We’re now into the second day of the NHL lockout, with no indication that owners and players plan to meet soon. Of course, this means that Kings training camp will not open tomorrow, as scheduled. That’s when the lockout will start to feel real for most people. Then the question becomes, how many days will pass before the NHL starts to cancel preseason games? The Kings are scheduled to play split-squad games against the Phoenix Coyotes next Monday, but unless negotiations resume very soon and include some serious progress, those games are unlikely to be played.
An odd dual universe is taking place. While the lockout is in place, preparations are still taking place for an NHL season. Crews have been working on Staples Center in recent days, putting the dasher boards in place, painting the ice surface, etc., just in case the ice is needed a week from today. Last year, there was a fun celebration involving the ice-surface painting. This year, in what should have been an even bigger celebration, it was done quiet and privately.
Of course, there’s plenty of legitimate debate as to how and why we got here, in terms of the lockout. I’m curious to see which side is drawing the most ire from readers…
The owners got their way the last time this happened. The players probably need to make some concessions regarding revenue sharing but I have never liked Bettman who obviously works for the owners that think they can bully the players again. I’m more with the players this time around and blame the lockout on owners who are just too greedy.
I’m tired of this happening too often in the NHL world and would probably become less interested in NHL hockey if I happened to be a newer and slightly more casual fan.
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Turner Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 10:07 am
I run a business and pay my employees for their work and production (Player Contracts). Why would I consider sharing profits with them too? If I do not pay my employees enough or they are unhappy, they are free to find something else.
Unions suck !!
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TheAcaciaStrain Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 10:21 am
@Turner, Unions do suck, but the owners are being complete hippocrites here. They dish out monster contracts and then lobby for them to be reduced and capped. Look at Boston owners and Minnesota owners, they are the biggest offenders in these cases.
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IceGuy Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 10:26 am
@Turner,
What is it your employees actually do?
What is your product?
Do you sell an item that the public purchases, or do you primarily sell your employee’s talents, i.e. temp agency, auto repair, management or Public Relations assistance?
In the NHL, the Players are the Product.
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Gustavo Reply:
September 18th, 2012 at 2:08 pm
@IceGuy,
Who cares?
The employee or product can risk his own dime to build the infrastructure needed to sell itself.
Crown Royal Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 10:26 am
@Turner,
As a sports fan you must find it difficult then to support the NFL, MLB, and NBA who all share revenues with players. I doubt the NFL owners would garner much interest from fans if they played the sport themselves on Sundays instead of the players who risk permanent injury to their bodies during their brief professional lifespans.
Fans want to see the superstars and best players. The owners of all these sports could try ignoring that concept and pay players (any players) to represent their teams on the playing field. I believe if that idea worked, the owners would be most happy to try. The owners do not pay these players millions and share revenue with them out of the kindness of their hearts, but rather because it’s profitable for them. Even when they sometimes fail to make money it’s a huge ego trip for them to get the publicity that goes with owning a team.
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deadcatbounce Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 11:54 am
@Crown Royal, The owners drew a line in the sand and said that there was a definite deadline. Of course the players would wnt play under the same CBA as before, but that would take any leverage the owners had away and the owners aren’t stupid in that sense. If you don’t think the players wsould have played until March and then went out on strike then you’re naive. They don’t get played for the playoffs, so there would have been no financial incentive for the players to continue to play. They say the right things, but I feel that the players are more interested in making a few hundred thousand more than in winning the Stanley Cup. Screw both sides.\
Crown city simtom Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 12:54 pm
@Crown Royal, Thank you for stating that. And unions don’t suck.
tk Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 10:32 am
@Turner, The players are not “employees,” nobody goes to your business specifically for your employees. THe ONLY businesses that work that way are sports and sales. Guess what, in both “employees” get compensated directly to the revenue they generate by their employement and rigthfully so.
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Cathy Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 10:39 am
@Turner, I agree. They are the employees and at the end of the day there is no sport without owners. Owners put up all the up front money, salaries, venues etc. These players are overpaid as it is and get revenue share, bonuses, endorsements etc. Get over it come back to the table and let’s get the season started. Do they care about how many people will be out of work if the season doesn’t start, who depend on their salaries to feed their families znd aren’t making 7mil a year. Enough already..
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Crown Royal Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 10:44 am
@Cathy,
Was it the players who locked out the owners?
deadcatbounce Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 11:50 am
@Cathy, I tend to agree with you in that the owners are the ones taking the financial risk. Even so, it’s pretty stupid when you sign someone for $100,000,000 for forever and then ask the players to save you from yourself. The owners are getting screwed, though, because if they did try to reign in salaries on their own the union would file a collusion grievance against them so fast it would make your head spin.
SDGolfer Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 2:06 pm
@Cathy, Your’e right, its all about the owners. every time i go tho the games, I’m amazes me at all the Anschutz jerseys I see.
Show me one person who goes to a professional sporting event to see the Owner.
CAA Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 1:52 pm
@Turner, My comment – the players should deal and compromise, but one of their sticking points should be this: Fire Gary Bettman or force him to resign. He’s done NOTHING to the sport of hockey except expand into crappy markets like Dallas and Phoenix and Atlanta.
Players will deal, but Bettman has to go…
THAT sounds like a good start
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SDGolfer Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 3:46 pm
@Turner, whats the name of your company?
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McSorleyfan Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 9:08 pm
@Turner, As a union guy I have to say, it’s too bad our Unions are so necessary. Weekends- brought to you by Unions, as are lunch breaks, any sort of health insurance, breaks, the 40 hr work week, overtime compensation, shift differential, etc. We exist because the need exists; without us workers would have no voice. If certain folks dislike our presence, we must be doing something right. But in this case Ownership tied salaries to revenue; they refused to continue with defecit spending last time and imposed a cap. They subsequently engaged in a bidding war against each other and now wish to forward the costs back to the players. They had it all their way last negotiation; it’s time for ownership to pay the piper. Fight On Kevin Westgarth!
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SDGolfer Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 9:39 pm
@McSorleyfan, This turner guy would just as soon have his employees work 80 hour weeks for 2 dollars a day, in a sweltering warehouse. it’s a pathetic attitude he has towards his employees.
JD Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 10:33 pm
@Turner, you sound like such a nice person
Stay classsy
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McSorleyfan Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 8:58 pm
@Crown Royal, Agreed 100%.
I forsee a lot more Big Screen and a lot less seat time in my hockey future as well.
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I blame the owners.. Bad lending ripples and resonates further than the eye can see. Don’t sign Kovulchoke to an astronomically bone headed amount of money if you’re still still getting payouts from the NHL.
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Mikey Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 9:20 am
@Mikey, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/19/new-jersey-devils-takeover-nhl_n_1610160.html
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Scarletcat Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 10:14 am
@Mikey,
That’s NHL ownership 101 happening right there in Newark.
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Who cares anymore? Both sides are to blame. This is why the NHL will continue to be at the bottom of the food chain when it comes to major sports. Good job to both sides for confirming that. Now I have plenty of time to watch football.
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Krystal Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 11:11 am
@Granato,
LOL! GR8 POINT! Tho I still blame the owners. There is no game without the players. And yup, this just allows for more X 2 watch ftball. Go Packers and Bears!
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McDonalds Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 1:51 pm
@Krystal,
interesting favorite two teams you got there…
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Ldc7hockey Reply:
September 18th, 2012 at 11:24 am
Yep, time to commit my sports dollars to football…….
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Please let us know as soon as possible when the Frozen Fury is cancelled…..need to cancel reservations. So disappointed we will not be making our annual trip, has been a family tradition since game 1
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Eric Reply:
September 18th, 2012 at 7:59 am
@Kingsfanforlife, Same for me…. Plane tickets ready… Hotel ready… Family ready…. That sucks!!!!
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Ldc7hockey Reply:
September 18th, 2012 at 11:23 am
We are in the same boat as you……….I hope they give us some notice. I was talking to Darryl Evans the other day…He said it was more than likely the FF would be cancelled. Of course he is not 100% positive.
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Randy S Reply:
September 18th, 2012 at 1:21 pm
@Kingsfanforlife,
Yep…there are many of us in the same boat. Lots of reservations to cancel.
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There is another choice needed….Bettman!
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858King Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 9:55 am
@Chris F., Bettman works for the owners. They tell him what to do
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The insanity of this is off the charts. The NHL is on a roll. Revenues up 50%, awesome new network contract and partnership with NBC, popularity at an all-time high. The greediness and shortsightedness of this is unfathomable. Oh and did I mention that they are totally blowing my Stanley Cup buzz?
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Krystal Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 11:14 am
@Krusher, I AGREE!!! This is a total buzz-kill!!! But the KINGS ROCK!!!!!!!
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Rich,
Could you please check and report on two things -
1. The cancellation day for Frozen Fury (many of us have reservation that we would need to cancel)
2. An explanation of the refund options presented to Kings season ticket holders. You need an attorney to figure it out, and I ain’t got one.
Thanks!
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MmmmYummy Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 11:02 am
@DesertKing, A#2:
“The Kings and Ducks said season-ticket holders who keep money with the team will receive a 5% annual percentage interest rate and credit for all games missed. Season-ticket holders who prefer an immediate refund for games missed will get that refund plus 1% interest.”
- Helene Elliott
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-0917-elliott-nhl-lockout-20120917,0,5463616.story
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its easy to blame the owners. they got everything they wanted last time around, and now they say their system is flawed. they are the ones who gave the go ahead on contracts that were blatant circumventions of their cap and their CBA. I also blame the owners for keeping Gary Bettman in charge for this long. Unfortunately, i see no end in sight, i am looking at the glass is completely empty here. no pre season, no frozen fury, no regular season, no banner, no playoffs, no CUP. i hope im wrong.
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The billionaires feuding with the millionaires, each of them sustained by the voiceless ‘thousandaires’… it’s past time for both sides to put the rhetoric away.
While there is plenty of “blame” to go around, I do think a contract is a contract, and if you can’t afford it, you shouldn’t extend it. I am not unsympathetic to the owners and their overhead, but if you don’t want to spend it, don’t contract to do so. Players should NOT have to take a pay cut when the industry has grown by ~50% during the duration of the pro-owner CBA; their might be a situation where the players might have to do so, but this situation isn’t it.
My 2 cents.
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KingsFan on EastCoastTime Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 9:43 am
*there might be
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None of the Above… There needs to be an option for GARY BETTMAN!!! 3 Lockouts since he got here in 1993? RIDICULOUS!!! He needs to be FIRED!!!
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Kingsfanforlife Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 10:14 am
@McGhee23, I think we ALLn agree
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Both are to blame obviously, but more so the players. They delayed negotiations until August and now are not moving from their initial offer, while the owners have moved significantly from their original offer. Where is the give and take? Where is the negotiating? The players are being stubborn and greedy.
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I’ve had enough. I am tired of millionaires arguing about money while us fans suffer. I am a season ticket holder & I will sell my tickets this year game by game & I will not renew next year. I don’t care who’s fault it is – screw them all!!!!
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Crown Royal Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 10:35 am
@Howe9,
I side more with the players about this but I understand your frustration. The fans are the ones who are suffering. I’m pretty sick of this crap myself.
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Cathy Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 10:40 am
@Howe9, I’m with you on this one.
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Kings&Trojans Reply:
September 18th, 2012 at 4:27 pm
@Howe9, I’d be happy to buy your tickets! We all complain and gripe now, but by the time hockey comes back so will we. The longer this lockout goes the more I want to get back to games. If you’re serious about selling those tickets let me know, perhaps I can get a student discount? lol
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In a a failed negotiation both sides have to take responsibility. The two sides spent too little time in face to face negotiating and have done little beyond pushing their own agendas. And now we get this ludicrous pandering to the fans via video and photo op from the players and NHL as if we are all 12 year old. I don’t care about all their whiny expectations.
The NHLPA and NHL have both failed miserably and now we, the fans, face the prospect of a shallow shortened season at best or no season at all.
But hey, it’s the principle of the thing…Right?
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I am finding the “blame” angle so tedious in our society. Just sit in a friggin’ room until you figure it out. None of you exist without the fans, so make fans #1, sit down until you figure the stuff out. AND FAST PLEASE
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I voted owners. Why? The last contract gave the owners everything they wanted vis-a-vis financial structure, “cost assurance” and a hard player salary cap. In the time that contract ran, the NHL made money – a lot of money.
Owners (then): “Give us everything we demand so we can make money.”
Players did. Owners make money.
Owners (now): “Give us everything we demand so we can make (more) money.”
Players: “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.”
What I find amazing is that Phoenix (owned by the NHL) hands out a $21M contract to Shane Doan. This is financially responsible? Where is that money coming from? It sure isn’t via ticket sales. Phoenix is what’s wrong with this whole situation. The NHL as 2 maybe 3 franchises that are not being supported by their markets. THAT is what the Lock Out is about. Covering the asses of poorly managed/placed teams. The simple answer is move them or loose them and relieve the financial burden on everyone.
By example, look what has happened to GM and Ford. Financial crisis. Not making profits, Something has to change. Both bite the bullet and cut loose Pontiac, Oldsmobile and Mercury car lines. Company profits begin to improve.
For me, the bottom line here is that the Owners are looking to make the Players pay for the financial mistakes that Owners have made. Look at the two recent contracts Minnesota signed. Look at the Kovalchuk deal. No one put a gun to the heads of the Owners and forced them to make those deals. They chose to do it themselves.
Owners: ” You guys have to save us from ourselves! We’re not smart businessmen. We have no self control.”
Should there be actual negotiations that see BOTH sides compromise? Yes.
The Owner’s position seems to be that a Lock Out worked for them last time -they got everything they wanted. Let’s do it again, product be damned.
That’s a business model, using the auto industry metaphor again, that announces: “We’re not going to sell Chevys anymore until we get all the concessions we demand form the our Workers. We’re prepared to not sell our cars for a year. That’s the way we’ll make more profits.”
If I need/want a Chevy (hockey) and it’s not available (Lock Out) I’ll buy something else (other disposable income entertainment) to satisfy me. You know, driving that new Ford (NFL/NBA/MLB/NASCAR) feels pretty good.
Yup, that’s the way to make money, you betcha.
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Both sides are at fault. Players are to blame for wanting more. Owners are to blame for wanting to take even more. Keys to this is the Hockey Related Revenue. Players are the product used to sell the game. Owners front money to pay salaries. Something will give. I propose this. Owners take 55% of revenue players 45%. Each year revenue goes up revenue for players and owners is split. Move entry level contracts to 4 years base salary of 550K-1.5M per season. Eliminate restricted free agency. Max player contract length no more that 7 years max. That way a player that comes into the league at age 20 lets say plays first contract until age 24. Second contract (prime years) until age 31 (7 years max up 15% of teams total salary).
Also move Phoenix to a real hockey market. Fire Bettman. Let me enjoy the Kings raise the Stanley Cup banner at Staples Center.
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gralx Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 10:39 am
@Hockey Jesus, As a Kings fan that lives in Phoenix, my view may be slanted but can offer an alternative option. The problem is NOT that there is a team in Phoenix. It is supported well when the playoffs are around, etc. The problem is the location within Phoenix. Move the team downtown to the same building the Suns play in. Yes, there are some sight-line issues at one end of the building. But, if you eliminate those seats from sale there is no issue. Besides, the eliminated seats represent far fewer seats that those that sit empty on a Thursday night game in Glendale. The money in this town is all in what is known as the “East Valley”. (Scottsdale included in that umbrella) The arena is in the far northeast corner of metro Phoenix. If the arena were downtown, I would go to more games that just those that involve the Kings. I know I am not alone in this view of the problem.
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gralx Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 10:40 am
@gralx, ^^^^^ the arena is in the northWEST corner of PHX
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Dave's a Killer Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 11:00 am
@gralx,
I don’t buy the location issue. How many fans live close to the Staples Center? With traffic, parking, etc it is not a simple commute to a Kings game.
People will come if they perceive value for their entertainment dollar. The playoff attendance is proof. I would guess that the Coyotes will have an increase in attendance (or would have if there was a season!) simply because of their playoff success. After that, their success will be the main factor in attendance.
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PRMan Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 12:29 pm
@Dave’s a Killer, I live in a city next door to Anaheim and I make it to about 3-4 Kings games a year. That’s a 30-mile drive each way. There are people that drive in to Kings games from San Diego and Vegas. If you are committed, you will go.
Jamesonafterawin Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 2:43 pm
@Dave’s a Killer, I live in San Diego, 15-25 games a season for the last 8 years. Very few of them weekend games. Save, beg, borrow and sometimes steal both money and paid vacation for two to be able to go to these games.
5 to the 10 to the 110. 122 miles one way. And have missed 3 televised games in the last 19 seasons.
On a side note, Thanks allot NHL. Yes, siding with the player’s this time.
I have my reason, nothing that hasn’t been said, no need to repeat.
And thank you Rich for giving us a proper place to vent, as the NHL won’t.
Obviously a lot of blame can and should be laid at the owners feet… BUT the PA needs to be pushing for contraction and embrace it. Less teams = less failing teams. Sacrifice a few for the good of the greater. the select few that deserve to make to the big league can be paid big league. The other 4th liners on the contracted teams become lifers in the AHL or elsewhere…no shame in that. not everybody gets a trophy at the end of the day!
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Also guaranteed contracts for players should not be eliminated. If a GM screws up overvaluing a players worth they are stuck with the contract. If a buyout takes place it should be 50% buyout over half of the length of contract. For example Player A signs contract for 4 years at 3.5 per year. Buyout would be 1.75M (50%) then spread out over 4 years ($437,000 per year CAP hit) I think it’s pretty similar to what is in place now.
Players are not to blame for taking that money. If owners are dumb enough to overvalue then they are on the hook for it.
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Just wait until Fehr proposes an agreement without a salary cap.
No hockey until January at the soonest.
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Rich,
Any thoughts on how this is going to affect guys like you, TV and Radio guys, Trainers, Coaches, Etc.? Are any of the folks described above on guaranteed contracts or are they “at will” employees who don’t get paid if the don’t do thier job (no job to do right now)?
I’d be interested in seeing a post on all the other lives that are affected.
Thanks,
Kevin
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As in most negotiating, both parties start high (players) and start low (owners) because they know they will have to give concessions and hopefully arrive in the middle somewhere. You don’t start with your best offer so to speak. Of course this depends on the two sides having roughly the same amount of leverage.
So with that, I don’t blame the players for coming out and asking for as much as they have. Realistically they know it’s a starting number that they’ll have to come down from. Just like the NHL came out with very low numbers to start.
The issue is, neither side seems to be making a good faith offer. The NHL basically asked for the same exact thing, just in a different format. (Escrow vs. Roll back) That pretty much shows they weren’t interested in bargaining and was more of an insult than anything else. Since the NHL wasn’t showing any signs of giving an inch, the PA offered a similar response which wasn’t much of a change from their original proposal. It feels like whoever gives a truly good faith proposal is going to lose…so neither is.
In the short term, the owners have the leverage. They have other sources of income and know the players are likely to flinch first since they have a limited window where they can earn income from hockey. It’s all going to come down to if the players are willing to go the long run over this. Even then, I fear they will have to give in first and ultimately this lockout will not benefit them.
Let’s hope that doesn’t happen and the egos can knock off this stare down crap and actually make an effort to make a decent deal that will keep us from going through this again in 5-7 years.
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Mark Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 1:43 pm
@Mudfish4, Well said! NHL set the tone with what amounts to a dictating, take it or leave it posture, with claims of fostering a climate for negotiations! Comments from Bettman on revenue sharing being a distraction closes the door on creative negotiations. Bettman can’t control the power coursing through his veins. What a jerk! Looks like the PA will need to give a little more in order to open that door again.
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Let me be devil’s advocate for a second.
but if the owners got what they wanted last year and revenue has increased, and even though there is a hard paycap in place players are making WAY more money
then why are the owners the bad guys again?
I think both are to blame, dont get me wrong. Players had a YEAR (or so?) to review the proposal before starting in august.
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Lake Forest Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 10:49 am
@Lake Forest, last year = last cba
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PRMan Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 12:32 pm
@Lake Forest, The owners are perceived to be the bad guys because despite saying that 12 teams made money and 18 lost, all the teams are still spending like drunken sailors right up until the lockout, even those with “no money” that are bankrupt, nearly bankrupt or owned by the league.
This makes it appear that they are doing just fine and aren’t really hurting as much as they say.
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What’s really frustrating is that it seems neither side cared about negotiating to save this season or future seasons. I wish Gary Bettman had the leadership skills of NASCAR owner Rick Hendrick who sat Jimmie Johnson down with his crew chief Chad Knaus after a season which they were bickering. He gave them a plate of cookies and some milk and told them if they were going to act like children here’s some milk and cookies, “Work it out.” 5 championships later… That’s what the NHL is missing, LEADERSHIP for the game.
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Let's do it again Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 11:13 am
@Mike J., I agree , the fact that they just straight up don’t care about the fans is what makes me mad. Looks like I’m going to a lot of Ontario Regien games this year.
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Let's do it again Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 11:15 am
@Let’s do it again, *reign
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Currently the NHL/Owners get my nomination for most ire. They run and created a poor business model and expect the players to further subsdize their poor business model with player salaries!? Crazy. And this too from LAT:
“Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly talked to Steve Fehr, special counsel for the NHL Players’ Assn., but Daly said Sunday he expected things to be quiet for the next 24 to 48 hours in deference to the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashana, which began at sundown.”
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-0917-elliott-nhl-lockout-20120917,0,5463616.story
I don’t think the players are having any issues resolving business during Rosh Hashana. Just my guess.
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I look at Shea Webber’s signing bonus, Evander Kane making 5 million a year and I can’t just blame the owners, I even see mediocre players making 4 million a year. I’d rather some of those jabronis take a pay cut then the fans having to shell out even more money to cover the owners operating costs.
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fsd1 Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 11:47 am
@Puckn-A, but the owners agreed/offered those terms. How can you blame a player for taking an offer like that?
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I blame Anthony.
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I think it’s time we stop buying into the dance the NHLPA and the owners are doing. It’s obvious they wanted a lockout as a bargaining tool, so now that they are “officially” locked out, it’s time to stop putting on these shows and get to business.
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i’m blaming the owners for two reasons. firstly the big money-makers -nyr, toronto, and others are dead-set against helping out their more impoverished siblings. normally i’d agree, being a die-hard capitalist, but there’s a clear correlation between having a healthy and competitive league and increased revenue for everyone. and secondly, the players haven’t created the financial problems the league struggles with, irresponsible owners have, the players have merely asked for and accepted big contracts and more money when it was offered.
the players certainly aren’t blameless and it’s hard to feel for guys being paid a lot of money to play a game but my feeling is it’s much more the nhl’s fault then the nhlpa’s.
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Anyone who says the players are to blame for this is an abject imbicile. Anyone who says the players are greedy – they make enough money – doesn’t deserve to breath air on this earth. This also goes for anyone who thinks ‘both parties are equally responsible’. You muppets are so ill-informed. If you don’t understand the process of the CBA or the ensuing negotiations – keep your pie hole shut and just say “I don’t care who’s to blame…I just want to see hockey”. At least you’d be forgiven your stupidity!
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Gmo Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 10:18 pm
@Mucker
Is this Zack Parise?
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Gustavo Reply:
September 18th, 2012 at 2:14 pm
@Mucker,
A little anger management therapy would help you place your frustration on the true causes of this lockout, not your fellow bloggers who have to put up with unprovoked insulting diatribes like yours. I hope you feel better, soon.
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The lockout once again is all about money – no one seems to have enough. The owners want more the players want more and the only people not getting more are the fans. Well actually the fans get to PAY more for tix each year. Both sides are so greedy they dont give a hoot about the fans who spend their hard earned dollars to suppost their teams. When all both sides can see are dollars and fight to keep the lions share -common sense seems to go by the wayside. Why not take the additional money that they are arguing about and use it to bring down prices of tix and concessions? Prove to the world that hockey does care about its fans and wants to do something for them for a change. I dont believe hockey can survive another strike or missed season.
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I personally find the NHLPA to be a joke. The existence of the union is nice, but lets be honest none of the players are hurting for money. They feel incredibly entitled to that 57% considering players in all the other major sports leagues make less than 50%.
If the players are willing to lose seasons of their careers for a more “fair” deal then why are they all so willing to quickly sign overseas for, at most, 65% of their current NHL salaries?
I didn’t realize playing in North America was is bad that they need these massive contracts to make it worth it.
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