New labor deal zaps supersubs

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

New labor deal zaps supersubs

By TOM JONES, Times Staff Writer
Published August 19, 2005

In the past, the Lightning called up reliable fill-ins Eric Perrin and Shane Willis from the minors to replace injured players. It looks as if the team will not have those two options any longer.

Both players said Thursday they did not expect to return and likely will play in Europe.

"I don't feel there is a true opportunity to play there in the NHL with the Lightning," Perrin said. "It's nothing against Tampa Bay. They're classy people, they let me live the dream of playing on a Stanley Cup team. But they're loaded, and waiting for an injury to get called up is a high risk."

The problem facing Perrin and Willis is that, under the new labor agreement, players in the minors making more than $75,000 a year have to pass through waivers to be called up. So players making more than $75,000 might never get called up, and Perrin and Willis can earn much more than $75,000 playing elsewhere.

Willis said he might play in Switzerland.

- www.sptimes.com/2005/08/19/Lightning/New_labor_deal_zaps_s.shtml

[Andrew]

I can see this becoming a big problem under the new CBA. The new deal really hasn't slowed GMs down in offering big ticket contracts to high profile players. There's also talk of other teams making offers to St. Louis or Zetterberg - that their current teams can't match.

The result is that the star players are getting a disproportionate amount of league-wide cap money, and lesser players are getting screwed. I expect that we'll see a lot of young European players stay, or return to Europe in the coming years.

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

Yep, it's a sleeping dog right now, but one with sharp teeth.