A Fiery Lesson
The Calgary Flames’ improbable run to The Stanley Cup Final has been a great story on many levels; some rather obvious, some not so. On the most visible, emotional level it has rekindled the spirit of not only a city but of an entire nation as well. It has put the team within striking distance of that most hallowed of iconic sports’ hardware; a trophy that’s been trapped south of the 49th parallel for well over a decade. Calgary stands on the brink of repatriating the Stanley Cup.
Though not quite as poetic, there is a side to this story probably just as interesting and compelling as the image of Cinderella in a ten-gallon hat. That being how a small market team, with a relatively modest budget, can succeed in a big money sport like hockey. The telling part will be if they actually end up winning
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A Fiery Lesson
The Calgary Flames’ improbable run to The Stanley Cup Final has been a great story on many levels; some rather obvious, some not so. On the most visible, emotional level it has rekindled the spirit of not only a city but of an entire nation as well. It has put the team within striking distance of that most hallowed of iconic sports’ hardware; a trophy that’s been trapped south of the 49th parallel for well over a decade. Calgary stands on the brink of repatriating the Stanley Cup.
Though not quite as poetic, there is a side to this story probably just as interesting and compelling as the image of Cinderella in a ten-gallon hat. That being how a small market team, with a relatively modest budget, can succeed in a big money sport like hockey. The telling part will be if they actually end up winning it all this year. What will that say about the financial state of the sport and who will use the Flames as their poster child as the NHL and the NHLPA prepare for a boardroom showdown as the present Collective Bargaining Agreement draws to a close?
It’s likely that both sides will point to Calgary as a shining example of how the current CBA either does or doesn’t work. The natural inclination is to say the owners in the league are thrilled over the Flames success because it proves winning and a heavy payroll aren’t synonymous. This provides their justification for keeping player salaries at an affordable level. Why spend the money if you don’t need to? Except, this argument works for the NHLPA as well. If the Flames can capture a Stanley Cup operating under the present contractual conditions that would lead one to believe that the current CBA works, if utilized properly. Spending a lot of money does not guarantee success but using your payroll wisely may lead to the Promised Land.
The Calgary Flames are the prototypical example of how the system can work. Their team payroll for 2003-04 is somewhere in the $36 million USD range placing them 18th in a 30 team league. Their payroll breakdown also exemplifies the intricacies of the current CBA. Jarome Iginla, the Flames’ best player, pulls down a salary of $7.5 million which places him comfortably amongst the elite players of the league. There are a handful of Flames making more than the NHL average of $1.79 million with the rest of the payroll spread throughout their 25-man roster. It is Calgary’s utilization of young talent that separates them from other modest-budget clubs in the league. In order to even approach success you must have big contributions from players with relatively small wages. You must also be able to factor in the occasional veteran as spice to this recipe when needed. The all-important x factor is to spend your money prudently. This year’s Flames are a prime example of a team following that principle.
But what does this all prove? Is the secret to winning hockey having a thin wallet? Team owners, on the one hand, want to believe Calgary has found the right path to success. On the other, they realize this helps reinforce the players’ argument against a proposed salary cap. A Flames’ Cup would prove winning can be achieved under the present CBA conditions.
The NHLPA loves an underdog as much as the next guy but knows a small market team winning it all comes with its own prickly thorns. While it does indeed show that a team can win without breaking the bank it also illustrates a team doesn’t have to break the bank to win, thereby negating the need for teams to pursue high-priced free agents at the frenetic pace they had in the past. As much as spending money doesn’t translate into winning, not spending money doesn’t imply losing, either.
In effect, the lesson to be learned here is that there are many lessons to be learned here. For both sides.
