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Forums :: Blog World :: Eklund: Should We Worry About the 20-21 Season? What is Really Happening? B@1
Author Message
Eklund
Commissioner
Joined: 09.15.2005

Nov 20 @ 12:17 PM ET
Eklund: Should We Worry About the 20-21 Season? What is Really Happening? B@1
Habsfan702
Montreal Canadiens
Joined: 10.27.2019

Nov 20 @ 12:29 PM ET
1st!!! 🤪
Avery40
Toronto Maple Leafs
Location: NF
Joined: 12.12.2012

Nov 20 @ 12:43 PM ET
I think that they should cancel season until they can get fans in the stadiums. Watching games with no fans is just not the same. I tried a few games of the playoffs and I thought it just sucked.
As for the players complaining about money, I have no sympathy for them. They make too much as it is, so you cant feel bad for them.
Queenie_5_hole
New Jersey Devils
Joined: 05.01.2015

Nov 20 @ 1:09 PM ET
I think that they should cancel season until they can get fans in the stadiums. Watching games with no fans is just not the same. I tried a few games of the playoffs and I thought it just sucked.
As for the players complaining about money, I have no sympathy for them. They make too much as it is, so you cant feel bad for them.

- Avery40


Even without my team getting into a single game, I found the bubble playoffs pretty decent; but I can appreciate that a lot of folks felt differently. I'd think playoff games would be more interesting then watching regular season games without fans. So clearly this isn't ideal.

There is ZERO possibility the league will generate the same type of revenue and that has to affect both owners and players. It seems unavoidable. So if there is going to be a season that has to get worked out; and that means the players (and owners) will need to deal with reality. My guess is it gets done because making money is always better then not making money. Even if you wanted more money.
VANTEL
Joined: 07.03.2010

Nov 20 @ 1:38 PM ET
Jan 1 is a little over five weeks away . It is a lot to get it up an running as numbers grow with CV19
Symba007
Montreal Canadiens
Location: You are all perennial cynical sissies , ON
Joined: 02.26.2007

Nov 20 @ 1:51 PM ET
Even without my team getting into a single game, I found the bubble playoffs pretty decent; but I can appreciate that a lot of folks felt differently. I'd think playoff games would be more interesting then watching regular season games without fans. So clearly this isn't ideal.

There is ZERO possibility the league will generate the same type of revenue and that has to affect both owners and players. It seems unavoidable. So if there is going to be a season that has to get worked out; and that means the players (and owners) will need to deal with reality. My guess is it gets done because making money is always better then not making money. Even if you wanted more money.

- Queenie_5_hole

can't do the bubble for 6 months with the whole league though
Queenie_5_hole
New Jersey Devils
Joined: 05.01.2015

Nov 20 @ 2:07 PM ET
can't do the bubble for 6 months with the whole league though
- Symba007


That certainly seems true. Good point and my bad for overlooking that detail.

I'm guessing somehow the NHL gets access to the emergency use authorized vaccine pretty quickly. No idea what percentage of the players would be willing to take it. But that's just my conspiracy theory...
RoloTahmasee
Joined: 07.24.2009

Nov 20 @ 2:12 PM ET
Players that whine about escrow can blame the NHLPA for using the cap escalator every season (which artificial raises the cap to open up more money for Free Agents

The “Cap” is actually based on the median of the salary cap and the salary floor for 31 teams against 50% of projected revenue

If every team spend 72 million (floor 64 Cap 80) and the players didn’t use the cap escalators escrow would be almost totally refunded

But because the NHLPA uses up to 5% cap escalators AND most of the teams are up against the cap, this creates a 10-13% “overage” in spending that existing players under contract get clawed back on via escrow
Kooleus
Los Angeles Kings
Location: LA (home of King Alex), CA
Joined: 11.17.2018

Nov 20 @ 2:20 PM ET
One thing I would add is not every person lives in fear Ek. I don't worry every time I leave the house. If I get sick, my chances of recovering are over 99.9%. I'm not haunted by the odds of dying in a car crash every time I drive over to the grocery store either. Doesn't make me reckless. But I also don't live in fear.

The players demands are totally unreasonable and are quickly destroying goodwill with fans. We want full salary, for a partial season. We don't want to be in a bubble. We don't like escrow. OK guys. Buh bye. See you in 12 months. We're shutting down our league. Go start your own league.

patenaude
Joined: 07.19.2006

Nov 20 @ 2:51 PM ET
The owners offered a massive concession in agreeing to split revenue 50/50 over the course of full CBA, rather than on a yearly basis.

What is really at issue is 1) the distribution of the players pot between current players and future players 2) the level of cash flow negativity that the weakest owners can operate at.

It is really the current players negotiating with themselves. They have to concede enough cash flow this year so the NHL is willing to operate, and they have to not screw future players too badly by deferring too much salary to future years.

The average player salary is $3.5 million. If they have to play at 50% this year for $1,75 million with another $750K deferred to future years, that is a pretty good deal.

There is an easy way to get rid of excrow. Make player contracts a percentage of the cap.

If revenues and the cap go up, you get a pay increase. If they go down, you get a pay cut.














Nelson19777
Vancouver Canucks
Location: Trail, BC
Joined: 03.05.2013

Nov 20 @ 3:23 PM ET
I think that they should cancel season until they can get fans in the stadiums. Watching games with no fans is just not the same. I tried a few games of the playoffs and I thought it just sucked.
As for the players complaining about money, I have no sympathy for them. They make too much as it is, so you cant feel bad for them.


I read your post and I thought it just sucked. The playoffs were great, if your team had made the playoffs, your tune would be different.
Canada Cup
Toronto Maple Leafs
Location: “Give me Point, Cirelli and Paul all day against anybody.” Mr. Cooper , ON
Joined: 07.06.2007

Nov 20 @ 4:15 PM ET
Eklund: Should We Worry About the 20-21 Season? What is Really Happening? B@1
- Eklund




It'll be gone by April
Big_E_88
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Wilmington, DE
Joined: 01.17.2014

Nov 20 @ 4:16 PM ET
With the recent positive news regarding a vaccine, I think the league should announce that they're suspending the start of the season indefinitely. Then they can monitor the progress with the vaccine and plan the start of the season accordingly. Reports I read earlier today suggested that a vaccine could be widely available as early as this coming Spring.
It seems silly to me to try to start the season in January knowing that a vaccine could potentially be available 3-5 months later. The health risk involved with trying to start the season under these current covid conditions doesn't make sense to me. Plus all of the planning & resources that would go into making the season start in January would seem wasted if there is indeed an effective vaccine available just a few months later. Just wait it out at this point.
broncohorvath
Joined: 12.20.2012

Nov 20 @ 4:44 PM ET
No Revenue No Hockey
Nasty_Duck
Boston Bruins
Location: ON
Joined: 06.20.2012

Nov 20 @ 5:57 PM ET
That certainly seems true. Good point and my bad for overlooking that detail.

I'm guessing somehow the NHL gets access to the emergency use authorized vaccine pretty quickly. No idea what percentage of the players would be willing to take it. But that's just my conspiracy theory...

- Queenie_5_hole


That would be a huge publicity nightmare. Some seniors get off the short list and die so a bunch of athletes can play a game?


Nelson19777
Vancouver Canucks
Location: Trail, BC
Joined: 03.05.2013

Nov 20 @ 5:58 PM ET
No Revenue No Hockey
- broncohorvath


I guess that mean, we are getting hockey then. The league has cashed plenty of checks with broadcasters and other advertisers for this years season. So, drop the puck.
Nasty_Duck
Boston Bruins
Location: ON
Joined: 06.20.2012

Nov 20 @ 6:02 PM ET
The owners offered a massive concession in agreeing to split revenue 50/50 over the course of full CBA, rather than on a yearly basis.

What is really at issue is 1) the distribution of the players pot between current players and future players 2) the level of cash flow negativity that the weakest owners can operate at.

It is really the current players negotiating with themselves. They have to concede enough cash flow this year so the NHL is willing to operate, and they have to not screw future players too badly by deferring too much salary to future years.

The average player salary is $3.5 million. If they have to play at 50% this year for $1,75 million with another $750K deferred to future years, that is a pretty good deal.

There is an easy way to get rid of excrow. Make player contracts a percentage of the cap.

If revenues and the cap go up, you get a pay increase. If they go down, you get a pay cut
.

- patenaude


Escrow is adjusted every year based on the difference between the estimated Revenue and the actual Revenue.

Because Revenue can't be estimated with 100% accuracy (they won't know it until season is over) I don't see how that can disappear.
Nighthawk
Vancouver Canucks
Location: Canuckville, BC
Joined: 01.09.2015

Nov 20 @ 6:43 PM ET
I think that they should cancel season until they can get fans in the stadiums. Watching games with no fans is just not the same. I tried a few games of the playoffs and I thought it just sucked.
As for the players complaining about money, I have no sympathy for them. They make too much as it is, so you cant feel bad for them.

- Avery40

Why cancel when no other league has?
Both sides are sorting out the money.
I don’t tune in to watch fans. Sorry
Make too much is old & stale. Are you a billionaire owner or simply naive?
Kooleus
Los Angeles Kings
Location: LA (home of King Alex), CA
Joined: 11.17.2018

Nov 20 @ 7:22 PM ET
Ek do you think this has delayed the Hoffman signing? You had multiple sources saying it was imminent 2 weeks ago. Also any update on Gaudreau for JVR + Ghost? Your Calgary source obviously got the Markstrom signing right so there must be some truth to this JVR + Ghost story.
MisterBrown
Toronto Maple Leafs
Joined: 08.10.2020

Nov 20 @ 7:32 PM ET
This is a bad flu. It's always been a bad flu. It was already over when we, "flattened the curve"... Which happened this past April...
BluesDroogie
St Louis Blues
Location: St. Louis, MO
Joined: 06.12.2014

Nov 20 @ 7:35 PM ET
Play if they can financially do it. Players have to realize with no fans comes sacrifices. Those multi million dollar year contracts are costly.

I want hockey back. But I’ve lived through how many seasons with no hockey or half seasons? Suck it up. The guys just starting are wanting their money as well
BluesDroogie
St Louis Blues
Location: St. Louis, MO
Joined: 06.12.2014

Nov 20 @ 8:04 PM ET
This is a bad flu. It's always been a bad flu. It was already over when we, "flattened the curve"... Which happened this past April...
- MisterBrown

Bad sinus infection for me but I’ve had worse
bird_dog_pa
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: PA
Joined: 07.05.2011

Nov 20 @ 9:56 PM ET
Speak for yourself this virus panic porn is ridiculous. Covid in regards to lockdowns tanking the economy and ruining people’s livelihoods is a crime. It’s a fraud and the sooner you understand that better off we will all be.
Absolutely take precautions for those who are vulnerable but I’m not also cancelling thanksgiving.
Nasty_Duck
Boston Bruins
Location: ON
Joined: 06.20.2012

Nov 20 @ 10:00 PM ET
Speak for yourself this virus panic porn is ridiculous. Covid in regards to lockdowns tanking the economy and ruining people’s livelihoods is a crime. It’s a fraud and the sooner you understand that better off we will all be.
Absolutely take precautions for those who are vulnerable but I’m not also cancelling thanksgiving.

- bird_dog_pa


You are a (frank)ing moron.
bird_dog_pa
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: PA
Joined: 07.05.2011

Nov 20 @ 10:28 PM ET
You are a (frank)ing moron.
- Nasty_Duck


Yet still smarter than you.
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