Random thoughts about the lost season

[Blitzkrieg]

-Something I hadn't really considered is the real possibility of a season cancellation. I, honestly, am still in complete shock that the NHL and NHLPA could be so insanely stupid.

-The thing that angers me the most is the fact that the NHL could have made money under any number of proposals the NHLPA submitted. At least they could have signed a two year CBA as a sort of test run.

-The closest financial model for the NHL to compare itself to is the NBA. They play about the same number of games, in the same sized arenas(many are the same arenas), and have the closest number of players on their roster(12 to 25). If I am not mistaken the NBA has had a couple of teams go belly up and move in the last few years. Where did the cap system help them? Sure the NBA makes money hand over fist, but it's also proof that a cap system isn't an absolute gaurantee of financial stability.

-Those of you that say you don't miss hockey either,

A:Live somewhere where hockey is a big enough part of society that you are able to turn on your TV and still watch it in some form or another.

or

B: Are lying.

[Viper in Vancouver]

I honestly don't miss hockey, and the Canucks are God in this city. Here's one of the problem that the NHL has. I'm a 25 year old white guy in Canada that grew up playing hockey all my life, and I don't miss the game at all. I still love playing hockey, but it's honestly a terrible game to watch on t.v. I'll watch most of the Caucks games and all of team Canadas games, but that's it. If hockey night in Canada is showing a leafs/canadiens game, which they do pretty much every weekend, I can't stand to watch it. I can definitely see why the game is never going to take off in most parts of the States. They need to fold the league and come back with maximum 20 teams

[Hapday]

Where did the cap system help them? Sure the NBA makes money hand over fist, but it's also proof that a cap system isn't an absolute gaurantee of financial stability.

I agree that the NBA proves a soft cap doesn't work.

[Blitzkrieg]

Where did the cap system help them? Sure the NBA makes money hand over fist, but it's also proof that a cap system isn't an absolute gaurantee of financial stability.

I agree that the NBA proves a soft cap doesn't work.

I would go as far to say that there is no absolute gaurantee for every team in the league, under any system.

If the NHL is soooo concerned about competitive balance then why wasn't a minimum one of the issues that was central in negotiations? Bettman can whine all wants about " ..an evironment where every team in the league has a chance to compete for the Stanley Cup." , but that still isn't going to put fans in the seats in Carolina or Anaheim and it's not going to force Bill Wirtz act like he has an obligation to field a competitve team in Chicago.

[Viper in Vancouver]

At the smae time, I don't think every team should have an equal chance to win the cup, if they can't put people in the seats. Teams like Florida, Carolina, Tampa, Atlanta etc don't have the same right to compete with cities that have sold out arenas every night.

[Hapday]

If the NHL is soooo concerned about competitive balance then why wasn't a minimum one of the issues that was central in negotiations?

Actually it was. The $42.5 million cap was a maximum.

Bettman can whine all wants about " ..an evironment where every team in the league has a chance to compete for the Stanley Cup." , but that still isn't going to put fans in the seats in Carolina or Anaheim and it's not going to force Bill Wirtz act like he has an obligation to field a competitve team in Chicago.

It will eventually put bums in seats, because the lower the cap amount the lower the ticket prices can be to attract fans. Some cities won't attract fans no matter what, but you have to create demand first. The road to a fat TV contract starts with the first steps of an exciting sport and affordable ticket prices.

[JD]

I'm pretty sure a minimum salary was in every proposal put forth by either side.

And the notion of every team being guaranteed to break even is a stupid one. That's where I think Bettman and the league failed themselves. They're looking for the perfect system that will sustain all teams indefinitely. They won't get that, unless they really put the screws to the players and get a $30M cap with absolute revenue sharing. And then you'll essentially have the Leafs keeping the Panthers and Ducks on life support indefinitely.

I miss hockey a lot, but I'm loving the NHL Network. It seems they're showing Flames playoff games from this past year on a nightly basis, and they've got good classic games going almost any time I turn on the tube.

And I can still go to the Saddledome and watch the Hitmen. It's not the same, but it's still hockey and a good night out.

[JD]

Another thing, if the season were to be saved, the thing I was most anxious to see was the scrambling and player movement you'd see almost right away. Teams like Detroit and Toronto dumping to get under the cap, and teams like Nashville and Minnesota picking up players to get over the minimum. Man that would have been fun to watch!!

[Blitzkrieg]

If the NHL is soooo concerned about competitive balance then why wasn't a minimum one of the issues that was central in negotiations?

Actually it was. The $42.5 million cap was a maximum.

The NHL gave it a look, nothing else.

[Captain Haddock]

Quote of the day: Craig Patrick, GM Pens

"...even the talk of the 42.5 cap scared me"

I think the players just lost their best chance of getting the most cash they could. Gary has the 8 owners he needs.

..and didn't the wings sign, in the summer, some old goof for 10 million a year? I can't remember who...

[JD]

If the NHL is soooo concerned about competitive balance then why wasn't a minimum one of the issues that was central in negotiations?

Actually it was. The $42.5 million cap was a maximum.

The NHL gave it a look, nothing else.

http://www.nhlcbanews.com/news/nhlproposal020205.html

That's the Feb 2 proposal given by the owners. The linkage one. Sections 8 & 9 address the minimums and maximums that would be required. The resultant salary "floor" in that proposal would have been $29.8M, with the cap sitting at $40M.

I don't think it was ever an issue because the owners were willing to give it.

[scritti]

Quote of the day: Craig Patrick, GM Pens

"...even the talk of the 42.5 cap scared me"

I think the players just lost their best chance of getting the most cash they could. Gary has the 8 owners he needs.

..and didn't the wings sign, in the summer, some old goof for 10 million a year? I can't remember who...

either eric manlow(NYR) or Bryan Helmer (Phoenix)

[Shoalzie]

Quote of the day: Craig Patrick, GM Pens

"...even the talk of the 42.5 cap scared me"

I think the players just lost their best chance of getting the most cash they could. Gary has the 8 owners he needs.

..and didn't the wings sign, in the summer, some old goof for 10 million a year? I can't remember who...

either eric manlow(NYR) or Bryan Helmer (Phoenix)

Lidstrom signed for another season at around $8 or 9-million. Joseph has one more year at $8 million. Yzerman, Chelios and Shanahan are getting around $5 million each. Mr. I definitely wasn't afraid to overpay his players. Do you think anyone other than the Rangers or the Wings would pay $5 million to an old and rickety Chris Chelios?

What I'm hoping to see from a cap is veteran players not getting overpaid just because of who they are. Chelios is a $1 or 2 million player at the most. Joseph has no business being the highest paid goalie in the league. I wonder what happens with Yashin, Holik and Jagr's bloated contracts if there is a cap. Is there still talk of the players taking a 25% cut in salary or was that in place of a cap?

[Captain Haddock]

I don't know what Detroit has in store should a cap come around. Mr. I hasn't been saying a hell of a lot.

From a glance..teams in the east that seemed to have gambled on a cancelled season... Bruins, Habs, Caps.

I did see an interview with Fergie, from T.O., saying that he was looking forward to re-stocking the farm. He came across as spiteful of the way things have been run there over the last decade or so.

West..I don't know..you tell me.

[Shoalzie]

I don't know what Detroit has in store should a cap come around. Mr. I hasn't been saying a hell of a lot.

If he had his druthers, I'm sure Illitch would've stayed with the old system and just outpaid other teams. Ken Holland seems prepared to move the team in another direction though. They've got Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Kronwall and Fischer to build around. Hopefully Grigorenko can come over from Russia. I'm pretty sure some of the veterans will take less money in a cap situation if they really wanted to stay with the team. I'm confident that Yzerman would take $1 or 2 million for one season if he had to.

Trimming the payroll would be a little tricky but it might only take moving a couple of guys. Joseph is in the last year of his deal and Legace is making only a shade over $1 million...he's very capable of being the starter full-time. Lidstrom signed a one-year deal. Lang and Hatcher are making $5 million each...one of them might have to go.

[tough love]

-Those of you that say you don't miss hockey either,

A:Live somewhere where hockey is a big enough part of society that you are able to turn on your TV and still watch it in some form or another.

or

B: Are lying.

C: Anyone know what tonites Movie Night In Canada Line-up is going to be?

:)