Don't forget Stanley Cup Final TV ratings are on a downward trend Mr. Buttman. You're so clearly managing the growth of the game... Maybe it's you and your lawyerly friends who are trying to dictate to the economics how they "should" work (in your opinion) when you pay no attention to how they actually work.
- sniperIX

I would say send it back to them, but they'd probably resell it and they already raped my wallet for it in the first place. The symbolism would be lost on those turds. They only want your money.

Teams like the Islanders don't qualify for revenue sharing
- brodydog29

I know that, I just didn't feel the need to list all of the teams that potentially qualify. I was hoping everyone reading would understand "low-revenue" was a proxy for "small-market" since generally they're one and the same - but apparently not everyone got that.

Why does your Aug 16 poll about the fans and the lockout only =98%?
- blufferkid

No surprise here.

off the top of my head brad richards, paul kariya. dont act like this does not happen
- joshs

Richards had a maximum reported offer of 9/64 from Calgary; he ended up taking 9/60 from the Rangers. $4 million over 9 years hardly constitutes taking dramatically less than market value.

Kariya took significantly below market value one (1) time - in 2003-04, when he went to Colorado to play alongside Selanne. It was also a deal that (A) came after the Ducks decided not to tender him a qualifying offer at $10 million, thus making him UFA, and (B) made him UFA at season's end, because he would have been making less than the average league salary and he had at least 10 pro seasons under his belt.

So, at best you've cited one (1) example. I'll even give you Tomas Vokoun [coming off a contract with Florida paying him over $5 million per, he took only $1.5 million to play for Washington last year]. That's two (2) examples; surely you've got more.

Eklund: Important Day. NHL To Present New Offer. Sides May Break for a Week or More
- Eklund

Any update on that Bruins signing?

Long time listener, first time caller...

Long time listener, first time caller...
- iknowbest

Welcome!!

Welcome!!
- Flyers_1488

Thank you. Glad to be here. I'm ready for a good time.

Don't forget Stanley Cup Final TV ratings are on a downward trend Mr. Buttman. You're so clearly managing the growth of the game... Maybe it's you and your lawyerly friends who are trying to dictate to the economics how they "should" work (in your opinion) when you pay no attention to how they actually work.
- sniperIX

http://en.wikipedia.org/w...Finals_television_ratings

The data suggests (A) the average rating has increased post-lockout [with 2007 going way down, followed by increases in 2008, 2009 and 2010], (B) 2011's Game 7 pulling in the highest rating for any televised hockey game in the U.S. since 1973, and (C) 2012's average 3 million viewers was still a 66.7% increase over 2007's average of 1.8 million viewers who showed up to see Anaheim take out Ottawa in 5 games.

This comes in a period of time where ratings for the World Series have been nearly cut in half since the 1994 strike, and where no WS since 1996 has topped 1993's then-low 17.4 rating. Hell, last year's Game 7 [the first once since 2002] only brought in a 14.7, which is easily the lowest rating for any Game 7 in World Series history.

That is called a "downward trend." Ratings for the Finals on a downward trend? Only if you think 2 points makes a trend and ignore the prior 3 which were clearly on the upswing.

Just doing his job pointing out players make too much money.....
- Alexzanki

Bettman made almost $8 Million last year-and never even broke a sweat or spent a penny on public speaking lessons, cause let's face it....he's a joke to listen to and always comes across like a weasel or someone I wouldn't let near my kids....

It's sad that the commissioner of a great sport like hockey probably has never put on a pair of skates much less played the game.

But he claims to know what's best for it....

This is stupid. They met for 45 mins? Really? I have had longer coffee breaks!

Someone needs to lock these clowns in a room and not let them out until they reach an agreement. Stop acting like greedy children and realize that hockey is a game. Be thankful for it and come to an agreement. There are people literally starving in the USA and many unemployed in Canada and these idiots can't suck it up and reach a deal... !?$*@!

An if that doesn't work, someone needs to put Gary B. in a room with a few of the nicer NHLer's like Scott Thorton, Colton Orr, Goerge Perros etc and see what happens... if you get my drift...

Bettman made almost $8 Million last year-and never even broke a sweat or spent a penny on public speaking lessons, cause let's face it....he's a joke to listen to and always comes across like a weasel or someone I wouldn't let near my kids....

It's sad that the commissioner of a great sport like hockey probably has never put on a pair of skates much less played the game.

But he claims to know what's best for it....

- jmo16

Goodell and Sellings, heck even David Stern make more then Bettman .......

I just came here to say that this site looks like crap on Chrome! That is all.

Bettman has no worries because he thinks, rightly so, that the fans will clamor for hockey when ever they see fit to give it to us. The only way to make sure this doesn't happen every time a new CBA is due is for the fans to strike back. I'm not talking anything unrealistic like swearing off hockey all together, but what about the first 2 home games? If the season starts late simply stay home the first two home games. Watch at home and let these greedy bastards feel the burn for a couple games.
- Pierceme69

Thank you. Glad to be here. I'm ready for a good time.
- iknowbest

rangers, colorado avalance back in the early 2000's, toronto, montreal, pitsburgh, philly, chicago. i mean big cities that have no problem selling tickets or teams that are already cup contenders.
- joshs

Ok, now explain the contracts if Shea Weber and Pekka Rinne for Nashville. Explain the wild signing Parise and Suter. Explain Vanek, miller, ehrhoff and myers for Buffalo. Explain Carle and Lecavilier for Tampa. Explain why the caps had to pay oVie close to 10 million a year. Small market teams are spending more money than the big markets for no reason.

Please start on time!! On second thought, I don't care, as long as they start by December 1st. Untill then I'll be watching Russell Wilson tear it up in the NFL.
- LeftCoaster

Makes ya wonder why they went and signed Matt Flynn to that huge contract only not to start him. Even with Wilson starting the Seahawks aren't winning the West.

Go 9ers.

It's sad that the commissioner of a great sport like hockey probably has never put on a pair of skates much less played the game.
- jmo16

What "has never played the game" has to do with "ability to run a pro sports league," I have never understood. I don't recall anyone carrying on endlessly about David Stern never playing basketball or Bud Selig never playing baseball. Hell, chances are Fehr has put on skates about as many times as Bettman has - and does anyone squawk about that?

This is stupid. They met for 45 mins? Really? I have had longer coffee breaks!

Someone needs to lock these clowns in a room and not let them out until they reach an agreement. Stop acting like greedy children and realize that hockey is a game. Be thankful for it and come to an agreement. There are people literally starving in the USA and many unemployed in Canada and these idiots can't suck it up and reach a deal... !?$*@!

An if that doesn't work, someone needs to put Gary B. in a room with a few of the nicer NHLer's like Scott Thorton, Colton Orr, Goerge Perros etc and see what happens... if you get my drift...
- Hockey_Reverend

Yeah, maybe then we can do the same thing with Fehr and these gu- .... er, wait, I forgot, anything that Bettman does is instantly bad while if Fehr does the exact same things, it's OK.

Ok, now explain the contracts if Shea Weber and Pekka Rinne for Nashville. Explain the wild signing Parise and Suter. Explain Vanek, miller, ehrhoff and myers for Buffalo. Explain Carle and Lecavilier for Tampa. Explain why the caps had to pay oVie close to 10 million a year. Small market teams are spending more money than the big markets for no reason.
- blacksheep1

Weber and Vanek were due to offer sheets from other teams. Not exactly the same as the other signings you mention.

that doesn't make sense.
- Scooby_Doo

Most season's tickets are held by corporations that purchase them as marketing tools and not fans who hold them for emotion.

So explain why the Leafs, Canadiens, Rangers, Flyers, Bruins, Red Wings and Canucks would be willing to share their profits with the Coyotes, Blue Jackets, Blues, Islanders, Panthers, Sabres and Capitals. What are they getting in return? An increased ability to spend to their heart's content? An increased voice in how everyone else operates? They're not just going to hand over profits for the greater good - they're only going to do it if they get something that specifically benefits them at everyone else's expense; what exactly is that?

EDIT: you partially answered with this ...


Do you really think low-revenue teams are going to hand over control of their team to the high-revenue teams in exchange for a small share of profits? If high-revenue teams can dictate how low-revenue teams operate, what's to stop them from saying "we're going to spend to the moon, the rest of you can only spend crumbs - and guess what? Even if we lose money and you manage to make it, you get to subsidize our free-spending ways?"

At least you admit it's never going to happen - and you're absolutely right about that. It won't for a variety of reasons, the least of which are outlined above.
- Irish Blues

I was stating that it most likely would never happen but if it did, all decisions would then be made by the board of governors (owners) who would in essence own every team. So the board would then care about the league making or losing in all markets. It would be a corporate partnership and would be run much like the UFC.

UPDATE 3:45

after 4 hours The NHLPA returned to the NHL offices about 30 minutes ago and left after meeting for a half an hour...will brief the players via conference call tonight...Not good, in my opinion...

UPDATE 3:45

after 4 hours The NHLPA returned to the NHL offices about 30 minutes ago and left after meeting for a half an hour...will brief the players via conference call tonight...Not good, in my opinion...
- Eklund

Must have forgot his wallet.

Weber and Vanek were due to offer sheets from other teams. Not exactly the same as the other signings you mention.
- Irish Blues

Both teams could have walked away and accepted the various draft picks as compensation. Nobody forced them to matched. And i sure a poop don't want to hear Nashvile cry because they are in financial trouble. They chose to match end of story.