Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: CBA, WJC, AHL, and More Alphabet Soup

Picture perfect sentiments on the CBA travesty, Bill. Absolutely spot on as usual We should all email this to Bettman and Fehr!!

About time Noebels got the call. It was only a matter of time, to say the least.

My last point- one hell of a game here featuring the Cheese Heads and the Commies!

Nice write up Bill...

Good post, Bill.

What do you think the teams are going to do for the fans if/when the lockout ends?

Teams need to go beyond the couple of autographs sessions and glad handing they did after the last lockout ended.

Specifically, the Flyers should start by rolling back the last ticket hike they made last year.

Thanks, Bill. The collateral damage to you and folks like you and so many other salaries that depend on the NHL being operational are unacceptable. I hope and believe that you are right and this will end soon.

No doubt so much of this lockout/"negotiation" nonsense was not necessary and was driven by personalities and (well deserved) mistrust.

Like you, my love for the NHL level hockey and the Flyers has not been diminshed by this nonsense. I will be very happy to watch and go to games as soon as the puck drops.

Good post, Bill.

What do you think the teams are going to do for the fans if/when the lockout ends?

Teams need to go beyond the couple of autographs sessions and glad handing they did after the last lockout ended.

Specifically, the Flyers should start by rolling back the last ticket hike they made last year.
- johndewar

FYI, I spoke to my ticket rep in mid December and asked how many season ticket holders had bailed. He said very, very few. Less than 100 or so. Thus, people may be angry but they are not going anywhere.

FYI, I spoke to my ticket rep in mid December and asked how many season ticket holders had bailed. He said very, very few. Less than 100 or so. Thus, people may be angry but they are not going anywhere.
- FlyersFirst

Well, they already have our money, so people are just resigned to what they have now.

But when the Flyers rep comes calling in July for next year's money, could the answers be different? Mine might be depending on how we (STHs) get treated when/if this thing ends.

Well, they already have our money, so people are just resigned to what they have now.

But when the Flyers rep comes calling in July for next year's money, could the answers be different? Mine might be depending on how we (STHs) get treated when/if this thing ends.
- johndewar

We had the option to get our money back, as I recall. I told them to keep it (and get my 2% interest). I will renew no matter what.

FYI, I spoke to my ticket rep in mid December and asked how many season ticket holders had bailed. He said very, very few. Less than 100 or so. Thus, people may be angry but they are not going anywhere.
- FlyersFirst

STH = hard core fans. They were never at risk. And with the length of the waiting lists for season tickets you'd have to be really, really, super-duper pissed off to relinquish them so the low numbers don't surprise or impress me at all.

The financial risk comes from those who can't afford season tix so they buy single game tix and go when they can swing it. In big markets (Philly, NYC, etc.) that probably won't be an issue. The smaller markets will feel that pinch.

FYI, I spoke to my ticket rep in mid December and asked how many season ticket holders had bailed. He said very, very few. Less than 100 or so. Thus, people may be angry but they are not going anywhere.
- FlyersFirst

I've been saying all along.. I am mad sure, but for me to say I won't be happy to see them back and watch every game is a flat out lie.

Many people are beaking off saying I am never coming back blah blah blah. Either they are liars or they are not true fans.

Do I feel unappreciated.. yep, but I will be back to watch. I am more worried about where the cap will be and how it will affect us with a sub par D corps.

STH = hard core fans. They were never at risk. And with the length of the waiting lists for season tickets you'd have to be really, really, super-duper pissed off to relinquish them so the low numbers don't surprise or impress me at all.

The financial risk comes from those who can't afford season tix so they buy single game tix and go when they can swing it. In big markets (Philly, NYC, etc.) that probably won't be an issue. The smaller markets will feel that pinch.
- Scoob

agreed.

As has been said in here a bunch of times. I do think that the smaller markets should wither be disbanded (wont happen) be moved up north where the fan base will be more reliable even with smaller populations.

Sad to see that this lockout has affected you in a personal way Bill. Hopefully 2013 can bring more fortune and good luck for you and your family.....Somehow i get the feeling that the comments and views on your thread well soon reach into the thousands daily....

I've been saying all along.. I am mad sure, but for me to say I won't be happy to see them back and watch every game is a flat out lie.

Many people are beaking off saying I am never coming back blah blah blah. Either they are liars or they are not true fans.

Do I feel unappreciated.. yep, but I will be back to watch. I am more worried about where the cap will be and how it will affect us with a sub par D corps.
- Hextall271

Totally. I am so sick of all of the posters on HB and on TSN just saying "just cancel the season already"; and "I am done with the NHL forever".

I agree---either liars or not true fans. I would guess they are liars/just venting (because why else are they hawking a hockey web site 100+ days into a lockout . . .)

Sad to see that this lockout has affected you in a personal way Bill. Hopefully 2013 can bring more fortune and good luck for you and your family.....Somehow i get the feeling that the comments and views on your thread well soon reach into the thousands daily....
- Philly1980

Agreed. But I belive that it is the number of different people/IP addresses not just number of posts. (ie 500 MJL comments are not > than 1 comment from 2 different people)

Agreed. But I belive that it is the number of different people/IP addresses not just number of posts. (ie 500 MJL comments are not > than 1 comment from 2 different people)
- FlyersFirst

Why should we speak the name of the person whose name must not be spoken on these boards....

edit:

Totally. I am so sick of all of the posters on HB and on TSN just saying "just cancel the season already"; and "I am done with the NHL forever".

I agree---either liars or not true fans. I would guess they are liars/just venting (because why else are they hawking a hockey web site 100+ days into a lockout . . .)
- FlyersFirst

Exactly.. i read TSN or cbc and all the posters say ..good riddance and you are not getting any of my money.. their handles are normally nba or nfl related, so I suspect that they are not real fans of the league anyways. Many on TSN are from Toronto and you can't tell me that if the Leafs make the playoffs and are contenders that they wouldn't be all back on board. They would..

I know this is a premature discussion as the lockout is not over yet, but what are the chances that Laughton gets a chance to play in the NHL this year.. ie; will there be an 8 game (or 4 game pro rated) limit before they have to send him back to junior or keep him? Is he close to ready.

I've just been thinking, they will need this type of cheap young players to fill out the roster with the cap going down and with other holes to fill.

STH = hard core fans. They were never at risk. And with the length of the waiting lists for season tickets you'd have to be really, really, super-duper pissed off to relinquish them so the low numbers don't surprise or impress me at all.
- Scoob

You're right, but two long (owner initiated) work stoppages inside of a decade can erode those waiting list numbers quicker than you think.

I know this is a premature discussion as the lockout is not over yet, but what are the chances that Laughton gets a chance to play in the NHL this year.. ie; will there be an 8 game (or 4 game pro rated) limit before they have to send him back to junior or keep him? Is he close to ready.

I've just been thinking, they will need this type of cheap young players to fill out the roster with the cap going down and with other holes to fill.
- Hextall271

I'd be surprised if they had Laughton in the mix for this year.

Maybe a pro tryout with the Phantoms after his junior season is up.

The guy that might have had a shot this year with the team (I would have thought) would have been Nick Cousins.

I'd be surprised if they had Laughton in the mix for this year.

Maybe a pro tryout with the Phantoms after his junior season is up.

The guy that might have had a shot this year with the team (I would have thought) would have been Nick Cousins.
- johndewar

I haven't been following, but are his legal issues sorted out yet?He sounds like he has a shot to be a real player.

just finishing watching the USA Czeck game. great performance by USA. PP is clicking, getting some good bounces, and the D and goaltending looking solid.cant wait for game vs canada tomorrow. btw not sure how Ghost can get basically 2 games while a Czeck player can drill Jones in the head while on his knees and only get 2 mins....

Also couldnt have captured the feelings on the CBA any better.

just finishing watching the USA Czeck game. great performance by USA. PP is clicking, getting some good bounces, and the D and goaltending looking solid.cant wait for game vs canada tomorrow. btw not sure how Ghost can get basically 2 games while a Czeck player can drill Jones in the head while on his knees and only get 2 mins....

Also couldnt have captured the feelings on the CBA any better.
- dillpx183

Obviously I am cheering for Canada, but I really think the US has a good shot to win this with Gibson in goal. Russia almost lost to the Swiss and I think they are vulnerable. They are getting a taste of the pressure Canada always feels when they are the home squad (and in general because it's watched so closely in this country).

You're right, but two long (owner initiated) work stoppages inside of a decade can erode those waiting list numbers quicker than you think.
- johndewar

I can only speak for myself but I dropped my season tickets this year but it was a result of two things:

1. The Phillies. While it may not show in numbers and profits for the Flyers the Phillies long runs and WS win tapped the secondary market for regular season games. I couldn't give them away. I wasted so many tickets that it got to the point where I started attaching a monetary value to them. It's one thing to waste a couple pair, it's another to toss away a quarter of the season or more.

2. Time. When my son was younger I could go to 30+ games a season. With his hockey schedule it dwindled to 20+/-

It was a difficult decision. I wavered many times but I was paying almost as much for end of the rink 2nd to last row tickets that I had been paying to sit 6th row on the blue line just 7 years ago. So, after nearly 30 seasons, I'm out.

I will tell you that with this current mess I won't be going to any games this season. I don't know when I'll darken their door again.

Obviously I am cheering for Canada, but I really think the US has a good shot to win this with Gibson in goal. Russia almost lost to the Swiss and I think they are vulnerable. They are getting a taste of the pressure Canada always feels when they are the home squad (and in general because it's watched so closely in this country).
- Hextall271

I read on this site, I think it was the Oilers guy, say that the US had no chance against the depth of the Canadian squad. While I agree that Canada is stacked there's no way you can count any team with a solid defense and quality goaltending out of a one and done tournament like this.

I thought it was foolish to be so dismissive.

I've been saying all along.. I am mad sure, but for me to say I won't be happy to see them back and watch every game is a flat out lie.

Many people are beaking off saying I am never coming back blah blah blah. Either they are liars or they are not true fans.

Do I feel unappreciated.. yep, but I will be back to watch. I am more worried about where the cap will be and how it will affect us with a sub par D corps.
- Hextall271

Most are just venting. I get that. I'm guilty of venting about this ridiculousness, too.

The silent, casual fans are the ones that will be lost. They're silent because they really don't care all that much in the first place and they may not even really notice that the NHL isn't in action.

I'm a hard core, long time fan so I will watch whenever it comes back. But I'm not money enough to be able to afford season tix. In the past I've gone to 5-10 games per year. I'm lucky because the NJ, NYR, and Philly arenas are all within easy driving distance and it's pretty easy to get tix, especially at NJ home games (zing! )

That said, I will stand by my word and not spend one dollar on tickets to see a live game at any of those arenas for at least one year from the next puck drop. Nor will I buy any NHL apparel or products for that same time period.