For those looking for glimmers of hope that we'll see NHL hockey before Christmas, Comcast’s Chuck Gormley reported this morning that there have been “substantive” talks between NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly and NHLPA special counsel Steve Fehr and that they may possibly lead to face to face discussions at the bargaining table.
In an email to Shelly Anderson of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Daly wrote, “Steve and I had a substantive call [Tuesday]. Don’t yet know what, if anything, will come of it.”
Both sides are likely taking into consideration the apathetic reaction of the media and fans that is a stark contrast from the last lockout in 2004. Eight years ago, there was recognition that the issues separating the two camps were of great importance and would take significant movement to reach an agreement. When the season was finally cancelled, fans were upset, but not so much that they refused to come back when the game returned in the fall of ’05,
The general feeling this time is frustration, disdain and aggravation, mostly due to the fact that the difference is not about free agency, arbitration or revenue sharing, but a few percentage points difference in splitting up over $3 Billion in annual hockey related revenue and that the fans will not be so quick to come back to the game if the lockout causes the season to be cancelled.
The news continues to be on a negative track, as most observers are expecting the 2013 Winter Classic between the Maple Leafs and Red Wings to be cancelled later today or tomorrow, but critics like ESPN’s Darren Rovell believe that the cancellation is a tactical move to eliminate the popular spectacle from being used as a leverage point by the players.
If there is any truth to substantive progress being made, the actions taken by a number of players over the last few days does not correspond with that trend.
The Leafs Joffrey Lupul announced Tuesday that he will join KHL bottom dweller Avtomobilist in the next week, Kings Stanley Cup winning captain Dustin Brown will join ex-Kings coach Marc Crawford in Zurich, Rangers blueliner Michael Del Zotto has signed with Rapperswill-Jona in the Swiss League and Wild winger Devin Setoguchi has hooked on with the Ontario Reign of the ECHL.
Sharks forward Ryane Clowe is in talks to sign with an ECHL club, while Tampa superstar Steven Stamkos will decide in the next couple weeks whether to play in Europe.
The award for the most exotic and unusual destination goes to Black Hawks defenseman Johnny Oduya, who reportedly is joining a club based in Bangkok, Thailand called the Flying Farangs, made up mostly of Canadian expatriates.
On the Leafs front, recently acquired forward James van Riemsdyk has an offer to play in Finland and rumors persist that if the lockout lasts until into January that ex-KHLer Leo Komarov will head back to Russia.
The 25 year old Estonian has played well so far with the Toronto Marlies, with one goal and two assists in six games, but playing in the AHL was not the reason he signed with Toronto after playing three seasons with Dynamo Moscow and he stated to the press last month that he would take a wait and see approach about where he will play.
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Compliments to Ian Esplen on his column regarding the Leafs and Roberto Luongo and what the Canucks would want for the veteran goaltender.
He mentioned names like Tyler Bozak, Nazem Kadri, Joffrey Lupul. Cody Franson, Jake Gardiner and prospects like Carter Ashton, David Broll, Jerry D’Amigo, Matt Finn or Stuart Percy as possible targets of GM Mike Gillis, which from a Vancouver point of view, makes a lot of sense.
From the Toronto point of view, most or any of those names being involved in a deal for Luongo would be categorized as pure insanity.
It cannot be ignored that Luongo’s contract is a deal killer for most, if not all NHL teams with the possible exception of Toronto. The only way that fact changes is if the new CBA allows cap room to be sent to another team or Vancouver to pick up a portion of the 10 remaining years.
If that is allowable, then a Luongo deal will likely include young assets and could involve a number of teams as Ian described.
Vancouver is going to have to share the financial pain in any deal one way or another and that can be done by taking a short term financial hit by taking back one or two high-salaried players. That would not include Lupul, who will be an essential part of any Toronto effort to make the postseason, but players like Matthew Lombardi, Clarke MacArthur, Tim Connolly or Mike Komisarek, who make $3 Million or more in salary and are expendable.
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