NHL set to scrap troubled season

[Inspector Lee]

Next hockey needs to penalize more for rough checking and speed up the game. This is what the NBA did this year and now scoring is up like 3 or 4 ppg on average. Let the game be played how it is meant to be played.

I disagree. It is not the hard-hitting that slows down the game. It is the clutching and grabbing and all the "left wing lock" BS. The 1983-84 Oilers scored a record 446 goals (5.5 per game) and I guarantee that Semenko and McSorley threw down at least once every game. The '87-88 Red Wings scored 328 goals (over 4 per game) and they were a thug team. Heck, Probert scored 29 goals that year and spent 398 minutes in the penalty box.

Look at the Bertuzzi and McSorley-Brashear incidents of the past few years. Guys going to the hospital because there is zero accountability on the ice which leads to all the high-sticking, clutching/grabbing, gutlessness, etc.

They need to can the instigator rule and maybe go to an Olympic-width (100 feet instead of 85) or possibly add 18 inches to the end of each rink to create more room behind the net.

 

[killuminati]

They need to can the instigator rule and maybe go to an Olympic-width (100 feet instead of 85) or possibly add 18 inches to the end of each rink to create more room behind the net.

not olympic size!!! I hate olympic size, its waaay to wide. I don't see whats wrong with the way it is.

 

[Koodauw]

I disagree. It is not the hard-hitting that slows down the game. It is the clutching and grabbing and all the "left wing lock" BS.

Yep, and you can thank the NJ Devils for developing the trap system. But hey, they did win 2? Cups with it. Dallas was pretty successful with it too.

I don't know what can resurect the NHL. NHL season is long, and I cant get into it untill its playoff time. But then I usually watch. Baseball is great because its played outdoors, through summer. Take a day off, watch the a game, relax. Playoffs are intense as well. Don't ask me why the NBA is popular, but whatever.

The NHL needs to find an identity, untill then any deal is just a make shift solution to keep things going untill it can find a viable solution.

 

[Inspector Lee]

not olympic size!!! I hate olympic size, its waaay to wide. I don't see whats wrong with the way it is.

I don't like Olympic either and virtually none of the rinks in the league could convert without the loss of $$$ from the rinkside seats. Some people favor the elimination of the 2-line pass rule. About ten years ago, Lemieux talked about adding 12-18 inches behind each crease and how that could really open up the behind the net play. They've also kicked around voiding the "Edmonton rule" which abolished 4 on 4, 4 on 3, and 3 on 3 play when there are off-setting penalties.

And I'm not talking about increasing the scoring necessarily, just the flow. I've seen and been to some outstanding 3-2, 2-1 games with end-to-end rushes, 1 or 2 scraps, etc. A good 8-6 shootout is fine every once in a while but this isn't indoor soccer (although US ratings may be currently deadlocked).

And this realignment... The Wings and Leafs play twice a season? WTF? Oh yeah, they have to play Nashville 6 times.

All this clutching and grabbing... I remember the days when a guy like Mike Bossy would take 1 stride over the blueline and beat the goalie over the shoulder. Today, nobody can do anything without somebody draped all over them.

I also think the stickwork has increased in proportion to the use of the face shield.

 

[killuminati]

All this clutching and grabbing... I remember the days when a guy like Mike Bossy would take 1 stride over the blueline and beat the goalie over the shoulder. Today, nobody can do anything without somebody draped all over them.

ahh, the good ol' days

 

[TID]

whoa - that simple huh?

I place the blame fully on the owners. They dug themselves into this whole by paying players more than they could afford to, and now are demanding a salary cap.

The players took the money the owners offered, and even agreed to a 25% roll back in wages. But the owners said no.

Which owners? All owners? To some owners with deep pockets I'm sure spending a million bucks is like spending a single dollar to most of us. But I suggest that the majority of teams in the league got screwed into paying unrealistic amounts of money for under-achievers simply due to arbitration. The arbitration process functions like this: Once player A gets paid X amount of dollars by some Billionaire owner in Detroit or New York or Toronto, all other teams are forced to cough up equivalent dough even when they can't afford to.

Yes, some owners offered the cash. Others paid the ranson. Others had to sell their assets year after year to break even. let me repeat that: To break even. So a team like Edmonton (my home city) has 100% capacity throughout the year and the best we can do here is break even and sell all our assets the moment they begin to score goals or stop pucks.
Personally, i know what it's like to have your city show up, and put up year after year waiting for the 2004 CBA.

I can't blame my team's 27 owners for not wanting to lose anymore money. Obviously I support the owners and hope that they can even make a profit. A cap, revenue sharing from television, etc,and a new arbitration system is a positive step in not only ensuring that healthy teams with a strong base survive past this year but help maike the NHL product more exciting. 30 teams, who, if managed and coached properly, all have a chance at the cup.

 

[Koodauw]

But I suggest that the majority of teams in the league got screwed into paying unrealistic amounts of money for under-achievers simply due to arbitration.

You make some good points my friend. Well done. It may be more the case of a bad system that allowed both sides to fail. I agree with you, I dont blame the smaller market teams for wanting to have a cap, but I fear that it will not help matters. Small market teams like Pittsburg, who have a payroll of about 21M, wont be near the 40M cap that was proposed, so unless some major revenue sharing was included in the deal, we still have a sticky situation

 

[Lacero]

No saving face on either side pretty much predicted that this would happen.

 

[rickvanr]

On TSN they had a poll, 3/4 of the people blamed the players, and I'd agree. I watched both news conferences today, and I think Bettman is doing a good job, he's not on a personal vendetta against anyone, he's just speaking on behalf of the owners.

 

[killuminati]

On TSN they had a poll, 3/4 of the people blamed the players, and I'd agree. I watched both news conferences today, and I think Bettman is doing a good job, he's not on a personal vendetta against anyone, he's just speaking on behalf of the owners.

Bettman may currently be doing a good job, except this would never have been such a big issue if he hadn't expanded the league so much. He tried to force the league into a non-existing US market.

 

[TID]

expansion not bettman's doing

Bettman may currently be doing a good job, except this would never have been such a big issue if he hadn't expanded the league so much. He tried to force the league into a non-existing US market.

Personally i think bettman is doing an outstanding job. Throughout this prtracted and often emotional ordeal, he's managed to remain professional, articulate, approachable, and firm.

As for Gary destroying the league with expansion, well, it's easy to blame him because he's the face of the NHL. In truth, however, he's merely the hired representative unifying the desire of the combined thirty teams. It was the team owners who thirsted after the expansion dollars. Not Gary Bettman. When he says he doesn't believe in contraction, that is, eliminating poor teams, its because he's speaking for owners who don't want to be eliminated.

Every team profited by allowing a new expansion team to buy in. So, the onus is on the owners (and bettman as their representative) to get us out of this mess. Had the team owners had the balls back in '94 to see it through, the CBA, and NHL, and finally Bettman's place in history might be secure.

For the moment, Bettman and the owners are doing the right thing to correct the league given its current condition.

 

[TID]

I dont blame the smaller market teams for wanting to have a cap, but I fear that it will not help matters. Small market teams like Pittsburg, who have a payroll of about 21M, wont be near the 40M cap that was proposed, so unless some major revenue sharing was included in the deal, we still have a sticky situation

I don't think Pittsburg as it is is a good example of a team that would benefit from revenue sharing. Their payroll is below the minimum standard. Pittsburg doesn't merit the effort, because quite frankly, i don't see what direction they're going in accept downward fast.

However, under the NHLs new system, (as yet undetermined of course) there would be some kind of mechanism in place to ensure that spending met some qualifying level. So while Pittsburg may have spent as little as possible of late merely to lose as little money as possible (not even trying to have a contending team), I believe that Pitsburg if managed, marketed, and coached with a little enthusiasm could make a very good team post 2004.

Acording to NHL rhetoric, Hockey will cease to be about say 10 teams, and instead be more about a large league with a fairly even pool of talent spread out among 30 teams. The cap is about parody as much as it is about revenue sharing. Perhaps the excitement of having all the superstars playing together is a sacrifice, but ultimately, it will be good for the sport. I would love to see a Pitsburg team as good as calgary. Why not? And i would love for calgary to be at least competitive with Colorado, Dallas, etc. Again, why not? The product will then become good enough to market in an exciting way.

 

[aloofman]

Every team profited by allowing a new expansion team to buy in. So, the onus is on the owners (and bettman as their representative) to get us out of this mess. Had the team owners had the balls back in '94 to see it through, the CBA, and NHL, and finally Bettman's place in history might be secure.

For the moment, Bettman and the owners are doing the right thing to correct the league given its current condition.

For the moment, maybe. But Bettman and the owners deserve most of the blame for letting it get this far. Everybody who follows the NHL has seen this confrontation coming for more than two years, but they preferred a do-or-die war instead of real negotiations before the CBA ran out. That CBA, by the way, was extended twice by the owners because they were so happy with it. But now, suddenly, it's a disaster. Wrong. This was a slow-motion train wreck that everyone with eyes saw coming.

By doing nothing until now, they've imperiled the future of the entire league. I'm a longtime hockey fan -- one of the few that I know -- and I'm not sure how much I'm gonna care when they start back up again. In the U.S., the NHL has about the same visibility as arena football and gets worse ratings than poker tournaments. Some of the Canadian purists may say, "Well, it's a Canadian sport anyway, so we don't need most of the American teams." Maybe so, but most of the revenue comes from those American teams. Pro hockey is no longer a major sport in the United States. Only an extended labor peace and more exciting games will bring it back. They've cooked the goose that laid the golden eggs.

 

[stcanard]

Some of the Canadian purists may say, "Well, it's a Canadian sport anyway, so we don't need most of the American teams." Maybe so, but most of the revenue comes from those American teams.

Yes, but do we necessarily need that revenue?

The Vancouver Giants (our WHL team) has had a 68% increase in attendance since the lockout started. They're averaging almost 8,000 spectators per game which is more than some of the NHL cities get.

These guys get paid peanuts compared to the NHL stars. Our major sports networks have started showing the games, and they're being watched. You can bet that the rights to these games cost nowhere near what the NHL rights do.

With players like Gilbert Brule, Marek Schwarz, and Dion Phaneuf, there's no shortage of talent. It's good hockey, it's entertaining hockey, it doesn't require the "revenue streams", and in Vancouver at least, people see it as a viable alternative to the NHL.

 

[killuminati]

Yes, but do we necessarily need that revenue?

The Vancouver Giants (our WHL team) has had a 68% increase in attendance since the lockout started. They're averaging almost 8,000 spectators per game which is more than some of the NHL cities get.

I cant believe it. I havent been to a single giants game this season. I went more last year when there was NHL! The only thing I dont like about the whl iss that the fights look like shows.

 

[Santaduck]

Of all places, this Forbes article says it all, with a long-term view: "Blame Bettman".

Hand in hand with attracting back the fanbase for a new season would be a convenient time to introduce some long-considered rule changes to lessen all that nonsense in the neutral zone.

 

[killuminati]

Of all places, this Forbes article says it all, with a long-term view: "Blame Bettman"

That is also my view. bettman

 

[Santaduck]

That is also my view. bettman

Well he's the one that expanded a profitable NHL into so many expansion teams that we have this problem in the first place.

 

[killuminati]

Well he's the one that expanded a profitable NHL into so many expansion teams that we have this problem in the first place.

exactly,

as I had stated before

 

[paulypants]

Dont blame Bettman, are you kidding me?!?!?!?!? HE RAN THE LEAGUE INTO THE GROUND.

He expanded the league to much into the US where there wasn't a very big hockey market. This whole problem is because of his expansion.

True. But the problem at hand isn't how did it happen, but how does it get fixed? It won't if the PA continues down their delusional path. They have divorced themselves so far from reality that its hard to see them ever seeing this thing sanely.

salary rollbacks?
cap?
luxury tax?
revenue sharing?

All of the above, and more. The players have gotten fat off of a horribly lopsided CBA in their favor, now to even this out it needs to swing wholely in the other direction. Stars are overrated, and they truely believe that the ARE the NHL. Sorry, the teams are its a TEAM sport, I don't care who's wearing the sweater as long as they are my team I will root for them. I'll take a bunch a low paid, hardworking, 110% every night guys who appreciate the game and the opportunity they have over these high-paid, egotistical, lazy, millionaire guys any day. The are so out of touch with fans its sickening, most of their fans can't even afford to go see them play because of the outrageous salaries. Bring on the scabs, at least they'll appreciate where they are and the opportunity they have.

Maybe I'm wrong, but if I walked into my employer with my fellow employees and demanded well upwards of 55% the total revenues from the company I'd be laughed out of there in an instant. Even if they did agree, I wouldn't be long for a job because YOU CAN"T RUN A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS THAT WAY!

Now the NHLPA just needs to get their collective heads out of their collective a**es.

"But they started it! They locked us out!" -- Bob Goodenow
Spoken like a true 5 year old, what a professional!

 

[PredDawg8]

As you may deduce from my user name, I am not at all happy about this season being cancelled. I am also less than receptive to suggestions of contracting Nashville. Due to that, I'm probably more upset over this lockout than diehards in places like Detroit and Vancouver. The Predators were making great strides this past season. We finally got to experience playoff hockey last year. I was at Game 3 and it was simply incredible. But all that progress may be for naught. I really hope this doesn't kill hockey in Nashville.

 

[killuminati]

But all that progress may be for naught. I really hope this doesn't kill hockey in Nashville.

It will, come move up to Canada and be with REAL hockey fans

But if you werent in nashville, you would see that certain teams (we wont mention any names now will we ) need to go. They are teams that are in a city with a very small hockey market. And its allllll bettmans fault for expanding into those cities.

 

[stcanard]

Maybe I'm wrong, but if I walked into my employer with my fellow employees and demanded well upwards of 55% the total revenues from the company I'd be laughed out of there in an instant.

And if my employer offered me 55% of his total revenues, then 5 years later told me I had to cut my salary because he was going broke, I'd call him an idiot and say it's his own darn fault.

Both sides have caused this situation. I place more blame on the owners because:

a) Bettman is an imbecile who is destroying hockey,

b) It was the owner's decisions to pay this much anyway (and remember arbitration is based on average salaries, so that can't be blamed), and

c) they aren't negotiating in good faith -- they are laying an ultimatum and refusing to move

 

[Koodauw]

I don't think Pittsburg as it is is a good example of a team that would benefit from revenue sharing. Their payroll is below the minimum standard. Pittsburg doesn't merit the effort, because quite frankly, i don't see what direction they're going in accept downward fast.

Well if Pittsburg isnt a good example of a team that would benefit from revenue sharing, WHO IS? They need the money the most. Thats the whole issue at hand here. Small market teams who can't compete with the larger teams. Yes there payroll is VERY low, They are barely able to stay alive. It has to be extremely low. How does Pittsburg not merrit the effort? They have no resources to but into anything. Any new CBA is the only hope they have left.

I'm sure in your eyes we should just contract them now!

 

[PredDawg8]

It will, come move up to Canada and be with REAL hockey fans

Ha! I can barely stand Mississippi winters! If I tried to live up there, I'd die!