I love the gag rocking chair. When he retires, it will be like they are all kidding him, in a friendly, brethren way, about being old.

I know that I will just laugh and laugh and laugh, but it will be a sad and touching moment also.

It is good that we, the fans, will get to experience something that profound and personal. I am grateful.
- NightTrain_AlMo

Wouldn't it be awesome if the Leafs wore a special patch on their jerseys that night, like a rocking chair with the letters RL on it?

And wouldn't it be double awesome if they sold those jerseys for $269.95, so that I could buy a couple?

It's just nice to be able to talk hockey here, instead of that racist crap stirred up by those Flyers fans.

Eklund: Here's to Soft Landings... here is the latest..
- Eklund

The lockout ending would be pretty cool I guess, but would it mean the demise of the xbox fake league?!!??!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The only possible way Fehr can justify the players getting a larger share than the other leagues is to try to sell everyone on the idea that the players gave so much last time.

Given what has happened to their salaries over the last 8 years, I find it hard to believe anyone would buy that.
- NightTrain_AlMo

If the players are the ones who would not submit to an independent arbitrator, then the union is clearly the greedy SOBs.

The only possible way Fehr can justify the players getting a larger share than the other leagues is to try to sell everyone on the idea that the players gave so much last time.

Given what has happened to their salaries over the last 8 years, I find it hard to believe anyone would buy that.
- NightTrain_AlMo

Anyone know what percentage of players in the league today were locked out last time?

Considering the average NHL salary is 4 years, I'm guessing that "last time" isn't particularly relevant to the majority of players - they didn't give up anything "last time."

Kypreos said it best...

The owners made a brilliant move by being the ones to FIRST suggest 50/50.

Now, if they can't get a deal done, most people will only see the players rejecting a 50/50 deal AND with no rollbacks
- NightTrain_AlMo

The lockout ending would be pretty cool I guess, but would it mean the demise of the xbox fake league?!!??!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- hankthetank

Why do you think Bettman crumbled and made a new offer?

Duh.

can anyone name 17 billionaires that want to lose money owning a hockey team in north america? (that dont already own a team..obviously)
i can sure as heck name 800 ahl'rs that would play for more money.

players lost this battle along time ago

I thought the players just wanted to play...they realize they will lose more by not playing and hurting the game overall right?

This proposal was a great move by the owners, winning the public opinion back.
- Symba007

Yup all eyes are on the PA who would have thought the owners would be looking like the good guys.

I thought the players just wanted to play...they realize they will lose more by not playing and hurting the game overall right?
- flashfire

Most players don't care, they are in it for 4-5 years trying to maximize their revenues. This proposal if rejected and the season is cancelled will divide the union, most guys at the end of their career would rather get 90% of their salary than none.

I couldn't care less.

I'm just pointing out that the big market teams care - a lot.
- Atomic Wedgie

Well the big markets can "care" all they want. Bottom line is EVERY major sport employs some form of revenue sharing to help create a more even financial playing field in the hopes of creating parity in the respective leagues. So on that note it sucks that you in one form or another pay to help support small market teams but the fact still remains that revenue sharing is a part of sports today and will be for the forseeable future.

Most players don't care, they are in it for 4-5 years trying to maximize their revenues. This proposal if rejected and the season is cancelled will divide the union, most guys at the end of their career would rather get 90% of their salary than none.
- Symba007

Solidarity is in the eye of the beholder, of course, but certainly it’s hard to argue with bloody-lipped experience. Asked this week if the 2004-05 lockout was worth it to him as a player, O’Neill answered definitively.

“No,” O’Neill said. “I lost $3.5 million. I don’t see how that’s worth it. I’ll never get that money back.”

The hard-core unionists will pooh-pooh O’Neill’s players-can’t-win ethic. Convincing someone that he’s wrong about the cold, hard math, on the other hand, is a taller order.

Well the big markets can "care" all they want. Bottom line is EVERY major sport employs some form of revenue sharing to help create a more even financial playing field in the hopes of creating parity in the respective leagues. So on that note it sucks that you in one form or another pay to help support small market teams but the fact still remains that revenue sharing is a part of sports today and will be for the forseeable future.
- uf1910

You know that the NHL already has a revenue sharing program, right?

Well the big markets can "care" all they want. Bottom line is EVERY major sport employs some form of revenue sharing to help create a more even financial playing field in the hopes of creating parity in the respective leagues. So on that note it sucks that you in one form or another pay to help support small market teams but the fact still remains that revenue sharing is a part of sports today and will be for the forseeable future.
- uf1910

and the one tampa bay lightning fan has spoken.....dude im tired of paying money for your club to stay afloat. You get to go and enjoy the same sport i love at half the price.....you want a level playing field???????? How about level ticket prices.....untill then (frank) off with your poopty team. I as a fan am tired that your poop team cant get out of the financial gutter on it own.

and the one tampa bay lightning fan has spoken.....dude im tired of paying money for your club to stay afloat. You get to go and enjoy the same sport i love at half the price.....you want a level playing field???????? How about level ticket prices.....untill then (frank) off with your poopty team. I as a fan am tired that your poop team cant get out of the financial gutter on it own.
- Philly1980

then dont go to philly games. do you need a hanky?

and the one tampa bay lightning fan has spoken.....dude im tired of paying money for your club to stay afloat. You get to go and enjoy the same sport i love at half the price.....you want a level playing field???????? How about level ticket prices.....untill then (frank) off with your poopty team. I as a fan am tired that your poop team cant get out of the financial gutter on it own.
- Philly1980

And you know that if the Tampa Bay Lightning raised ticket prices, it would have absolutely no effect whatsoever on Flyers' ticket prices, right?

then dont go to philly games. do you need a hanky?
- joshs

He is just upset his team can't buy a cup it's better just to ignore him.

He is just upset his team can't buy a cup it's better just to ignore him.
- Crazycaboose

apparently in philly you are forced to go to hockey games!!

apparently in philly you are forced to go to hockey games!!
- joshs

I can understand where leafs cry about ticket prices because they can't even make the playoffs but a Philly fans crying about it.

apparently in philly you are forced to go to hockey games!!
- joshs

I wouldn't be surprised.. You got nazi's supporting philly in this thread so.

and the one tampa bay lightning fan has spoken.....dude im tired of paying money for your club to stay afloat. You get to go and enjoy the same sport i love at half the price.....you want a level playing field???????? How about level ticket prices.....untill then (frank) off with your poopty team. I as a fan am tired that your poop team cant get out of the financial gutter on it own.
- Philly1980

Wow ok that was a bit uncalled for but coming from a Philly fan I'm not surprised. As for staying afloat and staying out of the financial gutter? Well you are so off base I won't even go into specifics except to say that our owner put $45 million into arena renovations in the past 2 years. Kinda hard to be in the financial gutter if you have that much cash around to improve the arena. And if you don't like your ticket prices then don't go you dippoop

You know that the NHL already has a revenue sharing program, right?
- Atomic Wedgie

Yes...I thought our discussion had pretty much made that clear. We started this discussion b/c I made a point that I felt additional revenue sharing was necessary given the NHL's reliance on gate receipts. Beyond that I understand big market fans not agreeing b/c it is partially their money that funds the revenue sharing, but I can also say I have never felt that pinch as I am born and raised Tampa so I have never had to experience watching my money go elsewhere like that.

As I said yesterday, as long as the NHL continues to support franchises in markets that aren't working, revenue sharing is the only way to support that position and those franchises. Should some of those franchises be moved? Sure but at this point that is not the NHL's position. Thus my feelings on revenue sharing.

I can understand where leafs cry about ticket prices because they can't even make the playoffs but a Philly fans crying about it.
- Crazycaboose

First Philly fans are ridiculous for complaining about ticket prices due to the franchise's failures, then we're ridiculous due to the franchise's success? Geez, make up your mind!

First Philly fans are ridiculous for complaining about ticket prices due to the franchise's failures, then we're ridiculous due to the franchise's success? Geez, make up your mind!
- BulliesPhan87

The point is he is mad because of the salary cap. I'm not saying Philly is bad they are one of the best teams in the league I'm not auguring that but the prices are that high because they know they can make it!

Yes...I thought our discussion had pretty much made that clear. We started this discussion b/c I made a point that I felt additional revenue sharing was necessary given the NHL's reliance on gate receipts. Beyond that I understand big market fans not agreeing b/c it is partially their money that funds the revenue sharing, but I can also say I have never felt that pinch as I am born and raised Tampa so I have never had to experience watching my money go elsewhere like that.

As I said yesterday, as long as the NHL continues to support franchises in markets that aren't working, revenue sharing is the only way to support that position and those franchises. Should some of those franchises be moved? Sure but at this point that is not the NHL's position. Thus my feelings on revenue sharing.
- uf1910

Doesn't this latest offer also include a revenue sharing increase of 50 million, for a total of 200 million. That would be like 33% increase if true; not insignificant.

The more I hear, the more I am thinking Fehr smells blood, which would be a collosal mistake, or the players are just posturing but really are satisfied with this deal, with some minor tweaks maybe.