As people who watch the Rangers everyday we actually believe McDonagh is better than Staal right now. He's younger, is a better skater and has more offensive ability than Staal. Maybe the Weber consideration is a bit of a stretch but not the Suter one. Hell, THN just ranked McD as the 7th best D in the NHL right now. It's also easy to forget that he is just 22.
- gkmkiller

thanks, I just repeated what you said

Larry Brooks hit the nail right on the head with this one, been saying this for awhile:

There is no explanation whatsoever for the lucrative, long-term contracts given Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle in Edmonton, the one given Jeff Skinner by Carolina, and the one awarded Tyler Seguin in Boston, all after the completion of two seasons of their respective three-year Entry Level deals and years before they would have been eligible for salary arbitration or free agency.

What is the point of teams owning systemic CBA leverage if they refuse to use it?

Larry Brooks hit the nail right on the head with this one, been saying this for awhile:

There is no explanation whatsoever for the lucrative, long-term contracts given Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle in Edmonton, the one given Jeff Skinner by Carolina, and the one awarded Tyler Seguin in Boston, all after the completion of two seasons of their respective three-year Entry Level deals and years before they would have been eligible for salary arbitration or free agency.

What is the point of teams owning systemic CBA leverage if they refuse to use it?
- jimbro83

It makes you wonder just how much do the owners know about their teams day to day operations and signings. I'm sure GM's know just what to tell them and what not to tell them.

"Leipold signs 13y+ deals, says how excited MN is about it. Then goes to other side of table, says how bad new contrcts are. Come on"

Whatta (frank)ing joke

What is staring us in the face right now is that both sides are deeply entrenched and don't want to lose face. As a result, the fear of being branded as the "loser" in these negotiations is going to inhibit the making of a fair deal and, therefore, perhaps continued direct negotiations won't be as effective in moving the ball forward. IMO, this situation screams for the usage of a third party mediator, who is able to bang on each respective side to get to some middle point. Both Bettman and Fehr know where they would ultimately end up on this, but it is difficult to get to a deal point without all of the required posturing. They need something to get the ball moving towards the end result, and I don't see that happening without some intervention when both sides seem intent in engaging in a richard measuring contest.

Hell, even suggesting a mediator would be seen as a sign of weakness by the suggesting party. That is why we have stalled negotiations, and will have a work stoppage that lasts much longer than necessary. Egos!

I was sitting at work today thinking how dumb and unnecessary this lockout is. It isn't a negotiation to make the game better, but rather a battle to see who blinks first. You really can't make this stuff up.

Kid I'm friends with posted on FB he was excited to go to first Yotes Kings, preseason game on 24th lol...He thinks they will work things out by then lol

the teams are getting the money from the television contract this year whether they play or not, so why layoff office workers?

I swear, anyone taking the owners side in this are complete fools.

Teams scrambling to sign players to deals on friday under the old CBA rules when they claim the old CBA isn't working anymore.

It's such a crock of freaking shiiiiiiit, it really is.
- jimbro83

They would get $200 million--and not all of that goes to the teams, the league gets some of that. The most each team would get would be $6 million or so. And the teams will still be paying rent on the buildings, debt service, coach and GM salaries, development expenses for guys in the minors and contractual payments to the minor league teams. That $6 mill isn't covering all of that.

They would get $200 million--and not all of that goes to the teams, the league gets some of that. The most each team would get would be $6 million or so. And the teams will still be paying rent on the buildings, debt service, coach and GM salaries, development expenses for guys in the minors and contractual payments to the minor league teams. That $6 mill isn't covering all of that.
- bodiva88

I want to to let everyone know how I feel about Lou Lammarillo and the rest of the a$$holes backing Buttman. Simply put, go (frank) youreslf. How's that.

I want to to let everyone know how I feel about Lou Lammarillo and the rest of the a$$holes backing Buttman. Simply put, go (frank) youreslf. How's that.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

If you just don't try to circumvent the profanity filters, fine.

I was just pointing out that the television payment won't be why this isn't settled.

I want to to let everyone know how I feel about Lou Lammarillo and the rest of the a$$holes backing Buttman. Simply put, go (frank) youreslf. How's that.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

The very same owners that were giving out last minute contracts before the current CBA expired that would not be permissible under the terms of the new CBA the league is offering? And then saying, you have a signed contract, give us back 24% and....while we are at it.....lets roll back your share of the league revenues from 59% to 43%.....a 28% cut? This, after the league experienced its greatest year ever regarding revenue?

I was chaffing at the bit to see the Rangers with Hagelin back after a great rookie season, Kreider ready to go out and terrorize the opposition with his size and speed, Hagelin, Kreider and Gaborik giving the Rangers 3 of the fastest forwards in the league and of course, Rick Nash to add offense at even strength and on the power play.

Now we all sit and wait, held hostage by a myopic commissioner (yeah, Gary, keep that team that's last in attendance in the desert, that'll work some day.....NOT) who has once again shut the league down to save the owners from themselves.

Makes sense to me......

If you just don't try to circumvent the profanity filters, fine.

I was just pointing out that the television payment won't be why this isn't settled.
- bodiva88

You're right I should edit my anger toward Bettman. Just can't stand the sight of him anymore.

The fact that more and more players are going over seas to play really makes me think this is going to be a long lockout.

The fact that more and more players are going over seas to play really makes me think this is going to be a long lockout.
- TrueBlue9182

Nash actually told people in Switzerland that he believes he will be there the whole year.

The owners/Bettman are like a home owner with a beautifully manicured front lawn who for absolutely no reason decide to drive the car all over it and destroy it.

It's unconscionable that they are out to destroy the sport and there isn't a damn thing anyone can do about it.

Nash actually told people in Switzerland that he believes he will be there the whole year.

The owners/Bettman are like a home owner with a beautifully manicured front lawn who for absolutely no reason decide to drive the car all over it and destroy it.

It's unconscionable that they are out to destroy the sport and there isn't a damn thing anyone can do about it.
- jimbro83

An absolute disgrace.

Nash actually told people in Switzerland that he believes he will be there the whole year.

The owners/Bettman are like a home owner with a beautifully manicured front lawn who for absolutely no reason decide to drive the car all over it and destroy it.

It's unconscionable that they are out to destroy the sport and there isn't a damn thing anyone can do about it.
- jimbro83

Ugh i dont even want to think about the entire season being lost because both sides are gonna spend 6 months trying to win a PR battle.

Every day i wake up and hope That a deal gets done. Its really depressing

This league does not deserve the patronage of its fans. Plain and simple as far as I am concerned. We lost a whole season less than a decade ago to get the CBA that was in place through the last hockey season, and now we are supposed to believe that such CBA was so fundamentally flawed that we need to miss significant portions (if not all) of another season to fix it. All this while teams have done everything in their power to find loopholes in the existing CBA to circumvent the very same salary cap that they fought so hard to achieve, and in many instance rushing to sign players prior to its expiration. Not only do such actions reek of hypocracy, but they are playing all of us fans for fools.

The fans will come back. They will buy our exorbantly priced jerseys. They will buy season tickets, and overpriced beer because they have no other option. That is indeed what the NHL thinks. They take their fans for granted, because they believe that they can.

So, I will say this, if this lockout kills another NHL season, I am officially done. I will go watch the OHL. I will watch college hockey. I will tell you guys what I think of Boo Nieves and other Rangers prospects. But, the NHL will be dead to me, because I am too damned old and jaded to watch a bunch of idiots destroying a great game and product by engaging in the type of gross negligence that they are now. I will even put a damn electrical zapper on my T.V. that will shoot bolts of electricity through me if I even try to turn on an NHL game.

This league does not deserve the patronage of its fans. Plain and simple as far as I am concerned. We lost a whole season less than a decade ago to get the CBA that was in place through the last hockey season, and now we are supposed to believe that such CBA was so fundamentally flawed that we need to miss significant portions (if not all) of another season to fix it. All this while teams have done everything in their power to find loopholes in the existing CBA to circumvent the very same salary cap that they fought so hard to achieve, and in many instance rushing to sign players prior to its expiration. Not only do such actions reek of hypocracy, but they are playing all of us fans for fools.

The fans will come back. They will buy our exorbantly priced jerseys. They will buy season tickets, and overpriced beer because they have no other option. That is indeed what the NHL thinks. They take their fans for granted, because they believe that they can.

So, I will say this, if this lockout kills another NHL season, I am officially done. I will go watch the OHL. I will watch college hockey. I will tell you guys what I think of Boo Nieves and other Rangers prospects. But, the NHL will be dead to me, because I am too damned old and jaded to watch a bunch of idiots destroying a great game and product by engaging in the type of gross negligence that they are now. I will even put a damn electrical zapper on my T.V. that will shoot bolts of electricity through me if I even try to turn on an NHL game.
- Pete V

if it in fact kills another season, it may as well kill it forever.

Whatever deal they would eventually come up with, it's ridiculous that they would have to kill another hockey season to eventually get it. When would they resolve it, July again? Why don't they kill two seasons while they are at it.

it's just stupid

Preseason games canceled through sept 30th....

This league does not deserve the patronage of its fans. Plain and simple as far as I am concerned. We lost a whole season less than a decade ago to get the CBA that was in place through the last hockey season, and now we are supposed to believe that such CBA was so fundamentally flawed that we need to miss significant portions (if not all) of another season to fix it. All this while teams have done everything in their power to find loopholes in the existing CBA to circumvent the very same salary cap that they fought so hard to achieve, and in many instance rushing to sign players prior to its expiration. Not only do such actions reek of hypocracy, but they are playing all of us fans for fools.

The fans will come back. They will buy our exorbantly priced jerseys. They will buy season tickets, and overpriced beer because they have no other option. That is indeed what the NHL thinks. They take their fans for granted, because they believe that they can.

So, I will say this, if this lockout kills another NHL season, I am officially done. I will go watch the OHL. I will watch college hockey. I will tell you guys what I think of Boo Nieves and other Rangers prospects. But, the NHL will be dead to me, because I am too damned old and jaded to watch a bunch of idiots destroying a great game and product by engaging in the type of gross negligence that they are now. I will even put a damn electrical zapper on my T.V. that will shoot bolts of electricity through me if I even try to turn on an NHL game.
- Pete V

The NHL is becoming less relevant by the day

This stresses me out... My whole WARDROBE IS RANGERS GEAR! WHAT THE (frank) NHL! GO (frank) YOURSELF!

This stresses me out... My whole WARDROBE IS RANGERS GEAR! WHAT THE (frank) NHL! GO (frank) YOURSELF!
- evitageN

I was looking at a catalog today and kept thinking how cool it was that orange is in. But NOOO!!!!!

This stresses me out... My whole WARDROBE IS RANGERS GEAR! WHAT THE (frank) NHL! GO (frank) YOURSELF!
- evitageN

The one bright spot Nick is that we will have October open to go on a horror movie binge...best month of the year

The one bright spot Nick is that we will have October open to go on a horror movie binge...best month of the year
- TPC

Hahah good call on that.

Also boardwalk empire

Hahah good call on that.

Also boardwalk empire
- TrueBlue9182

I am still only halfway through the first season, I got a lot of catching up to do