NHL 13 is set to hit stores on September 11. The 21st installment in the NHL video game series has, among many new things and improvements, a new way of rating and ranking players.
Previously, players overall ratings were based on their player types. Now, players are rated for the position they play. For example:
In NHL 12 if you have a player who had good offensive abilities (not Erik Karlsson good, but capable of a 38 point season or so) but absolutely dreadful in all defensive aspects of the game, and they are recognized by the game to be an offensive defenseman, then they will have a decent to good rating, because they are an offensive defenseman with good offensive attributes. However, in NHL 13, such a player would have a lower rating because they would have offensive attributes, but they are recognized solely as a defenseman (disregarding whether or not they are an offensive or defensive defenseman), and the fact that they are lacking in the defensive aspect of their position would bring their grade down significantly more than it did in NHL 12.
Also, there is a new screen to view player stuff. The new rating system is whats most important in this update, but the screen for viewing players looks good too.
Penguins center Sidney Crosby's bio page in NHL 13
The NHL and NHLPA got together for a little more than an hour earlier today
following Tuesday's counterproposal from the players' union. NHLPA
executive director Donald Fehr met with the media afterwards to give an
update on the latest progress in the negotiations.
Based on what was said, it appears that the two sides are still far apart in what they're seeking, as is to be expected considering that each side has so far only given one proposal each. However, the NHL and NHLPA have now both
clearly stated their starting points and what they look to get out of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement. There is a LOT of work that has to be done before we reach any sort of deal, but at least the two sides are making progress.
It has been reported that the players have been told to prepare for the worst, which would
be a locked out 2012-13 season, but hope for the best. From
what it seems, the NHLPA does
not want anything to do with a lockout, while the owners and the league
are willing to do what it takes to get what they want. Gary Bettman (or He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named for the hockey fan who does not want to say the name of that awful man) is surely making it seem that the league could care less about a lockout, as long as they get what they want in the end. Then again, we've all grown to the point where anything that man says has less truth and worth than a rotten pile of horse dung.
NHLPA Executive Director Donald Fehr addresses the media
It's been a little less than a month since the NHL first laid out their
proposal for a new collective bargaining agreement, and the NHLPA has finally
presented their counter proposal yesterday. We all hope that this counter proposal will be accepted by the NHL and put into use
within the next few days, but it would go against pro sports policy for negotiations of any sort to go nice and peacefully, so it will likely be awhile before any sort of progress is made.
I took a careful look at both the NHL's proposal and the NHLPA's, and the aren't all too different. While there are some differences that most likely will have to be resolved if the two sides are to eventually come to a decision, the two sides aren't as far apart as many people expected they would be (or for the matter as far apart as they were before the 2004-05 lockout). Below are some differences in the two proposals.
- The NHL's proposal consisted of a five-year CBA while the NHLPA's
lasts just three seasons with a players' option for a fourth.
- The NHLPA agreed to accept a reduced revenue share within the new
CBA, but only about $465 million over the course of three years; less
than was first proposed last month by the NHL.
- The NHLPA would like to see
zero contract changes in the new CBA. The NHL, remember, listed several
regulations they would like to see instilled in their first proposal [5-year limit, equally distributed annual salary (instead of front, middle, or back-loaded deals), no
salary arbitration, etc.].
- The NHLPA would like to see a system where a team can go $4
million over/under the salary cap limitations by adding or trading cap
space.
- NHLPA requested that the League set forth a limit on non-player spending by teams.
Those are all of the main points that will be focused upon heavily
when the debate picks up in the coming weeks. Of those differences, the two sides are farthest apart in terms of the third one (contracts), and more than likely that will be the bug hump that the two parties will need to get over. Obviously the players do not want more rules and regulations
applied to the contracts they sign, but the League sees it as a
circumvention-preventer and, in the long-run, a safer and more secure
way of going about doing business.
One positive that came out of this proposal by the NHLPA was NHL commissioner (or tyrant, your choice) Gary Bettman said that the Players Association's proposal was "very thorough" and that the league will take a very close look at it, and they will have their response in about a weeks time.
Another positive was that many of the NHL's star players were present and backing up Fehr as he addressed the media. Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Steven Stamkos, John Tavares, and PK Subban were among the 23 players present at the press conference. It was a good sign that many of the games stars were there to let the owners know that they mean business, so the NHL better not screw around with crap proposals that favor the league immensely, and they better get to working on a deal that works for both sides fast.
Again, the deadline to get a new CBA constructed before the season is locked out has been set for September 15.
