NHL lockout

[downtown]

Dallas and LA are the two southern cities that are good hockey markets as far as I can tell, I don't know if LA needs or can support two teams on a regular basis. Columbus is a better market than it is given credit for, it is on the edge of hockey country and it is a city of a million and the only other game in town is Ohio State football (and to a lesser degree Ohio State hockey).

He's right. Columbus really is becoming a hockey town. OSU hockey attendance has shot up (they're what, 9th now in the country too? that helps!), and people are really missing the blue jackets, even though they suck. Hockey was doing well here, and i miss it a lot

 

[pboily]

Nice to see that Leaf fans and Sens fans can finally agree on something ( other than the fact that the Habs are scum of course).

Sysyphus,

in this case, all hockey fans are (or should be) on the same side; once bitten, twice shy... it will be a cold, cold day in Toronto the day I ever again shell out 150$ dollars to bring my family to the Corel Center so we can watch the Sens take out Nashville or Phoenix.

Playing the game does remind me about the game I fell in love with... though I am not getting any younger and it's hard for the old fogeys to get ice time before 10:30 pm in Ottawa... maybe you guys have better luck in the Big Smoke.

Let us know how your season turns out.

 

[sysyphus]

in this case, all hockey fans are (or should be) on the same side; once bitten, twice shy... it will be a cold, cold day in Toronto the day I ever again shell out 150$ dollars to bring my family to the Corel Center so we can watch the Sens take out Nashville or Phoenix.

Agreed, have no idea how any self respecting person could fork out $150-200 for a game (plus another $10 for a hot dog and pop)to a bunch of millionaires who cry poor at us.

Playing the game does remind me about the game I fell in love with... though I am not getting any younger and it's hard for the old fogeys to get ice time before 10:30 pm in Ottawa... maybe you guys have better luck in the Big Smoke.

If you're looking for better ice time, you won't find it here, same story.

Let us know how your season turns out.

Thanks and will do (currently sitting 5th out of 8 teams).

 

[joycem10]

Quick news break on the lockout...

Signifgant progress has been made which may make a last minute deal possible. The Players Ass. has agreed to a cap in principle and the owners have agreed to drop their demand to link salaries and revenue. However, both sides are 12 mil apart on the cap number.

 

[sysyphus]

It's a step, but looks like no breakthrough.

If they do come back, I hope they have alot of empty stands to look at. Both sides need to be punished for their insolence.

 

[cidknee]

i personally am glad that the season is now cancelled. I HATE hockey, i truly do. I live in Canada but I grew up in texas. Ive played it, and still see very little point to the game. But we are all entitled to our own opinions. I love turning on the tv and seeing more of the " other'" sports, Like lacrosse. THATS fun to watch, and rugby. Im a HUGE baseball fan though, if we could get MLB to extend its season!!!:> The thing that makes me the most angry is sports teams in general. These ppl get paid HUGE amounts of $ to play a game. Id give my ( unmentionable) to play in the MLB hell, you wouldnt have to let me play. Enough to pay my bills and Im happy. Thats doing something you love. Why do these athletes need multi million dollar contracts? i dont think so. Make them work for a living and see how things go. Booby Orr and Guy La Fleur, Jaques Plante they never made millions...and they survived.
For the good of all sports quit yer friggen whining

 

[Gnarfflinger]

I think both sides are wrong in how they've approached the negotiations.

First, Salaries should, in theory, be linked to revenues. This way, the players also take a hit if there is a backlash from the fans. This is NOT a salary cap, but have the Payroll tax set to reflect this link. Ideally, salaries should be about 55% of total revenues. Teams that do not resrtict themselves as such shouls pay for their defiance. That money would go to the teams that run their franchises responsibly. Mind you I would also take out minimum reccomendations. If An owner like Bill Wirtz wants to pay his team a total of $20 Million as opposed to the $35 to $40 Million that other teams are paying, then he can do that.

Second, Revenue Sharing is imperative for the direction the league wants. Everyone pays in according to their revenues, everybody takes out equally. If the big cluvs don't like it, then Fire Bettman and replace him with someone that will support contraction.

Third, the system needs to be re-worked to allow for salaries to be kept fair. Yes, the key players deserve higher salaries, but there should be something to claw back cost on underachievers. Still paying $7 Million for a guy that sucks? There needs to be a way to bring salary down to match results. Player has a Break out season? There should be a way to give him the raise he deserves. Salary Arbitration has not done this. The Free Agent system hasn't done this. Qualifying offers have made the current situation worse. Maybe make every contract for one year only, and make them re-negotiate every year...

Fourth, the On Ice product needs to be maintained. Players, Coaches, GM's and Referees need to work together on this. Let the Hockey people make the game more interesting but remain fair. League Parity is a good thing, but make sure the games are exciting. Allow teams to protect their top players (meaning ditch the Instigator Rule), and severely punish players that try to hurt other players with cheap shots or reckless play. If something is dangerous, then step in. If Steve Moore had been suspended for his hit on Markus Naslund, then he would be playing in Europe like all the other locked out players...

Fifth, if the season is cancelled, and it looks like it will be, FIRE Bettman and Goodenow. Then tell Daly and Saskin that they have until Draft day to get a new deal in place or their fired too. Keep going down the line until you get people that can work together in place.

Wow was that ever a long rant...

 

[SuperBeaverInc.]

Just announced:

From NHL.com

NHL ANNOUNCES CANCELLATION OF 2004-05 SEASON
NEW YORK (February 16, 2005) - The National Hockey League announced today that, because a new collective bargaining agreement has not been realized, it no longer is practical to conduct an abbreviated 2004-05 season.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman issued the following statement:

"Every professional sports League owes its very existence to its fans. Everyone associated with the National Hockey League owes our fans an apology for being unable to accomplish what is necessary for our game and our fans. We are truly sorry.

"Five months ago, I stated that the National Hockey League could not function without an economic system that will bring our League into the 21st Century. I said that our 30 Clubs were united in their dedication to an economic system under which the teams and players, sharing common objectives and a commitment to our fans' satisfaction, would work together as partners.

"The time since then has been devoted to the pursuit of that goal. Today, I can tell you that our determination remains every bit as strong as it was in September to secure the partnership required to protect and ensure the future of the League ... for the benefit of the Clubs, the Players, and our devoted fans.

"When I stood before you in September, I said NHL teams would not play again until our economic problems had been solved. As I stand before you today, it is my sad duty to announce that because that solution has not yet been attained, it no longer is practical to conduct even an abbreviated season. Accordingly, I have no choice but to announce the formal cancellation of play for 2004-05.

"We profoundly regret the suffering this has caused our fans, our business partners and the thousands of people who depend on our industry for their livelihoods. We will continue to explore and pursue all available options in order to achieve a successful resolution to this dispute and to get the best game in the world back where it belongs -- on the ice, in front of the best fans in the world.

"As I also said in September, what we must do now is not about the present or the short-term needs of this season. Rather, it is about the future of our League and 30 teams.

"The National Hockey League was formed in 1917, and it has played a season through to a championship in every year but 1919. Through the decades and the generations we have faced a variety of crises and challenges -- some of which seemed catastrophic at the time. The League persevered through all those adversities and the League will persevere through this one, as well -- to emerge with a framework for the future, one that is fair to everyone -- where our players are fairly paid, receiving what we can afford -- no more, no less.

"This is a sad, regrettable day that all of us wish could have been avoided."

 

[pawpaw]

I don't think the NHL can survive this and I can't see a " new league " getting off the ground to replace it. It took baseball 4-5- years and the mcquire/sosa hr chase to get back from their strike. Any new league will not have the tradition of the NHl ( hockey depends a lot on tradition like baseball ) Example: a new team in detroit called " new wings " in not red uniforms, without any former red wings on its roster playing in a differant area than the joe is NOT the red wings no matter hard they will try to make it so.

 

[De Lorimier]

That's sums up how I felt and how I feel about this lockout.
Bettman, Daly Goodenow, Linden and Damphousse all piss me off to a degree I never tough possible when it comes to a simple game.
I did wrote my first angry e-mail today, that was fun.

 

[WildFire]

Really sucks. Got a 42" TV for this season too :/

What I hope happens is that every team below a certain line in dropped. No one in the south could give a rats ass about hockey so let it stay up north.

 

[Pasi Nurminen]

Really sucks. Got a 42" TV for this season too :/

What I hope happens is that every team below a certain line in dropped. No one in the south could give a rats ass about hockey so let it stay up north.

You mean teams like Dallas, Los Angeles, Tampa, Florida, teams that draw pretty damn well compared to the league average?

 

[CenturionV]

While I find it disappointing that there will be no season this year (could'nt they have just taken the 42.5 mil and 49 mil caps and met in the middle with a 45.2 mill cap or something?)

At least now its basically sure they will be a cap when play is resumed, because really the oilers are the only team I follow or care about, and without a cap, there head was on the chopping block, in my opinion missing a season is worth my favorite hockey team any day.

 

[sysyphus]

Time for celebration, the bloodletting the game of hockey has needed has begun! Listen closely, you can almost hear those bank balances dropping!

This is a sad day for the NHL, but it's a great day for hockey. The bonus is that I get a break from Don Cherry's flapping gob.

Everyone take the time to go watch juniors, minors, Euro Elites or even just a bunch of lads go in an industrial league. Or better yet, get out and play yourself if you aren't already.

If there's an 'A' league game going on my league nights near my own game time, I often go early. The calibre is excellent, very much worth watching.

 

[Gnarfflinger]

First thing's first--kill all the lawyers. Man did Shakespeare have that one called right...

Now fire bettman and Goodenow, Have the two sided start over in negotiations. Both of these goofballs backed off their original positions enough to start on a lose-lose deal.

I think a new league could step up, under the system I proposed earlier this page and draw the NHL players back to North American Ice. Start small, and before you expand, make sure that your market can support your team. Require the players to be in partnership with the owners because the League can't live with one side having their way with the other. Make sure that the personalities can draw the fans attention. Make the game exciting. Make the new league what the NHL should have been!

 

[Pasi Nurminen]

I share much the same sentiment with sysyphus; anyone who equates the NHL with hockey itself has no business calling himself a hockey fan. The NHL lockout does not mean the end, or even temporary absence, of hockey. There is plenty of hockey abound, and the true hockey fan has already found it. I watch my local Junior B team, the Delta Icehawks, and tickets only cost me seven dollars for a very enjoyable game, with a great grassroots atmosphere. Hell, I can even go to Junior A games for only 18 dollars, and even then I get a big 15,000 seat arena. The true hockey fan, such as I, does not love the NHL because they think it is hockey. The NHL is merely the most nationally visible form of hockey.

The NHL can die. I have my hockey fix. I don't need the NHL. I'd rather spend my hard earned cash on a bunch of lads who play like they mean it, without something better to play for than money: glory.

 

[pawpaw]

saw Don Cherry on CBC last night--good piece ( he was calm and serious )

highlites:

strike will not be settled till all star game NEXT year

players WILL NOT get as good deal as offered this week

owners offered 1/2 way deal ( players wanted 49 mill, owners 42 mill ) of 45 mill just before the cancelation and it was rejected

chelios, mondano,ect saying thinks like thugs, a$$holes,ect about owners has made it "personal " and will backlash on the players

players not in touch with facts--saying only 8 " diehard " owners and bettman are out to get them. bettman's position is elected, owners put him in and can take him out--if 22 owners were against this it WOULDN'T of happened.

If wayne Gretzky and kevin Lowe say their teams are losing less money by not playing they should TRUST them

 

[DBear]

Why, why, why couldn't this have been the NBA out all year?

 

[Gnarfflinger]

I'm about 45 minutes from the nearest Major Junior team (just out of radio range) and about 2 hours from an AHL team. I don't drive. I seldom get the opportunity to see other hockey. If the TV stations would have picked up the AHL, OHL, QMJHL, WHL, IHL, ECHL or even European leagues, it wouldn't be so bad, but by putting other stuff on TV in the time slots that the NHL would have taken, I am stuck going without for the most part. So Yeah, I'm bitter as hell. Fire Bettman and Goodenow (shooting them is a bit extreme), and get someone in that's willing to make a deal instead of posturing until the last minute and not meeting the deadline...

 

[NaiveFairy]

a sad day for hockey..... pisses me off all the negotiators suxors...