If they all wear masks, Ek will have a HUGE advantage... it is like the blind guy turning out the lights and suddenly he is able to wipe the floor with the bad guys.

Not only would we have a deal, but the entire PA and all the owners would buy HB Seasons Tickets E5!
- Aetherial

yeh. ok.
- Eklund

If only you knew.
Have you not ever seen players taking shots at guys like you and hockeyy insiderr? Hate to break it to you, Ek...
Again, I love coming here and chatting, but when players, real media, GM's etc are making fun of you I don't think they really care what your blogs say.

Google Chrome: This page is in French. Do you want to translate it?

Baseball is the poster-child for the "haves" versus "have-nots" that the other leagues want to avoid...and with good reason.
- buffalofan19

the post was about fehr's legacy not the relative value of either sport's system.

- golfingsince

Do you think Ek has had extensive contact with both sides...

Or is his list of their "position" based pretty much solely on what other bloggers have written, and members here have been discussing/arguing.

... and how come I have not seen a reasonable Luongo trade proposal from you. He is a top 5 goalie in this league.

First, you have not paid attention to the other things the PA asked for.

Second, you are talking about an 8 year CBA... except that the players are asking for 5.

The players have not yet agreed to anything that is actually 50/50, maybe never in their plans for the next CBA... but definitely not immediately.
- Aetherial

I truly believe length of CBA is simply a bargaining chip for the NHLPA.

Perspective is lost when the owners consider a factor in their negotiations: "Will losing a season be better than Fehr claiming a victory and unifying the union more for the next hellish CBA.
Perspective is lost when players are willing to hurt their own families and miss paychecks over issues which the other side says they need and the players can't prove hurt them in any way.

Oh come on now Ek.

The players are not hurting their families, and if this is all about fehr Striking in 5 years time then yes that is a hill to die on.

Do you think Ek has had extensive contact with both sides...

Or is his list of their "position" based pretty much solely on what other bloggers have written, and members here have been discussing/arguing.

... and how come I have not seen a reasonable Luongo trade proposal from you. He is a top 5 goalie in this league.
- Aetherial

Because his value is directly tied to what happens with the CBA.

I truly believe length of CBA is simply a bargaining chip for the NHLPA.
- golfingsince

I am tempted to agree, but I think it is scary that it is a bargaining chip that they will ONLY give up if they get everything they want.

I think the 5 year contract limit is a bargaining chip they are using for more Make Whole money, or an amnesty clause, or a guaranteed cap minimum or something like that. I don't think they care at all, but they now know the NHL cares... so they are using that.

I want your avatar for my twitter account.
- Eklund

You can take it and Ek that was a LONG one didnt think I would see " More to Come " Made me laugh

I agree with Ecks assesment of Fehr.. I liked the end of it. But Im not trying to be a pain but Eck or others do you really think players and owners read this site?
- Popcorn Kid

i know they do. I wouldn't waste my time if they didn't. others will choose not to believe that and that is their prerogative. They read the site and I talk to them daily. They are just people.

Because his value is directly tied to what happens with the CBA.
- golfingsince

I don't really see how. I think his value goes down a lot though if he has to sit for an entire year at his age. It suddenly becomes a big unknown what you are getting from a 35 year old with 9 years left?

Maybe the CBA will have an amnesty clause though, hmmmm.

I truly believe length of CBA is simply a bargaining chip for the NHLPA.
- golfingsince

the league will bend on this issue for sure. i agree that they are using it as a bargaining chip for other more pressing issues. as long as they get at least 6 years (which the players have already offered), they're good. my guess would be an 8 year deal possibly without an opt out (or a relatively late opt out - after 7 years).

i know they do. I wouldn't waste my time if they didn't. others will choose not to believe that and that is their prerogative. They read the site and I talk to them daily. They are just people.
- Eklund

You blog for the players?

the league will bend on this issue for sure. i agree that they are using it as a bargaining chip for other more pressing issues. as long as they get at least 6 years (which the players have already offered), they're good. my guess would be an 8 year deal possibly without an opt out (or a relatively late opt out - after 7 years).
- RealityChecker

I think I Predicted earlier... 300 million make whole, 6 year contract term, 8 for the teams own FA, and an 8 year CBA opt out after 6, so almost exactly what you said here.

So JVR, How do you like being hailed as the savior and number one center for the Leafs?

Have you been working hard on your faceoff skills in your basement?

So JVR, How do you like being hailed as the savior and number one center for the Leafs?

Have you been working hard on your faceoff skills in your basement?
- Oilhab

My neice is my strength and conditioning coach.

Eklund: A Blog that Will Leave Both Sides Pissed at Me. But I need to write it.
- Eklund

what i really wanna know is how they plan to make it up to the fans after putting us through this ridiculous roller coaster, and if they can't make it up to us in some way how do they plan to make the money back and keep it growing?

i mean after the last lockout we had a few things to look forward to and the NHL delivered they delivered

- Crosby/Ovechkin <- 2 new generational superstars the likes of which hadnt been seen since the 80s
- new rules <--allowed for as many as FIVE 50 Goal scorers (that season)
<-- allowed for as many as 6 players with over 100 points
<-- new fast paced game = more exciting plays
-new fresh looking jerseys aimed at the younger flashier NHL fan came soon after as well etc....

and now what do we have to look forward to? i wonder if either side has considered what it'll take to repair this kind of thing, last time we were able to forget quickly because the changes made had an immediate impact on the game, the game itself became a young man's game

so now what? even if there is a season

maybe they shouldnt bother with a season and spend the rest of the year figuring out how to win us back but also continue the growth of the league, fasttracking 2 new teams in Seattle and Quebec would be a start but i doubt any such thing would be ready for like 2 years....

i guess we'll see but they really REALLY need to consider the aftermath of all the damage they've caused because they simply dont have anything to offer unlike the last time

I'm pissed about this blog and I'm not even a player OR owner!

My neice is my strength and conditioning coach.
- Aetherial

Is she better then Gary Roberts?

I'm pissed about this blog and I'm not even a player OR owner!
- eayost

Then Ek is not going to waste his time on you, cretin

what i really wanna know is how they plan to make it up to the fans after putting us through this ridiculous roller coaster, and if they can't make it up to us in some way how do they plan to make the money back and keep it growing?

i mean after the last lockout we had a few things to look forward to and the NHL delivered they delivered

- Crosby/Ovechkin <- 2 new generational superstars the likes of which hadnt been seen since the 80s
- new rules <--allowed for as many as FIVE 50 Goal scorers (that season)
<-- allowed for as many as 6 players with over 100 points
<-- new fast paced game = more exciting plays
-new fresh looking jerseys aimed at the younger flashier NHL fan came soon after as well etc....

and now what do we have to look forward to? i wonder if either side has considered what it'll take to repair this kind of thing, last time we were able to forget quickly because the changes made had an immediate impact on the game, the game itself became a young man's game

so now what? even if there is a season

maybe they shouldnt bother with a season and spend the rest of the year figuring out how to win us back but also continue the growth of the league, fasttracking 2 new teams in Seattle and Quebec would be a start but i doubt any such thing would be ready for like 2 years....

i guess we'll see but they really REALLY need to consider the aftermath of all the damage they've caused because they simply dont have anything to offer unlike the last time
- Habitants98

Woo Dude, there will be no blog within a blogs when MJL is absent

how's it going whips my man?

i can't believe it's taken ek so long to put this blog out?

if he had done it earlier, perhaps the players and owners would have had a better understanding of one another and gotten the deal done.

i for one think that ek should be the mediator in these negotiations.

hey ek! perhaps you should send a letter to the league offering your services. you're talking to owners and players directly all day long so you should ask them their opinion/ i'm sure they'll be calling you shortly to take you to task for that spirited blog! remember to tell these owners and players who you may have "alienated," that you're doing it for the good of the game.
- RealityChecker

Doing well my friend. You?

what i really wanna know is how they plan to make it up to the fans after putting us through this ridiculous roller coaster,
- Habitants98

Painted at each blue line: Thanks again, Fans!

Then Ek is not going to waste his time on you, cretin
- Oilhab