are a win-win - you either get the other team's player or push them against (or over) the cap limit.

And the players don't want to change a thing:

This CBA is becoming more a victory for the players with every passing year, so much so there is genuine talk the rank and file will have no interest at all in reopening negotiations into the six-year deal when they have the chance in two years' time.

Players whose minimum wages were once $140,000 are now making $450,000 a season. Tell Daniel Briere, a player who not long ago wasn't good enough to play for the Phoenix Coyotes and will make $10 million next season, the CBA is a bad one for the players."

- The Hockey News

Tell Al Montoya, who won't get to back up Henrik Lundqvist because his rookie contract is too rich. Tell Jason LaBarbera, who spent 06-07 in the AHL despite a slew of injuries in the Kings' crease because his one-way contract would have put him on the waiver wire if called up. (Sorry, I only have goalie examples at my fingertips.)

Unfortunately, just like our fine government, the new CBA forgets the middle class. The rich get richer and the poor get to fit under the cap.