Quote:
Originally Posted by N-E-B
I agree that the players are entitled to their fair share. I just have a hard time sympathizing with players when it gets to the point where they’re turning down offers that make them one of the highest paid players in the league. Especially at 22 years old.
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Yeah, there are some interesting dynamics at play.
It isn't a situation whereby the money is either going to the player, or staying with the organization. In that case, I agree that the player - ALL players - have to fight to get paid as much as they can.
But things are very different in the current NHL. It is a hard cap, and the amount of money that will go to the players is finite, and unchangeable. What that means is the more Marner gets paid, the less every other player makes.
By fighting for huge dollars, and pushing salaries up, Marner (and Tkachuk, and any top-tier star) are essentially taking money out of their team-mates pockets.
And not only that, but they are also making their team less competitive.
I am not saying they are wrong to try and get all they can - hell, that is the only sensible thing for them to do. And they have to assume that any of their team-mates would do the same thing. The problem is that, for the reasons listed above, it is self-defeating. And that's why I have a hard time supporting guys that are holding out for crazy money.
If I am Marner's team-mate, I am kind of pissed. Hard not to think that he is putting himself before the team.