I do like that idea. Teams like Rangers, Leafs, Flyers, Wings, Hawks, Habs, Canucks, Flames, Oilers, Bruins, Sens, Pens, a team in Quebec City, Jets could start a league where everybody supports themselves and you don't revenue share. The rest of the sad sack, sorry excuse for an NHL franchises can show their team and the constant need for hand outs up their as$. There would be so much talent on every team, and the players would be playing in front of actual hockey fans. I like your idea a lot. Sign me up
- Bieksa#3

The Sabres would be able to support a team as well. Not sure if you left them off on purpose or if you just forgot about them.

So what your saying is the NHL has issues of their own to work out, but instead try to blame the players to the media?
- Bieksa#3

There's issues on both sides of this labor dispute. I'm not siding with either one. I think in a lot of ways the players are whiny babies. But, at the same time, the owners helped create this mess by the business practices they've had since the last lockout. The reason that the contracts are so high is because they allowed them to get that way in the first place. They're the ones throwing money at them all the time.

The Sabres would be able to support a team as well. Not sure if you left them off on purpose or if you just forgot about them.
- HonkFortheGoose

They would be far better to stick a 2nd team in Toronto or one in Hamilton. I've been to enough Sabres games to know that half of the people are coming from that area.

There's issues on both sides of this labor dispute. I'm not siding with either one. I think in a lot of ways the players are whiny babies. But, at the same time, the owners helped create this mess by the business practices they've had since the last lockout. The reason that the contracts are so high is because they allowed them to get that way in the first place. They're the ones throwing money at them all the time.
- HonkFortheGoose

Exactly. The players have offered a full 50/50 and no rollback. After the rollback last time, i can't blame the players for demanding no rollback. Look no further then how many contracts were signed only hrs before the CBA expired.

They would be far better to stick a 2nd team in Toronto or one in Hamilton. I've been to enough Sabres games to know that half of the people are coming from that area.
- Bieksa#3

I think maybe you should bark up this tree in a different blog then. Since you are currently in the Sabres one and all.

Exactly. The players have offered a full 50/50 and no rollback. After the rollback last time, i can't blame the players for demanding no rollback. Look no further then how many contracts were signed only hrs before the CBA expired.
- Bieksa#3

I think the rollback thing is ridiculous as well. However, stuff like that happens in businesses all the time. People get told either take a paycut or be unemployed. And for those people, it's a lot more significant since they're not making millions of dollars to begin with.

From what I can tell right now, the owners have conceded some, but the NHLPA doesn't quite seem to be willing to concede anything yet. It's probably just a cat and mouse game that they're playing. Guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Exactly. The players have offered a full 50/50 and no rollback. After the rollback last time, i can't blame the players for demanding no rollback. Look no further then how many contracts were signed only hrs before the CBA expired.
- Bieksa#3

I think a lot of those contracts were expected to be rolled back by both sides, the only thing that was uncertain was the percentage.

I don't blame anyone for doing what they believe in but the one thing you have to ask yourself is how much am I willing to lose for what I believe in. For the owners, I don't think they are losing any of their net worth by locking the players out for years. The players on the other hand are losing massive chunks of their earning potential in what are usually relatively short careers. Some times you have to do things for your own good than for some player that may come along 5 or 10 years from now.

One of the most ridiculous premises that has come out of all this by a lot of the fans, is that the players aren't intelligent, and can't figure out what is really happening. It's hysterical.
- MJL

It's not a ridiculous premise. They create it themselves...by opening their mouths everyday.

There's issues on both sides of this labor dispute. I'm not siding with either one. I think in a lot of ways the players are whiny babies. But, at the same time, the owners helped create this mess by the business practices they've had since the last lockout. The reason that the contracts are so high is because they allowed them to get that way in the first place. They're the ones throwing money at them all the time.
- HonkFortheGoose

Agree its a joint cluster (frank)! Thing is, with the practise of front loaded contracts on the bigger $$$ earning players, that 57% share of 3.3 bill revenue is probably higher. Players need to acknowledge they exploited this & have faired quite well over the last 7 years, they were not screwed & therefore must become part of the solution. Perhaps the rollback should only occur for the front loaded contracts which would impact only a small amount of the players & leave the 3rd & 4th line guys alone. When both sides acknowledge the responsibilty of being part of the problem, they will get a new CBA. The poker playing is getting very dangerous for both sides & a season must start by Dec 1 which means they have 2 weeks to figure this out. If you're a poker player & if Fehr thinks he flopped the nut, beware of nasty runner runner, that usually happens when you get too greedy. Maybe these guys should retire from hockey & just go play WPT & WSOP if its that much more fun than playing hockey.

The comments they've posted on twitter is one of the reasons why. They all keep opening their mouths and making themselves look unintelligent.

Pretty much the only player that has said something and didn't get completely ripped apart for it by the media was Miller, and that's because what he said was well thought out and made sense.
- HonkFortheGoose

I disagree completely. Other then a few such as Barche, the players comments have been reasonable.

You amaze me every day MJL...are there truly no depths to your blatant Naivity?
- jbearx

Ahh!, I'm naive because I don't share your point of view! LOL Keep on making these comments. See if it has anything to do with anything!

Agree its a joint cluster (frank)! Thing is, with the practise of front loaded contracts on the bigger $$$ earning players, that 57% share of 3.3 bill revenue is probably higher. Players need to acknowledge they exploited this & have faired quite well over the last 7 years, they were not screwed & therefore must become part of the solution. Perhaps the rollback should only occur for the front loaded contracts which would impact only a small amount of the players & leave the 3rd & 4th line guys alone. When both sides acknowledge the responsibilty of being part of the problem, they will get a new CBA. The poker playing is getting very dangerous for both sides & a season must start by Dec 1 which means they have 2 weeks to figure this out. If you're a poker player & if Fehr thinks he flopped the nut, beware of nasty runner runner, that usually happens when you get too greedy. Maybe these guys should retire from hockey & just go play WPT & WSOP if its that much more fun than playing hockey.
- Kevin R

The problem is you're never going to get the higher earning players to concede like that. They're the ones that are really holding all the cards here. They honestly don't care about the 3rd and 4th liners. If they did, there wouldn't be a lockout at all. The guys that are playing overseas are the ones that want the lockout because they can still earn somewhere else for now. The 3rd and 4th liners don't have that option. There's only so much room elsewhere. So not only are they not making money, but they're having to pay for ice time in various places so that they can stay in shape in hopes of a season starting at some point. It's a damn shame, because there's a higher percentage of them than the upper echelon players that are essentially the ones dictating what's going on and what the NHLPA wants.

It's not a ridiculous premise. They create it themselves...by opening their mouths everyday.
- buffalofan19

They don't create it themselves. People such as yourself and your interpretation and viewpoint on what the players say, creates it. Because your emotion and disappointment in not having hockey creates a bias. I'm able to remove my personal feelings and see their point of view.

The problem is you're never going to get the higher earning players to concede like that. They're the ones that are really holding all the cards here. They honestly don't care about the 3rd and 4th liners. If they did, there wouldn't be a lockout at all. The guys that are playing overseas are the ones that want the lockout because they can still earn somewhere else for now. The 3rd and 4th liners don't have that option. There's only so much room elsewhere. So not only are they not making money, but they're having to pay for ice time in various places so that they can stay in shape in hopes of a season starting at some point. It's a damn shame, because there's a higher percentage of them than the upper echelon players that are essentially the ones dictating what's going on and what the NHLPA wants.
- HonkFortheGoose

Honestly, how many top line players with high salaries aren't currently playing overseas. I bet you it's lot more then are playing overseas.

Honestly, how many top line players with high salaries aren't currently playing overseas. I bet you it's lot more then are playing overseas.
- MJL

I didn't say they all were. I said they had the option. You know that if Crosby decided to go overseas a team there would make room for him somehow. Not to mention that those players have made more in their career and can take more of a hit financially right now than the 3rd and 4th liners can. It's called basic economics.

I didn't say they all were. I said they had the option. You know that if Crosby decided to go overseas a team there would make room for him somehow. Not to mention that those players have made more in their career and can take more of a hit financially right now than the 3rd and 4th liners can. It's called basic economics.
- HonkFortheGoose

I guess you haven't been following the thoughts on insurance issues to insure the players NHL contracts. Especially when there is a pre existing condition such as a concussion issue. The bottom line is that your premise is incorrect. There are tons of top line players not playing overseas.

Oh my...that's the best you've got. How old are you? We all know the maturity level is at around 10-12yrs old. Na na na na boo boo. what a child.
- jbearx

Honestly, you come on and instead of talking about the situation, you just get personal and call someone naive because you don't agree with their viewpoint. And now your questioning how old I am? Pretty hysterical. Here's what I can do that shows a maturity level. I can discuss the situation without referring to you personally, or insulting you personally.

I guess you haven't been following the thoughts on insurance issues to insure the players NHL contracts. Especially when there is a pre existing condition such as a concussion issue. The bottom line is that your premise is incorrect. There are tons of top line players not playing overseas.
- MJL

My premise that the upper echelon players being the ones holding the cards is incorrect? How do you figure? All you keep saying is that they aren't all playing overseas. I agreed with that and pointed out that Crosby is not overseas currently. The higher paid players are the ones that don't want the rollbacks because that means they are giving up more in the long run, but what they don't realize is how many other players are making large sacrifices right now that they many never recover from.

They would be far better to stick a 2nd team in Toronto or one in Hamilton. I've been to enough Sabres games to know that half of the people are coming from that area.
- Bieksa#3

My premise that the upper echelon players being the ones holding the cards is incorrect? How do you figure? All you keep saying is that they aren't all playing overseas. I agreed with that and pointed out that Crosby is not overseas currently. The higher paid players are the ones that don't want the rollbacks because that means they are giving up more in the long run, but what they don't realize is how many other players are making large sacrifices right now that they many never recover from.
- HonkFortheGoose

The players are united in their cause. They all back their representation. Every player is allowed to attend the meetings and have their say, and participate in the process. In any group of people there are leaders who are influential. There is no doubt that that is the case with the players. None of the players want the rollbacks. The League has made multiple attempts at trying to divide the Union. It hasn't worked.

Honestly, you come on and instead of talking about the situation, you just get personal and call someone naive because you don't agree with their viewpoint. And now your questioning how old I am? Pretty hysterical. Here's what I can do that shows a maturity level. I can discuss the situation without referring to you personally, or insulting you personally.

- MJL

The sad thing MJL is you're NOT discussing the situation. You're so incredibly pro player, that you haven't once looked at any of this objectively.

If you honestly think a bunch of 25-29yr old millionaires who play hockey for a living really understand the economics of this business, then yes...you are incredibly naive. That's why they pay agents to think for them.

All you do is sit here and blame the owners for this mess, you forget about those agents and Donald Fehr...they're screwing the players over just as badly. and the reason is, most players are not bright enough to understand what's really going on. Yes, there are some very bright ones, of course. But to say that all the players truly understand, and are not just putting blind faith in Mr. Fehr, is indeed incredibly naive on your part.

The sad thing MJL is you're NOT discussing the situation. You're so incredibly pro player, that you haven't once looked at any of this objectively.

If you honestly think a bunch of 25-29yr old millionaires who play hockey for a living really understand the economics of this business, then yes...you are incredibly naive. That's why they pay agents to think for them.

All you do is sit here and blame the owners for this mess, you forget about those agents and Donald Fehr...they're screwing the players over just as badly. and the reason is, most players are not bright enough to understand what's really going on. Yes, there are some very bright ones, of course. But to say that all the players truly understand, and are not just putting blind faith in Mr. Fehr, is indeed incredibly naive on your part.
- jbearx

Yea, the players are just a bunch of dummies that all they know how to do is skate and shoot pucks. If were talking about naive, then this is it. And I'm not pro player or pro anybody. I'm pro getting Hockey back. And I can see both sides of the coin. And just recently I stated on here that the players, if it's true, wanting to be paid their full salary for the year, is an unreasonable demand.

And again, it is just your opinion and nothing more that I haven't looked at it objectively. Your simply wrong. Your problem is that you can't handle someone who has a different viewpoint then you have. And so you have to resort to personal remarks. Your not the only one.

The players are united in their cause. They all back their representation. Every player is allowed to attend the meetings and have their say, and participate in the process. In any group of people there are leaders who are influential. There is no doubt that that is the case with the players. None of the players want the rollbacks. The League has made multiple attempts at trying to divide the Union. It hasn't worked.
- MJL

They are all united. That doesn't mean that what's best for the top tier is also what's best for the bottom tier. Unfortunately, anything is going to be tailored to the top tier. Not sure why you don't seem to get that.

Besides, the longer this drags out, the more chance there is that at some point the lower tier starts to get restless and start to fall out of order.

They are all united. That doesn't mean that what's best for the top tier is also what's best for the bottom tier. Unfortunately, anything is going to be tailored to the top tier. Not sure why you don't seem to get that.

Besides, the longer this drags out, the more chance there is that at some point the lower tier starts to get restless and start to fall out of order.
- HonkFortheGoose

Your talking about over 700 players. There are players that if the Season is cancelled, their careers are over. Your not going to have a situation where every player is happy with everything that happens. That's just not reality. But there is situation that can be best for the overwhelming majority of players. And that is what the PA is fighting for.

Your talking about over 700 players. There are players that if the Season is cancelled, their careers are over. Your not going to have a situation where every player is happy with everything that happens. That's just not reality. But there is situation that can be best for the overwhelming majority of players. And that is that the PA is fighting for.
- MJL

Right now the PA is fighting to not give up anything, which is 100% unrealistic. The only thing they've conceded at this point is that they'll take a reduction in HRR, BUT only for a few years. They essentially want it to go right back to where it is now over the course of the CBA, if and when it gets worked out. Well, it's not gonna happen. The owners will not allow it to. The players are also going to have to concede some more somewhere else.

If they don't, that means that at some point, teams are going to be forced to fold. Less teams=less available rosters spots. How exactly is that going to benefit the players?