Who cares Ek!!!!
I live in the US and they could care a less about hockey....I really don't think they've noticed the games aren't on...
Cancel the season and hopefully that will take care of the teams that can't support themselves....
- tmlfan17

Thats why they wont cancel a whole season, because the NHL knows that teams would be pretty much on the verge of folding. Dallas, Florida, PHOENIX, TB among many others would just about go right under if they were to miss even half of a season.

I guess that's the way the cookie crumbles.

The minute the season is reduced from 82 games, the players have lost.

I hope they realize this.
- Atomic Wedgie

Bullpoop. tuna99 has repeatedly assured me that all of the pressure is on the owners because they have everything to lose while the players have their escrow checks to live on, and Bettman knows he has to get a deal done or the owners will fire him.

Thats why they wont cancel a whole season, because the NHL knows that teams would be pretty much on the verge of folding. Dallas, Florida, PHOENIX, TB among many others would just about go right under if they were to miss even half of a season.
- SenCity.ca

Dallas and Tampa Bay are fine. The Stars biggest problem was a bankrupt owner; that's been fixed. Phoenix will probably lose less money from a cancelled season than one that's played out in full. The Islanders are probably in the same boat.

However, there's other teams that have more to lose from the season getting turfed. The answers would surprise you and many others.

I sense sarcasm but the rollback is bullpoop. Owners should be men and honor the contracts they signed.
- Scoob

Its owners like the one you have that put everyone in this mess. SO quick to demand concessions from the players but will be the first ones to look at circumventing the cap.

I hear the PA is going to offer a proposal that will freeze their salaries IMMEDIATELY until revenues catch up and a 50/50 split is acachieved

Bullpoop. tuna99 has repeatedly assured me that all of the pressure is on the owners because they have everything to lose while the players have their escrow checks to live on, and Bettman knows he has to get a deal done or the owners will fire him.
- Irish Blues

This isnt Baseball, not like the NHLPA has a giant safe full of cash. Those escrow checks are a fraction of normal paycheck. Of which most of these guys have high dollar expenses to pay for all year long.

Edit - Players will receive less than 8% of their 2011 salary as their escrow check.

This isnt Baseball, not like the NHLPA has a giant safe full of cash. Those escrow checks are a fraction of normal paycheck. Of which most of these guys have high dollar expenses to pay for all year long.
- Gerk

$80,000 for every $1M of the players contracts.

$80,000 for every $1M of the players contracts.
- eichiefs9

You beat me to it. Yeah less than 8% pre tax.

If that's the case and the owners know about this , then its pretty much game over for the players, they just threw their unity out the window , this is why I dont get this rumor.
- Alexzanki

There was no unity to begin with.

Don't you think that more than half the NHLPA is sitting at home, knowing FOR SURE they are losing more and more every day on a short career. Don't you think they are looking back at 2004, looking at the fact that Fehr will be long gone when this is over... and asking themselves what the F they are doing?

A few questions for the players:

How much media positioning do you need to make a mortgage payment?

If the public is on your side, will that help you pay for your daughter's university tuition?

Do grocery stores accept moral victories as payment?
- Atomic Wedgie

I'll ask a question in return. How many players have to worry about any of that? They'll be receiving their escrow checks shortly.

Players are the victims like we are...don't forget. Not easy to accept the average salary go from 2.4M to 2.2M (12% rollback). I feel for these guys.
- Symba007

Dude that is the same as going for 50K a year to 44K a year.

There was no unity to begin with.

Don't you think that more than half the NHLPA is sitting at home, knowing FOR SURE they are losing more and more every day on a shor career. Don't you think they are looking back at 2004, looking at the fact that Fehr will be long gone when this is over... anbd asking themselves what the F they are doing?
- Aetherial

Don't you think they knew this in the Summer time? They knew they'd be losing money once the lockout started. So if what your saying is true, why didn't they just agree to a deal before games started being lost?

I'll ask a question in return. How many players have to worry about any of that? They'll be receiving their escrow checks shortly.
- MJL

Ask yourself how many NHLers make 1 million.

Those making 1 million will get less than 80k for the whole year. Tax effect that and your down to around 55k.

Now how many millionares are used to living off 55k a year.

I'll ask a question in return. How many players have to worry about any of that? They'll be receiving their escrow checks shortly.
- MJL

Escrow was a % of LAST year salary...

Average escrow check will be around 200K.....when a player's average monthly check is 342K (2.4M, 7months of paycheck) . They might not miss the first check....but starting next month, if there is not a deal (full season), players will start leaving a lot of money on the table.

I'll ask a question in return. How many players have to worry about any of that? They'll be receiving their escrow checks shortly.
- MJL

So the players aren't worried about losing money?

Ask yourself how many NHLers make 1 million.

Those making 1 million will get less than 80k for the whole year. Tax effect that and your down to around 55k.

Now how many millionares are used to living off 55k a year.
- Gerk

Doesn't matter. Do you think NHL players have money in the bank. Have made investments with the money they have made? I assure you, they aren't going to have to start pinching pennies anytime soon.

So the players aren't worried about losing money?
- Aetherial

Sure they are. To the level of worrying about paying their Mortgage, or funding their child's education, or buying food for their families, due to this lockout. I would think not.

Don't you think they knew this in the Summer time? They knew they'd be losing money once the lockout started. So if what your saying is true, why didn't they just agree to a deal before games started being lost?
- MJL

2004

Sure they are. To the level of worrying about paying their Mortgage, or funding their child's education, or buying food for their families, due to this lockout. I would think not.
- MJL

If that was there only concern, they would be playing now.

Escrow was a % of LAST year salary...

Average escrow check will be around 200K.....when a player's average monthly check is 342K (2.4M, 7months of paycheck) . They might not miss the first check....but starting next month, if there is not a deal (full season), players will start leaving a lot of money on the table.
- Symba007

I know exactly what Escrow is. The players have been well aware for a while now that they were not going to get paychecks during the lockout. Thinking that the players are all of a sudden going to lose their resolve due to missing a few paychecks is misguided.

2004


- Aetherial

Your answer makes zero sense. 2004 has nothing to do with this.

Doesn't matter. Do you think NHL players have money in the bank. Have made investments with the money they have made? I assure you, they aren't going to have to start pinching pennies anytime soon.
- MJL

I don't think anyone believes that they'll be living in poverty, but you get used to living a certain lifestyle and you don't necessarily want to give it up. If you made $100k a year and then someone tried to significantly cut your salary you wouldn't be happy. And on top of that, while you were negotiating and not getting a paycheck...you had to live off $8,000 a year + your savings/investments.

I don't think anyone believes that they'll be living in poverty, but you get used to living a certain lifestyle and you don't necessarily want to give it up. If you made $100k a year and then someone tried to significantly cut your salary you wouldn't be happy. And on top of that, while you were negotiating and not getting a paycheck...you had to live off $8,000 a year + your savings/investments.
- eichiefs9

I doubt any of the players are going to have to change their lifestyle anytime soon.

Your answer makes zero sense. 2004 has nothing to do with this.
- MJL

did you just get panicky

I doubt any of the players are going to have to change their lifestyle anytime soon.
- MJL

Probably not majorly, but it doesn't mean they're going to want to just throw away money they feel they spent their lives working for.