I agree 100% with your post. What pisses me off is that it the owners that put in place the current system. (By taking the players to the cleaners in the last CBA) As well as the ones that sign the cheques every payday on these insane contracts. And now the solution to their mismangment is to lock out the players until they are able to take them to the cleaners once again. We will be in the exact same spot once that CBA is up becasue of misamnagement.
- fiveandagame

Oh please, enough with the "Owners took them to the cleaners" argument. In 2003, the minimum player salary was 170k, after 2004 it became 450k. What happened is the best payed payers couldn't get their 11mil per season. Instead they had to settle with 8mil.
In the end, the players crying about their salary roll back are the ones who haven't yet signed and might not get the newest 8million 10 year contract.
I'm willing to bet that every player making under 4mil would say "Accept the NHLs proposal and lets play some puck!!".
Yes the owners want more money, but they are asking for a 50/50 split. So the NHLPA should work with 50/50 and then work on the escrow details, etc...

I'm sick of people thinking the owners took everything from players in 2004.
Especially when they have 100% of the leverage. I'm amazed they arn't asking for more.

The Rangers and the Flyers seem to makes big splashes every offseason. Maybe Toronto and Montreal would attract more free agents if they had a competent GM and could ice a semi competitive team.
- fiveandagame

Bingo...


Typical leafs fan look to lay blame elsewhere other than where it belongs...

That's correct......Tired of the Leafs flippin the bill for half the leagues problem teams and then can't position itself to sign a top tier free agent in 7 yrs...It's pretty sad when Canadian kids avoid cities like Toronto and Montreal because of the pressure.
I hope the owners lockout the players and stay lockout....Richest team in the league by far can't attract big name free agents it's a disgrace to the league.
Imagine the Yankees, Lakers, Cowboys & other great franchises being unable to attract big name players.....It's a F-ing disgrace to be a hockey/Leaf fan....Hope Habs fans feel the same way....Unless your happy signing Erik Cole's every year...
- tmlfan17

The leafs have horrible management. Players would love to play there if they could stop claiming they are on a 50year rebuilding team. Not once have I heard Leafs management talk about the Stanley Cup. All they do is talk about how they will make the playoffs because of Burkes 5 year plan.
No Montreal doesn't get the "Big" names, but they don't need them. They drafted Price, Subban, and now Galchenyuk. If they would have over paid for a Parise, that would spell failure.
In the end, success in the NHL comes through management. Draft, FA, Coaching. Now because of money.

Until the Leafs themselves believe they can compete for a cup, players wont want to believe it either.

Eklund: Is It Possible the NHL Extends the Lockout Deadline and Camps Open?
- Eklund

ahhhh. the playing of cards. tricks up the sleeve. sounds like a vegas lounge act.

Eklund: Is It Possible the NHL Extends the Lockout Deadline and Camps Open?
- Eklund

no

Oh please, enough with the "Owners took them to the cleaners" argument. In 2003, the minimum player salary was 170k, after 2004 it became 450k. What happened is the best payed payers couldn't get their 11mil per season. Instead they had to settle with 8mil.
In the end, the players crying about their salary roll back are the ones who haven't yet signed and might not get the newest 8million 10 year contract.
I'm willing to bet that every player making under 4mil would say "Accept the NHLs proposal and lets play some puck!!".
Yes the owners want more money, but they are asking for a 50/50 split. So the NHLPA should work with 50/50 and then work on the escrow details, etc...

I'm sick of people thinking the owners took everything from players in 2004.
Especially when they have 100% of the leverage. I'm amazed they arn't asking for more.
- l3ig_l2ecl

The owners didn't take everything from the players but they got the deal they asked for. They got a salary cap, and 24% roll back (which is huge) and they made sure that the cap numbers would be in line with league revenues to try and make it easier to not spend more then they bring in. Now GM's (who are employed by the owners) have found loop holes in the system and found a way to lower a cap hit and front load all these insane contracts and hand out massive signing bonus. The owners sign the paychecks on these contracts. Now you have an annual payroll of $80 million for example with a cap hit of 70 million, so the numbers don't add up in relation to revenue stream that was put in place under the CBA. So now owners can't figure out why they are still losing money in a system that relates salaries to revenue, so they need a new deal asking the players to take another pay hit.

That is why I blame the owners on this one. A player can ask for any contract he wants, its up to the owner to decide if he wants to pay it or not.

Bingo...


Typical leafs fan look to lay blame elsewhere other than where it belongs...
- Fruitcakenipple

Help me out here then.....
Pre lockout Leafs have no problems being a competitive team...Able to use their financial clout to attract big name players, despite being a city with huge pressure placed on their players and being taxed a lot more than the neighbours to the South...
So I'm a good Canadian boy and I'm heading to free agency....Gee should I play in Toronto for the next 6 yrs under a microscope and have my money taxed at a much larger precentage or sign in the States.
What Canadian Cities are signing big name players....Enlighten me Fruitcake!
Vancouver......Noped....That team was basically setup pre lockout and have added a few pieces....None top tier by free agency...
Montreal.......LOL
Edmonton....have drafted top tier talent but they'll bolt as soon as they go to UFA status...signed none
Toronto.....Not one in 7yrs despite being the richest team in the league by far.
Ottawa....Hasn't signed any big name free agent since the lockout...
Calgary.....haha no chance in hell.
Winnipeg.....not a long enough sampling to see if they can attract big name talent but I'll go with no.

I'm fine with the League locking out it's players and I'm also fine without ever watching the Leafs again because with the way things are now the Leafs won't be able to sign a big name free agent.
Why should any Leafs / Habs fan spend big money to watch the type of talent they've been putting in front of their fans.....
So if your cool with the exodus of top Canadian talent only playing in the United States unless their drafted by a Canadian team than enjoy the current sh*t show you have.

Help me out here then.....
Pre lockout Leafs have no problems being a competitive team...Able to use their financial clout to attract big name players, despite being a city with huge pressure placed on their players and being taxed a lot more than the neighbours to the South...
So I'm a good Canadian boy and I'm heading to free agency....Gee should I play in Toronto for the next 6 yrs under a microscope and have my money taxed at a much larger precentage or sign in the States.
What Canadian Cities are signing big name players....Enlighten me Fruitcake!
Vancouver......Noped....That team was basically setup pre lockout and have added a few pieces....None top tier by free agency...
Montreal.......LOL
Edmonton....have drafted top tier talent but they'll bolt as soon as they go to UFA status...signed none
Toronto.....Not one in 7yrs despite being the richest team in the league by far.
Ottawa....Hasn't signed any big name free agent since the lockout...
Calgary.....haha no chance in hell.
Winnipeg.....not a long enough sampling to see if they can attract big name talent but I'll go with no.

I'm fine with the League locking out it's players and I'm also fine without ever watching the Leafs again because with the way things are now the Leafs won't be able to sign a big name free agent.
Why should any Leafs / Habs fan spend big money to watch the type of talent they've been putting in front of their fans.....
So if your cool with the exodus of top Canadian talent only playing in the United States unless their drafted by a Canadian team than enjoy the current sh*t show you have.
- tmlfan17

If you have proper management of assets, drafting, coaching, player deveopment and can make a decent trade or 2, you shouldn't have to rely on free agents to build a competative team.

Flyers get Ryan Smyth and Nikolai Khabibulin.... in NHL 13.

If you have proper management of assets, drafting, coaching, player deveopment and can make a decent trade or 2, you shouldn't have to rely on free agents to build a competative team.
- fiveandagame

Yep..But u see as a leaf fans he's been programmed to believe that the only way to build a winner is buy one via FA...Now that it has become a level playing field his leafs are having problems climbing out of the basement...

It's the "Draft Schmaft" thing..C'mon who the (frank) trades 2 1st rounders and a 2nd for Kessel...

Yep a Leaf GM...

Lot of Leafs fans on here crying!! Why crying??

Help me out here then.....
Pre lockout Leafs have no problems being a competitive team...Able to use their financial clout to attract big name players, despite being a city with huge pressure placed on their players and being taxed a lot more than the neighbours to the South...
So I'm a good Canadian boy and I'm heading to free agency....Gee should I play in Toronto for the next 6 yrs under a microscope and have my money taxed at a much larger precentage or sign in the States.
What Canadian Cities are signing big name players....Enlighten me Fruitcake!
Vancouver......Noped....That team was basically setup pre lockout and have added a few pieces....None top tier by free agency...
Montreal.......LOL
Edmonton....have drafted top tier talent but they'll bolt as soon as they go to UFA status...signed none
Toronto.....Not one in 7yrs despite being the richest team in the league by far.
Ottawa....Hasn't signed any big name free agent since the lockout...
Calgary.....haha no chance in hell.
Winnipeg.....not a long enough sampling to see if they can attract big name talent but I'll go with no.

I'm fine with the League locking out it's players and I'm also fine without ever watching the Leafs again because with the way things are now the Leafs won't be able to sign a big name free agent.
Why should any Leafs / Habs fan spend big money to watch the type of talent they've been putting in front of their fans.....
So if your cool with the exodus of top Canadian talent only playing in the United States unless their drafted by a Canadian team than enjoy the current sh*t show you have.
- tmlfan17

In 2004 you had Sundin, Belfor, Mogilny.

Sundin was just as good as being drafted. Any goalie now days can be on a streak without costing 7mil. Mogilny is a player you can pay 4mil for now days.\

No excuse. It's not due to the cap.

Draft a goalie in the top 2 rounds, draft a forward with your 5th overall pick (NOT A D), and spend your money wisely on the FA market.

Oh, and Burke needs to stop his hard-on over American players.

And final tip in making the Leafs a better team. This is a free one. If you chose to be in denial, then you are doomed.

Here it goes: Grabovski is not a superstar. Stop acting like he is one.

Lot of Leafs fans on here crying!! Why crying??
- Flyers_1488

They cant get big name FA's to sign because they have to play with the same (Cap)rules as every other team..

They cant get big name FA's to sign because they have to play with the same (Cap)rules as every other team..
- Fruitcakenipple

But they Have Nazim Kadri

But they Have Nazim Kadri
- glove_was_stuck

Good point....

I'm a leaf fan but not one who looks to blame failure on something other than where it belongs...

2 donkey GM's have cause this recent mess and that lays on the head of ownership not the league or a salary cap....

That's correct......Tired of the Leafs flippin the bill for half the leagues problem teams and then can't position itself to sign a top tier free agent in 7 yrs...It's pretty sad when Canadian kids avoid cities like Toronto and Montreal because of the pressure.
I hope the owners lockout the players and stay lockout....Richest team in the league by far can't attract big name free agents it's a disgrace to the league.
Imagine the Yankees, Lakers, Cowboys & other great franchises being unable to attract big name players.....It's a F-ing disgrace to be a hockey/Leaf fan....Hope Habs fans feel the same way....Unless your happy signing Erik Cole's every year...
- tmlfan17

Frankly.... I'd be happy to sign an Erik Cole type player every year... He had a terrific season on a crappy team!

Good point....

I'm a leaf fan but not one who looks to blame failure on something other than where it belongs...

2 donkey GM's have cause this recent mess and that lays on the head of ownership not the league or a salary cap....
- Fruitcakenipple

I hear the Kool-Aid is delicious.

Today, well just a few minutes ago actually, I was told it is still a consideration but was given the go-ahead to write about it.

Were you given the go ahead by another silouette? Your sources conjure up memories of Happy Days when Al was Richie's secret informant.

Frankly.... I'd be happy to sign an Erik Cole type player every year... He had a terrific season on a crappy team!
- mlindsay

^^^ ^^^

Frankly.... I'd be happy to sign an Erik Cole type player every year... He had a terrific season on a crappy team!
- mlindsay

I would take Cole on the Canucks in a heartbeat.

Frankly.... I'd be happy to sign an Erik Cole type player every year... He had a terrific season on a crappy team!
- mlindsay

Burke can only dream of signing a FA that actually produces like Cole did last year...

Connolly..Really...

I hear the Kool-Aid is delicious.
- fiveandagame

Bill Belichick makes the best.

Bill Belichick makes the best.



- glove_was_stuck

Byfuglien???

Byfuglien???
- fiveandagame

I would take Cole on the Canucks in a heartbeat.
- fiveandagame

He'd look great with Doan