Comments on: NHL slams players’ “hardline position”

By: tealwithit

tealwithit — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 18:28:36 +0000

mountainmantride – Could you say “years behind hockey” one more time?
If you’re going to call somebody an idiot, try not to make yourself sound like a complete moron in the process. Or at least put together one sentence that makes sense and makes a point.
Football can have you.

By: tealwithit

tealwithit — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 18:20:21 +0000

Yep I hear you. When I see people that keep saying “Get rid of the teams that are losing money,” I can’t help but want to remind them that more than half of the league is losing money. I wouldn’t mind losing a couple of teams, but I’m pretty sure the NHLPA would put up a fight.
And I completely agree that the contract signings this summer were absurd and disingenuous. I really don’t understand why the owners did that, knowing that it would bite them in the *ss during these negotiations, except that they wanted to lock some guys up in long deals before the new CBA potentially limits contract lengths. But I also think the players and agents were aware of the upcoming CBA situation, and the likelihood of pay cuts, so they negotiated even higher salaries (and signing bonuses).

By: mountainmantride

mountainmantride — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 02:50:29 +0000

Let’s do the “Simple math,” freakin’ again.
For those of you especially “yearsbehindhockey,” (what a name, you just can’t make this stuff up.)
111 million. NFL viewers.
3.3 million NHL viewers.
NHL joke.
Not even on the radar screen of sports. Yet, yet, there’s the big bruhaha about a few million bucks. Whatever.
NHL done.
Find a new sport dude. (soooo, you are indeed “years behind hockey.” So fitting that the idiot who yaps here is “years behind hockey.” Yup you ARE years behind hockey. Wake up. It’s 2012, not 1972.

By: manchestermiracle

manchestermiracle — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 18:38:22 +0000

I’m not sure that’s a solution, but what we have right now sure as hell isn’t working….

By: manchestermiracle

manchestermiracle — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 18:33:05 +0000

What Bettman is really missing is a little farther down….Two of ‘em, to be exact…

By: tealwithit

tealwithit — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 15:27:31 +0000

How is that an appropriate response to what I said? I wasn’t even defending the owners… Just explaining why Bettman would continually say the league is bringing in record revenue, even though operating income is a different story. What part of that is full of crap? I’m not the one making wild accusations without providing any factual support. And I’m firmly in the middle – I think the owners suck too. I just happen to think it’s a good idea to know both sides of the story, and one of those sides is harder to find/understand than the other.
For the record, stating a fact that supports the argument of one side or the other does not mean that I have chosen a side. Please stop saying I’m full of sh*t just because you don’t like hearing anything that isn’t blindly pro-NHLPA.
(p.s. Anybody else see the resemblance to the GOP Convention? I could be watching too much of The Daily Show.)

By: hockeydon10

hockeydon10 — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 11:50:55 +0000

@sampulls

Stop derping. The players have budged on their cut. Their current offer has them dropping down to 52.3% over a few years, with more room left to negotiate.

The owners want an immediate kickback on the contracts they offered and signed with the players. The players aren’t budging from that. And rightly so.

By: hockeydon10

hockeydon10 — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 11:47:20 +0000

First, Ask Savard if the players take no risk.

Second, the league MADE THE RULES OF THE CBA THAT JUST EXPIRED. Then, they immediately went about finding ways to circumvent the rules.

Third, the players are willing to see their share drop. Their current offer ends up dropping down to 52.3%, with more negotiation room. The owners want an immediate kickback from the contracts they offered and signed (and shook hands on).

By: yearsbehindhockey

yearsbehindhockey — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 11:41:52 +0000

sooooo where is the equation supporting your statement that the nhl is a joke? adding numbers to a post doesnt make it math. all this does is confirm what everyone already knows. the nfl,nba,and mlb are more popular in america than the nhl, and as such more or less validates them being ‘in an uproar over a few million bucks’.

By: savior72

savior72 — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 10:20:24 +0000

Notice to the NHLPA & Bettman- Stop with the B.S., we’re smarter than to buy what you’re selling. Both sides are losers. I will not be supporting the NHL in any way, shape or form when you do get this greedfest worked out. So you can just go factor that in to your negotiations to make up for lost revenue from me.

By: atwatercrushesokoye

atwatercrushesokoye — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 08:17:17 +0000

Why do the owners not create a reasonable revenue sharing plan between the teams like the 3 other major leagues have? Or move or contract teams that are in markets that don’t make sense? Phoenix loses a little over $24 million per year and have lost money every single year since they relocated in 1996 yet Gary Bettman (the owners hand picked representative) fights tooth and nail to keep the franchise there, why should it all be on the players to try and make these markets work?

By: atwatercrushesokoye

atwatercrushesokoye — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 08:07:26 +0000

Yeah but the owners crushed the players last time and ended up with basically everything they wanted, it’s not the players fault that as soon as the ink was dry the owners immediately started trying to find ways to get around the system to one up each other.

The other point about “getting over 7 years ago” well if the players just cave this time that will be two times in a row and every time the CBA expires the owners will just go forth with the lockout to “reset” things knowing that the players will give in. Meanwhile the real problem with the sport is the disparity in revenue and income and until the owners create a reasonable revenue sharing plan between themselves the economics of the game will always be broken.

By: tatdue

tatdue — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 07:01:33 +0000

@sharksfanatic – Although Fehr was used as general council on the MLBPA previous, he worked under executive director Marvin Miller. Fehr was not named executive director until 1985. As executive director he successfully led the MLBPA through the 1994 Major League Baseball strike (one strike). On June 22, 2009, Fehr announced he would step down which he did on his own decision and even picked his own successor….1994 until 2009 is a long time with no stoppages under his watch and still none to this day….He did the players in baseball a lot of good so you’re going to have to try again on that one buddy….

By: tatdue

tatdue — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 06:33:48 +0000

Then fix the contract problems. There’s no need for the cash grab… That’s what is holding things up…greed killing hockey…owner style…

By: tatdue

tatdue — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 06:29:21 +0000

@tealwithit – You are absolutely so full of crap, it is so pathetic. If I didn’t know better I’d swear you were Daly himself with all the bull crap you utter trying to get sympathy for the owners. Most people are all to aware of what’s really going on. Big guys pushing little guys around just to get more money… that $3.3 billion is just too tempting…

By: sampulls

sampulls — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 05:02:58 +0000

Hmmm…teams are losing money…..players know it and admit it….yet the will not budge on their cut….what more evidence do you need?

By: paperkid96

paperkid96 — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 04:35:20 +0000

Tealwithit- here we are again. Yes a couple teams need to fold. Probably 2. Pheonix and Columbus bleed $30 million a year between the two of them (based on 2010 numbers I have seen). That takes the the TV revenue and spreads it to fewer teams. The players do need to concede some money here, and a phasing into a more even split shouldn’t be unreasonable. essentially freezing the cap until the split evens. The floor needs to go away as well. It inflates salaries for the wrong reasons. The agents exploit this weakness.

What I don’t like about the NHL and Owners is how disingenuous they have been. Claiming to hate the current CBA and how its killing them, yet not once checking them self this offseason. The way money was flying around now makes sense. The owners never once had the intention of paying those salaries.

By: firemarshal1

firemarshal1 — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 04:13:51 +0000

No Fans equals NO REVENUE, which means no salaries for players. Who wins, NO ONE. Oh wait, the fans WIN, we save our hard earned money. Hmm, just saying. Tic, toc, that’s your NHL career passing you bye.

As fans, we need to call Comcast, Directv, and Dish Network demanding a partially monthly refund for no NHL games on the NBC Sports Network.

This way the fans don’t get screwed by the players or owners.

By: mountainmantride

mountainmantride — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 04:09:32 +0000

Why the NHL is a joke. Simple Math:

A little math summary for you hockey fans…last February’s Super Bowl was seen by 111 million people and the World Series and NBA Finals each averaged more than 16 million viewers.

Now, here’s what we have in the NHL, all feisty and such about their money and contracts and CBA and whatever else…So let’s compare…

Tampa Bay’s win over Calgary in the 2004 Stanley Cup finals averaged 3.3 million viewers on ABC and ESPN,

Carolina’s victory over Edmonton in 2006 averaged 2.8 million on NBC and OLN.

Viewers rose to 5.2 million on NBC and Versus when Chicago beat Philadelphia in 2010. (wow that’s cool, big number eh, 5.2 million. Whew I’m nearly overwhelmed).

Opps, next year viewership (NHL fans that is, probably you) then fell to 4.6 million on the same networks for Boston’s victory over Vancouver in 2011. Remember hockey fans that series was the “bite series” compliments of dick-head Burrows who actually bit another player’s hand. He bit him. And THAT’S hockey? Come on.

Oh, oh…and then 3 million on NBC and the NBC Sports Network for Los Angeles’ win over New Jersey this year.

Sooo now, let’s see just how much a JOKE the NHL really is (recap)…just for comparison with other leagues, last February’s Super Bowl was seen by 111 million people and the World Series and NBA Finals each averaged more than 16 million viewers.

So let me get this straight: the players and owners are all in an uproar over a few million bucks. Whatever. Please, people move on. The NFL has some great games this weekend. Quit giving these idiots your time and money. It’s time. Really. It’s time. Change the channel. I know, I know it hurts to learn the truth. But it is time to move on from the this silly stuff. Come on now. Move on. The owners and players don’t give a rats “butt” about you. It’s time. Move on. Watch something else until these morons get a grip on the MATH. Duh.

By: dlk75150

dlk75150 — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 03:06:48 +0000

Aren’t the owners the ones who take the risk. Don’t most owners of businesses we work for make the rules. I don’t get the striking bs in a league where most teams struggle for fans. Get this done so those of us who love the game can watch their team.

By: sporkov

sporkov — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 02:53:16 +0000

For 2010-2011, the most recent season with data available, 18 of 30 lost money before they had to pay loans and take loss on depreciation. So, by your theory we would have at best a 12 team league and more likely somewhere between 6 and 10 teams. Do you really think that would work?

By: tealwithit

tealwithit — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 02:51:37 +0000

Your solution is to do away with the teams that aren’t turning a profit? Sure, why not. An NHL with 12 teams sounds like a lot of fun.

By: tealwithit

tealwithit — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 02:40:37 +0000

Exactly. Bettman was boasting about record revenue in order to shine a positive light on the NHL and make it more attractive to corporate sponsors and media networks. Declaring the league’s financial struggles would have done absolutely no good at the time.

By: jmebro

jmebro — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 02:36:39 +0000

Boycott the NHL!

By: elemeno89

elemeno89 — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 02:15:20 +0000

only disliking this because im a sabres fan. but actually, i find this hilarious. haha, kudos brother.

By: bct11554

bct11554 — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 02:03:44 +0000

Bettman is running this league into the ground. He would have a big set to ever step in front of the fans again

By: sharksfanatic

sharksfanatic — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 01:40:46 +0000

As a frame of reference, average NHL salary has gone from about $1.7 million in 2003 to $2.4 Million in 2011. Doesn’t sound like the last contract was too bad for them.

By: neelyisgod

neelyisgod — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 01:02:42 +0000

I didnt even know Bettman had an Adams Apple. ” Cockstoppers” are only found in men.

By: thedavesiknowiknow

thedavesiknowiknow — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 00:51:15 +0000

I think amateur women’s volleyball and poker took care of that during the last lockout. Toddler beauty pageants are next to trump the NHL.

By: thedavesiknowiknow

thedavesiknowiknow — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 00:48:31 +0000

That seems to be the popular opinion around here. Are you speaking about the 10 owners who have the luxury of a market that cares about hockey, or the 20 who have to meet an inflated cap floor to entertain “hundreds” of “semi-exited” people who got their tickets for free?