Prime time Sports Interviews Jackets GM on the new rules.

[Sylvanfan]

Snippets from todays interview featuring
Bob McCown (BM), Jim Kelly (JK), and Sylvanfan (Syl)

BM: Good evening this is Bob McCown on the Fan590 and accross the entire fan network and on Rogers Sportsnet this is primetime sports. Tonight we have an interview with Columbus Blue Jackets GM Sylvanfan to discuss what we shall call some interesting new rules to be implemented in the CPHL this coming season and get his opinions. Without further adieu we welcome Jackets GM Sylvanfan, good evening Syl how are things in Columbus?

Syl: Well Columbus is slowing down as a lot of the university kids are out of town now, to be frank it's pretty drab around here these days. But I'm doing well how are you guys.

BM: We're doing great, do the strip clubs in Columbus slow down at this time of year, can they find enough dancers?

Syl: The quality of the employees does decline after college season, I won't deny that.

JK: Okay enough about strippers you two, lets talk sports like we should. What are your reactions to the new rules?

Syl: Well I don't know if they're as radical as some are making them out to be. There are changes, but I don't think the changes are what I'd consider to be drastic.

BM: Of all the new rules which one is the most significant to you?

Syl: The fact that if you want to retain your own pending UFA that you need to give that player a 3 year one way contract. By far thats the biggest factor for me at least.

JK: Why is that, you think it's more significant than setting price points for all players based on where they rate?

Syl: Well to address your first point the two factors do play hand in hand to a certain extent. I might have a guy who's a 78 player this year and worth 7.5 million, but if he's past a certain age and on the decline I have to pay him 7.5 for 3 seasons. In the old system I could plead my case to an agent that he's worth x dollars this season, x dollars the next year and so on and average out a three year contract, or I could just give him a one year deal. Now I can't do that I have to pay him for 3 years or let him jump in the pool so to speak. With our UFA age being what it is a 29 year old free agent is likely going to hold steady or get better. A 32 year old player and older...that gets tougher as those players could naturally fall off. Might be better throwing some guys in the UFA pile and trying to win their service with a one year deal depedning on player age.

BM: Are you surprised the CPHL didn't consult the media about these rules? Specifically media based out of Toronto.

Syl: Yes, you guys are gods and know everything. Frankly I'm surprised they don't let you guys run the league.....No, of course not, the media's job is to cover the game not run it end of story.

JK: What about the new RFA compensation what are your thoughts.

Syl: Well I like that they've made it more logical in that you can't make offers you can't cash, and that you can only make one at a time. Last year we had some absolutely absurd offers because the compensation is stretched over 5 years and most GM's tend to think in the now. Also there were occastions where GM's had like 2 and 3 RFA offers out at one time which did nothing but hyper inflate the market. What if all teams had accepted the compensation? Than you have one team only able to pick one guy when they made three offers. Does that mean they retract the other offers they had out? It was STUPID. Now the compensation has to be worked out between the two parties so hopefully it will encourage the offering party to inquire about a trade beforehand since it's going to come down to that anyway.

BM: Do you see any potential flaws in these rules?

Syl: Well nothing is perfect. I just hope RFA's don't get signed to low amounts because their current team only has 8 million left to sign 4 players who are worth more than 2 million each type of thing. So long as there is a league wide consistancy it should be okay. Of course as time ellapses loop holes will show up they always do.

JK: Do these rules throw a wrinkle in your plan will they affect you going forward?

Syl: No, not really, I guess I can maybe consider some trade and sign type deals with pending UFA's that I maybe wouldn't have before. My team needed to sign a few free agents just to get more quality players in place be it high end or low end guys. So the fact that resigning some mid level guys is tougher probably does give me some options I wasn't going to have. In terms of RFA's I don't think it will affect me too much I have my rates and reasons why I'll sign players for those rates. If they reject it, I'll take a hard stand or trade the player.

BM: Well thanks for your time we have to go to commercial now, afterall someone has to pay our exhorbitant salaries. Let me know when the good strippers get back to Columbus.

Syl: You bet Bob, Just make the call and I can get you in the back room where your wildest dreams will come true. I can't promise the same for Kelly though, he's kind of old looking the girls don't like that, sort of like Burt Reynolds in Strip Tease

JK: I'm not that old, and a little Just for Men and a razor and I'd look 20 years younger..