Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Zero Benefit to Lockout for Flyers, Sunday Results

Well written Bill. I think a lot of fans who seem to be in favor the proposed contract restrictions, might have a different opinion when it affects the team they root for. This could hit the Flyers especially hard.

Good read.

The last cba had "little to no effect" on competitiveness, but this cba will? I think the flyers, and other big market teams, will still have a competitive advantage with their ability to be more carefree with spending. I wouldn't be too concerned if I were cheering for the orange and black.

Good read.

The last cba had "little to no effect" on competitiveness, but this cba will?
- LeaderofthePAEK

Depends on the amount of financial flexibility that the next CBA has. There have been NHL people using coded phrases like "roster balancing" as one of the League's goals (which is a thinly veiled reference to reducing or closing existing CBA loopholes, forcing teams like the Flyers and Penguins to pare down their long-term contracts and making to tougher to retain players they would otherwise want to keep).

Whenever Gary Bettman talks about "competitive balance", it has zero to do with actual on-ice competitiveness. Pre-cap and cap-era history shows that the introduction of the current salary cap has had little to no effect on teams' ability or inability to compete for playoff berths or even to win the Cup.

This is specifically false, and you gotta stop trotting out there like its fact. Go to USA Today's salary database, and get the historical standings up in another window and then try to argue competitive balance wasn't an issue. In fact, there is still correlation between spending and making the playoffs, it's just a closer spread than it used to be.

The last lockout was about money, but it was absolutely a benefit to competitive balance.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Zero Benefit to Lockout for Flyers, Sunday Results
- bmeltzer

The sooner fans realize that both the NHL and NHLPA see them as little more than walking ATMs, maybe they will stop being treated as such.

I immediately returned in 2005, buying merchandise & tickets. The current lockout is a needless cash grab. It has (frank)all to do with competitive balance.

Wow, one of the best reads related to the lockout anywhere. Even though it is not specifically about the minutiae of the lockout it is about the impact to my favorite team.

Thanks Bill.

This is specifically false, and you gotta stop trotting out there like its fact. Go to USA Today's salary database, and get the historical standings up in another window and then try to argue competitive balance wasn't an issue. In fact, there is still correlation between spending and making the playoffs, it's just a closer spread than it used to be.

The last lockout was about money, but it was absolutely a benefit to competitive balance.
- gollum

Take the seven years leading up to the lockout and compare it to the seven years since the lockout in terms of distribution of teams making the playoffs and teams reaching the Finals. What you will find in REALITY is exactly what I blogged last week.

To review.... in the seven years leading up to the 2004-05 lockout, 27 of 30 NHL teams made the playoffs at least once (only Columbus, Atlanta and the big-budget New York Rangers). In the seven years since the lockout, only the big-budget Toronto Maple Leafs have not made a single playoff appearance. Columbus and Atlanta/Winnipeg made it once apiece and got quickly eliminated.

Teams like the Oilers and Islanders made the playoffs multiple times in the seasons leading up to the 2004-05 lockout -- and the Oilers were supposed to be a "poster child" for the type of team the canceled season would ultimately benefit -- and have only made it once apiece since then.

In terms of distribution of Cup finalists and champions, in the 7 seasons before the lockout, there were two teams that won the Cup twice -- one of which was a New Jersey Devils team that, in that era, typically GOT RID OF many players as their salaries escalated.

So I very much stand by saying that the current CBA brought about very little change in terms of making the on-ice product more competitive.

The sooner fans realize that both the NHL and NHLPA see them as little more than walking ATMs, maybe they will stop being treated as such.

I immediately returned in 2005, buying merchandise & tickets. The current lockout is a needless cash grab. It has (frank)all to do with competitive balance.
- Jsaquella

as this continues the diehards are not realizing there is more then just hockey versus the average fan that will only tune in when they have the time. All the fan talk is just pure sh!t, if standard procedure of pulling the heartstrings attached to your wallet.

Empty hockey arenas do not make any money. I would think the owners would be compelled to do something before the end of the year and maybe start in January, but that would actually make sense, so will likely never happen.

And speaking of empty arenas, now that the New Jersey Nets have moved to Brooklyn, is there is a more useless building than the Prudential Center right now? Jokes about attendance at Devils games aside, a dark building cannot possibly be helping that franchise.

The sooner fans realize that both the NHL and NHLPA see them as little more than walking ATMs, maybe they will stop being treated as such.

I immediately returned in 2005, buying merchandise & tickets. The current lockout is a needless cash grab. It has (frank)all to do with competitive balance.
- Jsaquella

I've been a season ticket holder since 1999 and I love the Flyers.

But yeah.....sometimes it feels like the Flyers grab you by your ankles, turn you upside down, and shake you to get every last cent out of you. It can get to be a bit much.

The thing I don't like in this whole process is the idea of using revenue sharing to save the teams that don't make money. I think that if a team has been in a market for say, 10 years, has put a competitive team on the ice, has marketed the team properly, and is still not making money, then they should move.

If a Sears, Wal-Mart, etc. store is not profitable, they close it. I'm well aware that a professional sports league is different, but there does come a point where the league bends over backwards to NOT move a team.

I've been a season ticket holder since 1999 and I love the Flyers.

But yeah.....sometimes it feels like the Flyers grab you by your ankles, turn you upside down, and shake you to get every last cent out of you. It can get to be a bit much.
- johndewar

The main reason the NHL decided they could go immediately to a lockout, which is generally a last resort of a CBA process is because the fans readily came back across the NHL. Within two years of the lockout, NHL attendance was at record levels.

Baseball rebounded much more slowly from losing the 1994 World Series. The willingness of the fans to return after the lost season showed Bettman and the hard liners that the fans would be so happy that the puck was dropped, they would forgive almost any sins.

Right on the mark Bill....what ever deal is signed will in know no way benefit the large market teams....one thing I hope for is a deal that lasts beyond 7 years and hopefully 10....I love how a team like Nashville villifies the Flyers for their offer sheet to Shea Weber yet freely want a system where by the Flyers help fund their hockey team.
Any deal will further shrink any advantage a "hockey market" team has over a "non hockey market"....The last deal tried but left some loop holes ...this deal looks to further close those.

The willingness of the fans to return after the lost season showed Bettman and the hard liners that the fans would be so happy that the puck was dropped, they would forgive almost any sins.

Both Baseball and Hockey came back after their labor shortages and did a lot of glad handing for the fans (I can remember a ton of those autograph sessions and even a 5% drop in ticket prices after the NHL came back).

But I'm not so sure anymore if that's going to be enough. I'll always love hockey and the Flyers, but I wonder if I really need to tie up my money in a business proposition that is significantly tilted against me, the consumer.

as this continues the diehards are not realizing there is more then just hockey versus the average fan that will only tune in when they have the time. All the fan talk is just pure sh!t, if standard procedure of pulling the heartstrings attached to your wallet.
- phi1671

Well, I'm not attending a game this year, nor am I buying any merchandise. I had planned on possibly buying at least four jerseys this season, and probably going to 5 or 10 games.

I will watch on TV, park for free in my own driveway, pay $7 for my six pack of Yuengling, rather than $7 for one beer at the arena & not have to pay the gas and tolls, to boot.

The sad part? I'm really not especially missing the NHL. Sure, I miss it to some extent, but at the same time, my disgust over the lockout has turned to apathy. My hockey reading is pretty much limited to Bill's blog to know what the Flyers players are doing in Europe & the AHL.

I'm finding other things to do, and I don't walk around missing the games.

Both Baseball and Hockey came back after their labor shortages and did a lot of glad handing for the fans (I can remember a ton of those autograph sessions and even a 5% drop in ticket prices after the NHL came back).

But I'm not so sure anymore if that's going to be enough. I'll always love hockey and the Flyers, but I wonder if I really need to tie up my money in a business proposition that is significantly tilted against me, the consumer.
- johndewar

Ticket prices dipped for a year or two, they did a few more reach out things & painted "Thank You Fans" on the ice. That won;t be enough for me to come running back.

The sooner fans realize that both the NHL and NHLPA see them as little more than walking ATMs, maybe they will stop being treated as such.

I immediately returned in 2005, buying merchandise & tickets. The current lockout is a needless cash grab. It has (frank)all to do with competitive balance.
- Jsaquella

The one thing that kept me thinking of coming back was not wanting to miss Giroux's career up close. With the continuing "no news" on his recovery from this latest injury, I'm not sure that even a player or players can keep me shelling it out. Maybe I'm deceiving myself and I love hockey enough. But I don't know any more. I've really liked having the money.

Well, I'm not attending a game this year, nor am I buying any merchandise. I had planned on possibly buying at least four jerseys this season, and probably going to 5 or 10 games.

I will watch on TV, park for free in my own driveway, pay $7 for my six pack of Yuengling, rather than $7 for one beer at the arena & not have to pay the gas and tolls, to boot.

The sad part? I'm really not especially missing the NHL. Sure, I miss it to some extent, but at the same time, my disgust over the lockout has turned to apathy. My hockey reading is pretty much limited to Bill's blog to know what the Flyers players are doing in Europe & the AHL.

I'm finding other things to do, and I don't walk around missing the games.
- Jsaquella

I agree all the way up to Yuengling

Yes, I am planning to "buy" into the season with my family but i will quickly sell them if i can versus going to a game. I have missed more games in the last 5 to 10 years then i did prior to all of that...

Take the seven years leading up to the lockout and compare it to the seven years since the lockout in terms of distribution of teams making the playoffs and teams reaching the Finals. What you will find in REALITY is exactly what I blogged last week.

(snip)

So I very much stand by saying that the current CBA brought about very little change in terms of making the on-ice product more competitive.
- bmeltzer

The silence following this post is telling.

The one thing that kept me thinking of coming back was not wanting to miss Giroux's career up close. With the continuing "no news" on his recovery from this latest injury, I'm not sure that even a player or players can keep me shelling it out. Maybe I'm deceiving myself and I love hockey enough. But I don't know any more. I've really liked having the money.
- bodiva88

I understand that. Season tickets aren't a realistic option for me, given my distance from the city & work schedule. But I would get to several games a year & definitely drop a nice bit of coin at the games.

My views aren't because I don't love hockey. In fact, part of my trouble in closely following other leagues is that it gets me pissed off to the point of distraction.

My problem is being used as a stooge. I love going to the games and being there to see the history as it happens. But the TV version isn't bad.

I agree all the way up to Yuengling

Yes, I am planning to "buy" into the season with my family but i will quickly sell them if i can versus going to a game. I have missed more games in the last 5 to 10 years then i did prior to all of that...
- phi1671

Well, there's other beers, of course.

Well, I'm not attending a game this year, nor am I buying any merchandise. I had planned on possibly buying at least four jerseys this season, and probably going to 5 or 10 games.

I will watch on TV, park for free in my own driveway, pay $7 for my six pack of Yuengling, rather than $7 for one beer at the arena & not have to pay the gas and tolls, to boot.

The sad part? I'm really not especially missing the NHL. Sure, I miss it to some extent, but at the same time, my disgust over the lockout has turned to apathy. My hockey reading is pretty much limited to Bill's blog to know what the Flyers players are doing in Europe & the AHL.

I'm finding other things to do, and I don't walk around missing the games.
- Jsaquella

I love watching Flyers hockey and all that, but to put it succinctly this lockout reminded me that watching hockey is a want, not a need. It's a lesson I won't soon forget.

I love watching Flyers hockey and all that, but to put it succinctly this lockout reminded me that watching hockey is a want, not a need. It's a lesson I won't soon forget.
- BulliesPhan87

Exactly. I hate to advocate others to do what I plan to do, but at the same time, I wouldn't mind seeing them all get a bloody nose at the gate, so that a lockout is a last resort, rather than the first tactic in negotiations.

I love watching Flyers hockey and all that, but to put it succinctly this lockout reminded me that watching hockey is a want, not a need. It's a lesson I won't soon forget.
- BulliesPhan87

I think for a lot of fans, once Hockey starts, they'll realize how much they actually did miss the NHL. There's a lot of hurt feelings and emotions right now. As there should be. But I think once play starts, if it actually does. Those emotions will be replaced with more positive ones.