Could an Exception Player Rule work in the NHL?

Every major sports league in America is trying to find unique ways to gain popularity and make the teams even better than they already are. Most of the ideas that are brought up are so unrealistic that they will never be looked upon again. An “Exception Player Rule” would definitely be an exception to this concept.

NHL player agent Kurt Overhardt and his KO Sports associate Brian Schoezel wrote a post back in April that laid out the argument for exempting one player per team from salary-cap purposes. With these exemptions, teams would be able to free up millions of dollars in cap space, and the money could be spent elsewhere. The hope would be that the NHL's top stars would receive a better value aligned with their abilities, along with being able to provide for their respective teams, the NHL, and the sport of hockey more adequately.

"From an economic standpoint, allowing one marquee player to get paid - if teams want to do it - while being able to keep the rest of the team together would benefit fans, and it would benefit the other players in the locker room, so there should be no resentment," Overhardt told theScore.

"It would also reward these guys who are the superstars and, right now, in my opinion, they're not being rewarded (appropriately)."

This concept is especially intriguing to teams that struggle keeping their core players together long-term. When the “hard” salary cap was introduced to the league in 2005, it has been increasingly frustrating to try and find ways to keep core players signed long term as well as pay their studs top of the line money.

"Why not give teams the opportunity to exempt someone? And they can use it any way they want," said Overhardt. "In Chicago, for instance, if (owner Rocky) Wirtz determines he needs to pay - or wants to pay - Kane and Toews $10 million apiece, then that's great. He can make one of them the Exception Player and have $10 million available to give the other 22 guys."

Just imagine if teams like the Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, or the Edmonton Oilers could exempt just one player from their salary hit. It would make things so much easier on both the teams and players of the NHL.

The real question is does the Exception Player Rule have a chance at being implemented in the near future? Overhardt thinks so.

"I think in the next couple of years, probably the next half-dozen years - and this is me speculating - we'll have a change of the guard," he said, which referred to 68 years old commissioner Gary Bettman. "And hopefully, we won't have labor lawyers running these organizations anymore. I think we need people with some creative thought. I think that will be good for the game, and I think it would be good for players."

Source: thescore.com

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