Why do NHL free agents sign so much faster than other sport's free agents?

Question

In hockey, 90% of free agents (certainly of elite FA) sign in the first couple of days of the FA signing period. In other sports, it is much more spread out over the entire off-season.

Why the difference?

Answer 1

because people who follow hockey are WAY too intense and all the hockey sports shows go crazy at the trade deadline and the first day of free agent signings and the teams respond to the pressure from the media to sign players

Answer 2

THINK ABOUT IT!

In 8 years a hockey player might make 60 Mil if that.

in 8 years a Basketball player makes 120 mil.

like WTF.

lets face it, Hockey is much more of a tougher sport then basketball is, if you step 10 feet near a player in basketball you get a foul, if you step 10 feet near a player in hockey, your most likely gaining speed to crush him into the boards.

Answer 3

Most are are not greedy self centered egotistical pricks like most other sports.

Answer 4

Because if they don't the team will take that lucrative offer and give it to another player.

Answer 5

smallest salery cap,waite too long ,money could go to others.

Answer 6

The hockey free agent system and salary cap is less convoluted than basketball's for example. In the NBA every team is at the cap limit and salaries must be traded to ease cap space.

In baseball there is no cap and with 25 players on the roster a balance of position players takes a consideration in the team make up. Similarly in the NFL a team with 6 quarterbacks and no guards would be disastrous. so a positional balance is required.

Hockey has three positions Forward, Defence, and Goalie. You define a need and fill it with the best available that meets your team budget. The roster make up is much simpler. F-W-G. ratio is 12-6-2 plus backups.

Basketball has unique players for all 5 positions.

Baseball has Outfielders , Infielders (middle and corner) Catchers and three kinds of pitchers. Seven positions in total.

Football is a whole different bucket of fish.

Hockey is a simpler game.

Answer 7

Most hockey players are out to get as much money as they can as quickly as they can. When the elite players become free agents they may be just hitting their prime and they want to make as much as possible. Most NHL players don't have very long careers because of the physical nature of the game. Once they are available,teams tend to throw as much money to them as they possibly can. Most of these players will only get one maybe 2 opportunities in their career to make the big bucks.

Also,these guys know in advance the few teams that are desperate for their service and they can use that as bargaining power. European players tend to care more about how much and not who am i signing with because they put their money 1st and the Stanley Cup 2nd.

A classic example of this is Jagr he took a 2 year $35million deal to play in Russia. I can't say i blame him but obviously he doesn't care about the Stanley Cup as much as he does getting paid.

Answer 8

The NHL is just a superior league and the players and their agents realize that they need to hit a deal when it comes because there are so many other players with talent that will take that offer very quickly. Plus you ever notice how little respect players in other sports have sometimes when it comes to this. It happens all the time in other sports and rarely in ours. Except that lockout thing that ended a whole season....

Answer 9

i think that they sign much faster because in ice hockey the players train more during the off season than players of other sports and they probably figure that the earlier they can start, the   better chance for success of themselves and their new team.

Answer 10

gotta grab it while you got the chance.