I was just hoping for that fairly tale to make a sharp left onto Andrew Dice Clay Boulevard.
- Pixote Andolini

Them and humpty used to be friends
Now they’re enemies cause he’s a traitor
Pulled out the uzi cruised by and sprayed him
Cinderella hoeing for the fellas
And mister rogers is gettin mighty jealous

Jesse Spector ‏@jessespector

Gary Bettman talks about not wanting to paralyze $3.3 billion business while refusing to negotiate with NHLPA. Really. http://aol.sportingnews.c...utm_campaign=jessespector

Jesse Spector ‏@jessespector

Gary Bettman talks about not wanting to paralyze $3.3 billion business while refusing to negotiate with NHLPA. Really. http://aol.sportingnews.c...utm_campaign=jessespector
- ob18

I keep trying to take the high road and remain neutral but I keep coming back to this being a problem generated and driven by these owners and their stinking commissioner.

I keep trying to take the high road and remain neutral but I keep coming back to this being a problem generated and driven by these owners and their stinking commissioner.
- JoeRussomanno

I am also trying to keep the blame on both sides, however if I was forced to pick a side it wouldn't be the owners/league.

I am also trying to keep the blame on both sides, however if I was forced to pick a side it wouldn't be the owners/league.
- ob18

They're the ones handing out massive contracts, having teams in areas that can't succeed like Phoenix and Florida, then female dog and moan they are broke! Well what the hay fellas, move your teams to canada and refrain from splurging in free agency! Is it on the players to say, Hey uh you know your franchise supposedly lost money last year, I cannot take that contract you just offered against better judgement.
Furthermore the Players just conceeded 7% to them in order to get down to 50/50 split, I think that's fair and this deal should be freaking done!

They're the ones handing out massive contracts, having teams in areas that can't succeed like Phoenix and Florida, then female dog and moan they are broke! Well what the hay fellas, move your teams to canada and refrain from splurging in free agency! Is it on the players to say, Hey uh you know your franchise supposedly lost money last year, I cannot take that contract you just offered against better judgement.
Furthermore the Players just conceeded 7% to them in order to get down to 50/50 split, I think that's fair and this deal should be freaking done!
- JoeRussomanno

On the last page I pretty much said what I had to say, it's just a shame.

On the last page I pretty much said what I had to say, it's just a shame.
- ob18

sorry didn't back read which is strange cause I usually will crank out 12 pages or so a day on this site! Let's go NHL you killing my Hockeybuzz addiction!!!!

\

I agree, I haven't like the Leagues approach for the most part. But if it takes the NHLPA making a new offer to get talks started again, then that's what they should do. The problem is that it will likely be rejected by the League.
- MJL

Ya know what? Let them players all go get filthy Rich playing in the Euro leagues! Screw these owners let's see how they feel as the bonus checks go out, the electric bills come in, and a majority of the players are collecting a check, screw bettman and the owners. THe players came down 7% a mere 3 away from what the owners originally asked for imo the players have been the side more willing to get the season going.

They're the ones handing out massive contracts, having teams in areas that can't succeed like Phoenix and Florida, then female dog and moan they are broke! Well what the hay fellas, move your teams to canada and refrain from splurging in free agency! Is it on the players to say, Hey uh you know your franchise supposedly lost money last year, I cannot take that contract you just offered against better judgement.
Furthermore the Players just conceeded 7% to them in order to get down to 50/50 split, I think that's fair and this deal should be freaking done!
- JoeRussomanno

Don't you think there are some teams that are in a real predicament, in that:

1) if they don't spend, they won't draw fans, and won't have revenue to support their operations

2) if they do spend to remain competitive, it puts them over their budget?

I struggle to think that all teams are in the same position - which is why I believe we are at this point.

Don't you think there are some teams that are in a real predicament, in that:

1) if they don't spend, they won't draw fans, and won't have revenue to support their operations

2) if they do spend to remain competitive, it puts them over their budget?

I struggle to think that all teams are in the same position - which is why I believe we are at this point.
- Daman

This is how the NHL does business, they have funded a money pit in Phoenix for 3 years with no owner and losing money, they don't care about fixing that problem or teams that aren't a big money team.

This is also a league that when these talks started said they got everything they wanted in the last CBA with the exception of giving the players 57% of the revenue. Then said oh yeah by the way it turns out that wasn't a good deal for us when they wanted it while claiming it would fix the leagues problems.

An inability to admit they can't put a CBA together that can benefit both sides while financially stabilizing the league this will continue to get uglier by the hour.

Don't you think there are some teams that are in a real predicament, in that:

1) if they don't spend, they won't draw fans, and won't have revenue to support their operations

2) if they do spend to remain competitive, it puts them over their budget?

I struggle to think that all teams are in the same position - which is why I believe we are at this point.
- Daman

I'm not saying they can't spend but there has to be a line. Should teams that are struggling be paying out the biggest contracts and complaining and receiving revenue sharing?
First of all teams like Phoenix for example that are struggling need to be first moved to a more sustainable hockey market like a Canadian city. How is there a team out there in Arizona but not one in Quebec? Makes no sense and reeks of being set up for failure. Gotta go where the money is. Then if that doesn't work I'm sorry but you can't get blood from a stone so perhaps they need to cut some teams. This is ridiculous that every time the CBA is up in the NHL there's a work stoppage absolutely disgusting!

Ya know what? Let them players all go get filthy Rich playing in the Euro leagues! Screw these owners let's see how they feel as the bonus checks go out, the electric bills come in, and a majority of the players are collecting a check, screw bettman and the owners. THe players came down 7% a mere 3 away from what the owners originally asked for imo the players have been the side more willing to get the season going.
- JoeRussomanno

Joe, I try and remove my emotions and look at it away from that. There's no question that the League has internal financial issues with a number of teams. So I understand their need to fix that. But they can't expect the players to foot the entire bill for that. So both sided need to compromise. The players percentage of revenue getting to 57%, was under the system and plan the Owners put in place in winning the battle of the 04 lockout. But I think it's reasonable due to the situation, that the percentage split get's to 50/50. In reality that is fair. It's a question of how to do that. Because what is also fair, is that the players keep their current deals. That were negotiated in good faith without coercion on the players part, with team management. The players are willing to reduce future salary, if they can keep what they got now. So that's where a deal is to be made. But both sides need to do away with the rhetoric, and hammer out a deal.

I'm not saying they can't spend but there has to be a line. Should teams that are struggling be paying out the biggest contracts and complaining and receiving revenue sharing?
First of all teams like Phoenix for example that are struggling need to be first moved to a more sustainable hockey market like a Canadian city. How is there a team out there in Arizona but not one in Quebec? Makes no sense and reeks of being set up for failure. Gotta go where the money is. Then if that doesn't work I'm sorry but you can't get blood from a stone so perhaps they need to cut some teams. This is ridiculous that every time the CBA is up in the NHL there's a work stoppage absolutely disgusting!
- JoeRussomanno

Contraction isn't a solution for either side.

Joe, I try and remove my emotions and look at it away from that. There's no question that the League has internal financial issues with a number of teams. So I understand their need to fix that. But they can't expect the players to foot the entire bill for that. So both sided need to compromise. The players percentage of revenue getting to 57%, was under the system and plan the Owners put in place in winning the battle of the 04 lockout. But I think it's reasonable due to the situation, that the percentage split get's to 50/50. In reality that is fair. It's a question of how to do that. Because what is also fair, is that the players keep their current deals. That were negotiated in good faith without coercion on the players part, with team management. The players are willing to reduce future salary, if they can keep what they got now. So that's where a deal is to be made. But both sides need to do away with the rhetoric, and hammer out a deal.
- MJL

I completely agree, it just seems to me that the owners are unwilling to meet the players half way. Pay the existing contracts and sign the deal. I mean the owners are the ones that started all this with that ridiculous 180k page proposal or whatever. This after as others have mentioned they tickled pink with the CBA in 2004. For goodness sakes move Phoenix, already.

Contraction isn't a solution for either side.
- MJL

All I'm trying to say is they can't have their cake and eat it too. We have a stoppage every single time there's been a CBA expiration because they are losing money. Can't keep doing the same things and expecting different results, if they can't move these struggling teams into more promising markets, get the percentage in sharing they want and still be unable to make money, either someone is lying or their league is over-extended. But first I'd rather they try moving some teams and managing their money a little better.

I completely agree, it just seems to me that the owners are unwilling to meet the players half way. Pay the existing contracts and sign the deal. I mean the owners are the ones that started all this with that ridiculous 180k page proposal or whatever. This after as others have mentioned they tickled pink with the CBA in 2004. For goodness sakes move Phoenix, already.
- JoeRussomanno

The Owners and the League aren't happy with the players version of 50/50. I feel that there are reasons in play as to why there are franchises in a place like Phoenix ,that we aren't aware of. Don't ask me what they are, because I don't know.

I'm not saying they can't spend but there has to be a line. Should teams that are struggling be paying out the biggest contracts and complaining and receiving revenue sharing?
First of all teams like Phoenix for example that are struggling need to be first moved to a more sustainable hockey market like a Canadian city. How is there a team out there in Arizona but not one in Quebec? Makes no sense and reeks of being set up for failure. Gotta go where the money is. Then if that doesn't work I'm sorry but you can't get blood from a stone so perhaps they need to cut some teams. This is ridiculous that every time the CBA is up in the NHL there's a work stoppage absolutely disgusting!
- JoeRussomanno

I agree that it is ridiculous. There is an old expression - "the customer is always right". In this case, the business is saying to the custome - "go Funk yourself".

You raise an interesting point - would the overall profitability of the league be higher with certain teams either removed or relocated. I don't have the #'s to know the answer.

All I'm trying to say is they can't have their cake and eat it too. We have a stoppage every single time there's been a CBA expiration because they are losing money. Can't keep doing the same things and expecting different results, if they can't move these struggling teams into more promising markets, get the percentage in sharing they want and still be unable to make money, either someone is lying or their league is over-extended. But first I'd rather they try moving some teams and managing their money a little better.
- JoeRussomanno

I'd like to clarify some points. The NHLPA is negotiating with the NHL, not the individual teams that are losing money. And the NHL is making money. A lot of it. They took in record revenue last Season. League revenue grew by over a billion dollars over the period of the last CBA. And the Owners want the players to take a lesser percentage and an immediate pay cut. That's not fair.

A deal get done yet?

A deal get done yet?
- stveshdy

Yeah first game's on Saturday

Yeah first game's on Saturday
- Giroux_Is_God

This is crazy that they cant agree to a deal. Takes two to tango but lets get into a room and throw out some REALISTIC proposals.

Them and humpty used to be friends
Now they’re enemies cause he’s a traitor
Pulled out the uzi cruised by and sprayed him
Cinderella hoeing for the fellas
And mister rogers is gettin mighty jealous
- JoeRussomanno

Ha

Joe, I try and remove my emotions and look at it away from that. There's no question that the League has internal financial issues with a number of teams. So I understand their need to fix that. But they can't expect the players to foot the entire bill for that. So both sided need to compromise. The players percentage of revenue getting to 57%, was under the system and plan the Owners put in place in winning the battle of the 04 lockout. But I think it's reasonable due to the situation, that the percentage split get's to 50/50. In reality that is fair. It's a question of how to do that. Because what is also fair, is that the players keep their current deals. That were negotiated in good faith without coercion on the players part, with team management. The players are willing to reduce future salary, if they can keep what they got now. So that's where a deal is to be made. But both sides need to do away with the rhetoric, and hammer out a deal.
- MJL

^This.

I'd like to clarify some points. The NHLPA is negotiating with the NHL, not the individual teams that are losing money. And the NHL is making money. A lot of it. They took in record revenue last Season. League revenue grew by over a billion dollars over the period of the last CBA. And the Owners want the players to take a lesser percentage and an immediate pay cut. That's not fair.
- MJL

EXACTLY! Profits grew by a billion dollars+ C'mon already! How did they get that extra money? US! and by negotiating with their assets like schoolchildren they are screwing US! The players are getting paid playing elsewhere! I just wish these owners would wake up! THat and I'm blowing off steam because I'm sitting here on a wednesday night that would most likely have a hockey game and instead am left female doging about ANOTHER lockout after losing a whole stinking season 7 years ago! Ugh its just stressing me out I have other things to do and will be back in the 'morrow to do more of said female doging about said stupid lockout!

I'd like to clarify some points. The NHLPA is negotiating with the NHL, not the individual teams that are losing money. And the NHL is making money. A lot of it. They took in record revenue last Season. League revenue grew by over a billion dollars over the period of the last CBA. And the Owners want the players to take a lesser percentage and an immediate pay cut. That's not fair.
- MJL

If there is obstinance and ignorance, how does that get fixed? If being stubborn gets in the way of learning the truth, how does such a scenario get resolved?