A former Hockey player earned his master’s degree in economics for his research on the impact that playing for a Stanley Cup-winning team has on a player’s ability to negotiate salary.A former Hockey player earned his master’s degree in economics for his research on the impact that playing for a Stanley Cup-winning team has on a player’s ability to negotiate salary.

Player’s thesis shows the dollars and cents of a Stanley Cup win

A former Lancer Hockey and Windsor Spitfires player applied his unique insight into hockey contract negotiations to an innovative study that recently earned him a master’s degree in economics.

Derek Lanoue’s research on the impact that playing for a Stanley Cup-winning team has on a player’s ability to negotiate salary, was triggered by a conversation with fellow hockey players who were going through their own contract negotiations.

“There is extensive literature explaining which factors influence the players' salary in the National Hockey League (NHL),” says Lanoue. “Yet, there is a lack of understanding and empirical evidence of the pecuniary value of winning the Stanley Cup.”

His findings indicated that players who signed a contract in the year following a Stanley Cup-winning season got an average salary increase of 19 percent.

Lanoue, supervised by associate professor Marcelo Arbex, says he really enjoyed the process.

“It was a pleasure to work with Dr. Arbex, he was extremely helpful and allowed me to pursue this unusual project.”

Read full story at the Windsor Star

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