I am about as anti-union as anyone, but the key thing to remember about what's happening right now is that the players are locked out, they are NOT on strike. So it's not like that are refusing to play here only to go play over seas. The players wanted to play under the old CBA while negotiations continued, it is the owners who have prevented games fom happening to this point. So I have no problem with the players seeking employment elsewhere. I hope they all do it.

Last time around, I was 100 % in the owners corner. The owners effectively "broke" the union, and more or less, got what they wanted. If what the owners wanted turns out to not have been what they needed...(frank) 'em. This time around, I say screw the owners. It's not up to the players to rescue the owners from themselves.
- Ogilthorpe2

and that message from Fehr/players is ringing in the owners ears and will be until this kamkazi group head by Betman decides they don't get to jam another CBA in the all orifaces of the NHLPA.

Owners are in a tough spot. Fans want the best teams. There is a lot of pressure to get the best players. So you have to compete against other owners and weasly agents who play owners against each other to raise the salary. Plus the cap floor has also hurt making guys like Tallon sign mediocre players to more money than they deserve in order to hit the floor

Owners are in a tough spot. Fans want the best teams. There is a lot of pressure to get the best players. So you have to compete against other owners and weasly agents who play owners against each other to raise the salary. Plus the cap floor has also hurt making guys like Tallon sign mediocre players to more money than they deserve in order to hit the floor
- tomcat24

Ownership is voluntary - they aren't forced to buy teams, they can always sell them (even if for less than they bought them for). Owners don't go broke because of the sports teams economic losses - the team may go broke, but not the owners. Don't feel sorry for them under any circumstance - it only encourages bad behavior.

Agents are weasels, but not because they play owners against each other - that's their job.

You're right about he floor - but who agreed to that rediculous formula? They force the loss of a whole season and wind up with a CBA that looks like it will cause another season loss - what great business people.

Indications that the Islander franchise was going downhill many years ago - per Glen Healy when he played for them:

1) 1991 when they were playing the Penguins in the playoffs and won Game 6 at home forcing Game 7 - did not have any flights booked and were forced to buy tickets to fly Commercial out of 2 NY area airports (half the team on each flight).

2) Players were forced to pay for all the soap, shampoo, shaving cream etc in the dressing room shower area. Each guy had to buy their own kit which came in a Zip Lok bag.
(Players frequently subsituted Windex in the trainer's hairspray bottle in retaliation).
- RickJ

That's a funny story I never heard before...But that was about 10 years pre Wang.

He has more $$ than Carter has pills but appears to be tired of throwng it out the window.

Maybe now, with a new arena coming and some young decent players and Tavares the Isle fans can have something to look forward to...

Owners are in a tough spot. Fans want the best teams. There is a lot of pressure to get the best players. So you have to compete against other owners a...
- tomcat24

Yes, it tough to control a closed, false market economy. Doesn't work well for most central planning countries, companies or sports. But, that's what they decided to do.

That's a funny story I never heard before...But that was about 10 years pre Wang.
He has more $$ than Carter has pills but appears to be tired of throwng it out the window.

Maybe now, with a new arena coming and some young decent players and Tavares the Isle fans can have something to look forward to...
- Al

How come the software didn't censor this?

How come the software didn't censor this?
- StLBravesFan

Well played

Pretty much how I feel this lockout is going

How come the software didn't censor this?
- StLBravesFan

Because I wrote it....

Anyone going to All State to watch the game?

Ownership is voluntary - they aren't forced to buy teams, they can always sell them (even if for less than they bought them for). Owners don't go broke because of the sports teams economic losses - the team may go broke, but not the owners. Don't feel sorry for them under any circumstance - it only encourages bad behavior.

Agents are weasels, but not because they play owners against each other - that's their job.

You're right about he floor - but who agreed to that rediculous formula? They force the loss of a whole season and wind up with a CBA that looks like it will cause another season loss - what great business people.
- StLBravesFan

Of course the players loved the "floor"...look at what Tallon had to belly-up for mid-line and marginal players last year in order to reach the floor.

Bettman/owners combination of arrogance and management ineptitude = NHL death spiral. The ill will growing by the day of the players toward their check signers may have negative implications for years.

Of course the players loved the "floor"...look at what Tallon had to belly-up for mid-line and marginal players last year in order to reach the floor.

Bettman/owners combination of arrogance and management ineptitude = NHL death spiral. The ill will growing by the day of the players toward their check signers may have negative implications for years.
- bogiedoc

Or they could just contract to concentrate the talent pool a little more which means you can pay better players a little less since there are less teams and/or move to cities where there will be gate sales or at least an ownership group that doesn't mind running a club in the red because it is a hobby anyways.

Of course the players loved the "floor"...look at what Tallon had to belly-up for mid-line and marginal players last year in order to reach the floor.

Bettman/owners combination of arrogance and management ineptitude = NHL death spiral. The ill will growing by the day of the players toward their check signers may have negative implications for years.
- bogiedoc

Putting a "floor" in place was only a way to placate fans of weak sister franchises.

Those Orgainzations didn't or couldn't build teams the right way.
It makes a lot less sense than a ceiling and I could put up a strong argument that should go as well...

Given how glum we all are about the lockout I thought we could use a good laugh. Remember this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CR6mhS0KUq4

Given how glum we all are about the lockout I thought we could use a good laugh. Remember this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CR6mhS0KUq4
- DarthKane

John Scott rocks!

Given how glum we all are about the lockout I thought we could use a good laugh. Remember this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CR6mhS0KUq4
- DarthKane

The commercials where he was the maid or whatever were hilarious. Dude gave a great interview and had some good charisma. He should totally look into professional wrestling. "The Enforcer"

It's been almost a week since a new JJ blog was up: is he working on a blockbuster having to do with Bettman just waiting for Fehr to show up to sign the final new CBA tonite?

It's been almost a week since a new JJ blog was up: is he working on a blockbuster having to do with Bettman just waiting for Fehr to show up to sign the final new CBA tonite?
- StLBravesFan

More likely there's nothing of any significant substance to report.

November games = GONE!!!

Next up everyones...well of course, knew it all along...start date of 12/1. I know JJ has been expecting this thing to be settled by then. I have and continue to doubt it.

WOW...I want to be wrong. The owners have encased their feet concrete and no question ole Gary is willing to help jump off the bridge.

SCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWW'em!!

November games = GONE!!!

Next up everyones...well of course, knew it all along...start date of 12/1. I know JJ has been expecting this thing to be settled by then. I have and continue to doubt it.

WOW...I want to be wrong. The owners have encased their feet concrete and no question ole Gary is willing to help jump off the bridge.

SCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWW'em!!
- bogiedoc

The alarming thing here is that there is hardly any negotiations going on so how can they possibly reach an agreement when the two sides aren't talking. I know people are saying 12/1 for a start date but if they don't have a deal in two weeks we probably can say goodbye to hockey in December too. I think the whole season is in jeopardy.

The alarming thing here is that there is hardly any negotiations going on so how can they possibly reach an agreement when the two sides aren't talking. I know people are saying 12/1 for a start date but if they don't have a deal in two weeks we probably can say goodbye to hockey in December too. I think the whole season is in jeopardy.


- jhawk159

To be real unless there is a deal this coming week it is almost a sure thing the season won't start by Dec. 1.

You have players in Europe....They need 5-7 days to come back...Then there needs to be some sort of training camp. So in my view it will take almost a month to get going once a deal is struck.

Also the longer it goes and the more games are missed the new shorter schedule gets more complicated to put together.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia

To be real unless there is a deal this coming week it is almost a sure thing the season won't start by Dec. 1.

You have players in Europe....They need 5-7 days to come back...Then there needs to be some sort of training camp. So in my view it will take almost a month to get going once a deal is struck.

Also the longer it goes and the more games are missed the new shorter schedule gets more complicated to put together.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia
- Al

And the more games they'll try it fit Ito the shorte time period - like last year's NBA - and the worse (and more injury-prone) the hockey will be - like last year's NBA.