The boys from SiriusXM NHL Network Radio are doing their best to stay on the radio with new content even though many of their guests are bound by the rules of the NHL to not really speak about the lockout.
I've learned more about junior and college hockey than I ever wanted to these last -- what is it now? -- more than 70 days. Everyone's frustration is growing as this thing, that should have never happened, drags on.
Yesterday one of the reports on NHL Network radio was that the Wild (I believe it's the Wild) couldn't take it any longer and have reduced their workforces' paychecks. Add them to ALL the others who have ALREADY either been let go or had their salaries reduced -- just in time for the Holidays. Hey, NHL & NHLPA - Thanks.
Not only is this just a terrible situation for many who can ill afford to be without paychecks, but it also leads me to wonder what sort of employee will fill those positions if and when the NHL actually does come back.
If you know that this happens every five or seven years, would you want to try to make a career out of it? Would the best qualified employees take that risk of working in an industry that can just SHUT DOWN and start laying off people or changing their pay rate? I don't think so.
There are no NHL branded items on my Christmas list this year. Their products are hardly selling. That drop in consumerism effects a long line of workers. It's shameful. So rather than a letter to Santa, here's a letter to the hockey powers-that-be.
Dear Don Fehr: The players should have never received 57% in the first place, so sorry Charlie, you'll have to take closer to 50% in that FIRST year and every year after. Deal with it.
Dear Gary Bettman: Your idiot employers offered up those rediculous contracts they couldn't afford and the signed them. They will have to be honored. Figure it out and... Deal with it.
Dear Players: The gravy train is over. You WILL be taking cuts in pay because you should have never been at the rate you were to begin with. The salary cap will drop considerably because all of you have done such damage to this game that even though the fans will return, it will take time to regain the momentum you had heading into this season. Deal with it.
Meanwhile, there is a photo of basketball on the Islanders main website.
Yeah. That.