NHL Lockout... Will there be a season?

[carbo18]

For those of you who like hockey. The best pro sport IMHO. When do you think the lockout will end?

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Go Ottawa Senators!!! :D

[imdeemvp]

In some sports is all about the benjamins!

[Chas.H]

I voted for what is all but carved in stone - next season.

I'll miss seeing the Sens knocked out early. :D

[Chas.H]

In some sports is all about the benjamins!

I must have missed something, unless you refer to the US $100 bill, in which case you have a point. This is a fairly recent development. It used to be that NHL players were approachable and played for the love of the game. They didn't make a bad living; 100 grand a year seems to me like enough to live on. Seems to me like they're not happy with any finite number. :confused:

[gcblig]

Milionaire players vs. millionaire owners, and no one wants to give in. No season next year either

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Ex Jet fan - Go Sens Go

[alyster]

Lots of Sens fans here so far, I'll stick in my Go Sens Go :D

('cept no-ones going anywhere right now).

[tajidinabd]

well red wings fan here, shows that the NHL is just like the other leagues not for the love the game but for the money . GO Wings!!!

[carbo18]

I think that bringing a system like the NFL has, salary caps and richer teams helping out teams with less revenu, is the best solution. This will make the league more competitive... And if the big money players don't like it then see ya... Bring in new blood. Otherwise it will become just as bad as the MLB... where teams simply buy the penant. (i.e. Toronto, NY Yankees... to name a few...)

I can still remember when NHL players played for the love of the game. It's the Oilers/L.A. Kings Gretzky trade that started the madness... Although Gretzky played with hart throughout his career it started the escalation of salaries...

Glad to see there are a few Sen fans around.

BTW what a Juniors World Cup. Made me miss the NHL even more...

[Jman]

Who knows. I didn't know it could take this long to talk about something as it is. At the very earliest next year.

[carbo18]

Seems the this season is cancelled... #@&*!

[bob]

Carbo, my sympathy to all you fans out there. Holding a sport hostage should not be possible and there should have been forced arbitration to settle it long before now. In the end, the owners lose, the players lose and most of all, the fans lose. Hopefully most of the bucks that would have gone to the big boys will now be spent on local teams, where it is still a game.

[jtang613]

I must have missed something, unless you refer to the US $100 bill, in which case you have a point. This is a fairly recent development. It used to be that NHL players were approachable and played for the love of the game. They didn't make a bad living; 100 grand a year seems to me like enough to live on. Seems to me like they're not happy with any finite number. :confused:

Not that I agree with the NHLPA's position - but 100 grand a year is hardly enough considering the average players' career lasts less than 15 years. What are they expected to live on afterwards - their grade 12 education? their toothy smile?

That being said, the players representing the NHLPA are all high-paid professionals in the middle of their careers - their the ones most affected by any pay cut or salary cap. Not to mention that they are most likely *highly* influenced by their managers and agents - both of whom's salaries include commission based on - guess what? - the player's salaries... (image of a devil on both shoulders). They (the players) have made some very poor decisions based on some extremely bad advice throughout this whole fiasco. A symptom of the fact that they exist in a completely separate reality from you or I.

Then, enter the personal vendetta between Bettman and Goodnow. These two must have been married in a past life. Both behaved most unsportsman-like. However, I gotta give props to Bettman for stickin' to his guns.

So what's to be done? FIRE THEM ALL! Cap it at $40M. Get rid of a few expansion teams. If we've learned anything from the NHL players who signed with European teams - it's that for every winger out there, there's 10 waiting in line.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg. What about the loss of interest from fans, season-ticket holders... and sponsors! Remember what happened to MLB?

Jeeze - I didn't realize I had that much to say on the subject :confused:
I'll stop now.
/rant

[Chas.H]

Hopefully most of the bucks that would have gone to the big boys will now be spent on local teams, where it is still a game.

Funny you should say that...
During lunch I went out and got a ticket for tonight's Polar Twins (http://www.polartwinshockey.com/) game. That is the Winston-Salem team in the SPHL (http://www.thesphl.com/).
Price: $12.50 for third row centre ice.
:rolleyes: Hey, it's a fix, eh?

BTW some of you might notice I dumped my Toronto Maple Leaf avatar for Newcastle United.

[bob]

Update! Maybe all is not lost? http://thn.com/en/headlines/detail.asp?id=27358

[Chas.H]

Sorry kids, the season's over before it started. :(
See this (http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/2005/02/04/920681-cp.html)

[carbo18]

I've heard rumors of a new league forming, if the talks keep failing. Something about some players becoming partner with investors and starting a new 12 team league. I've also heard some rumors about a pro canadian hockey league as well.

ANyone heard these? They are just rumors after all...

[oUch]

Didn't hear that, but it could be. I wouldn't be surprised if we don't see some scabs next year. Lets hope they get their act together by that time.