I blame the players and Fehr. This will end with a 50% split on HRR like the other bigger and more popular North American sports. So why are the players Richarding around. It's all about the Fehr. He does not care about the game or even the players. It will end up with a 50% split and he knows it. It is very arrogant of him to think he is better then the other leagues.

I understood the sarcasm. The truth (as noted by Miami Herald Panthers blog writer George Richards) is that any lockout that extends into November will hurt two teams more than any others- the Panthers and the Kings. The Kings- obviously because (like Tampa prior) they cannot effectively exploit their cup victory. The Panthers- because after 10 years of awfulness where they became wholly irrelevant in this market, they exploded back on to the scene. People down here actually were talking about them, experimenting with taking the family to games (because you can afford to here as tickets do not average $123 each), there is a division champs banner to raise, and the team was on the local radar in a time when the Dolphins and Hurricanes are irrelevant.

While there are many, too many really, who apparently feel the revenue sharing of their team's owners with teams like the Panthers deeply, personally, as if it was their checkbook, and want this team to be contracted (and I stand by this statement 100%) I will simply state one more time that there are many die-hard hockey fans here and it is terrible to watch this happen knowing what this will do to this franchise.

As for me, I have the schedules for our local South Florida U-16 and U-18 programs and I am watching free hockey games that are played by passionate hockey kids in these programs who still have dreams, and for now- thats good enough for me.

They are all to blame but the players are looking more to blame I just can't feel bad for someone who makes over 500k as a minimum. The players don't have to pay staff or other things.

I'm not saying its right the owners make crazy amounts of cash but they are the boss you don't make those kind of demands and expect to play...
- Crazycaboose

that said the players are the product, they can make lots of money playing in europe while the owners cant make a nickle without them. IMO people are being fart to soft on Bettman, remember it was his idea to put teams and keep teams in cities were highschool football is a more popular sport. Just think how high league revenues (and player salaries) would be if the league was properly managed, and put teams in Quebec and the gta!! also if the owners win ticket prices are still going up, it's not like they are willing to cap their salaries to make going to an nhl game profitable. maybe the players should ask the league to set a maximum ticket price, or set a cap on how much a team can profit before they have to lower prices.


like i said the players can go play in europe so money isn't everything here

Apparently sarcasm was lost on you. Sarcasm, people. Sarcasm.
- spiegs13

Sarcasm is so 2011

Arguably one of the worst commissioners in sports history continues his wrath of stubborness, stupidity, and arrogance that boggles the mind for the objective person.
- spiegs13

I do not particularly like Bettman the man but...

He deliverd "cost certainty" by implementing a salary cap. Even if it took a year, fans returned in record numbers. Revenue increased and the 2011 Winter Classic was the most-viewed game in 36 years.

He worked to keep bankrupt teams in Ottawa, Pittsburgh and Buffalo. He's about to resolve the Phoenix situation and he seamlessly relocated the Thrashers to Winnipeg.

Eight of the NHL's 30 teams had more than a double-digit increase in their value from the 2009-10 season to 2010-11. Franchises that saw values decline, 7, had a 1-2% decline. If you remove the -17% of the Devils franchise values increased by almost 6% league-wide.

Seven franchises saw their values decline, but they were almost all in the 1-2% range. The financial mess in which the New Jersey Devils found themselves resulted in a decline of 17%. Without the Devils in the mix, franchise values increased approx 6% league-wide.

There is a reason why billionaires continue to pay him millions of dollars to run their league. All of the whining about Bettman ranging from comments about arrogance and stature/looks are juvenile.

I was at a wedding this weekend and Jon Huberdeau was there, he was pretty bummed about the whole thing, potentially waiting yet another season to see any NHL action.

Man, he was skinny in person. He badly needs to add weight before being a star player.

The reason that the NHL has so many more games lost, is that NHL players have options to play in other leagues and pull down some decent $$$ while they wait.
They have a lot more leverage than NFL and MLB players. Where do those guys go to collect $$ if locked out?

NBA has some options, but basketball is still primarily a U.S sport.

Sounds like you love it Dan.....I think you need a box of Kleenex for your tears....Also lock up your hand gun loser!