Jaromir Jagr still believes the NHL would be back in action this year. Not later than by December, to be sure.
That’s what he told the Czech idnes.cz website in an interview published Monday.
“I believe the owners want to play as many games as possible. It doesn’t mean much that we’ve lost a month. You get eight to nine games in during that month, and that doesn’t ruin the entire season. You can always make adjustments. You can have the playoffs games on every second day. It (the playoffs) is all over the place now because of television.”
Jagr is currently off the playing roster at his native Kladno because of an injury, but he’s still the owner of the club. His ownership status must have influenced his answer to the site’s question about what he thinks of Alexander Ovechkin’s round condemnation of the league. Ovechkin said the owners were trying to “cheat” the players out of paying their existing contracts.
“Cheating. I don’t know what he meant by the word. When someone owns something and wants to make as much as possible, you can’t call that cheating. You’d have to call a half of the world cheaters. It’s simply business. True, they need us to do the business, but still, they own it. And another thing: hockey is not the main thing for most of the owners. They make their money elsewhere. Unlike us, hockey players. They set the rules, no doubt about that.”
So, the Czech reporters inquired, what’s going to change between now and December?
“Everybody knows,” said Jagr, “that the first month (of the season) is nothing like a rose garden for the NHL. Only a few make some money, they face huge competition in American football and baseball. The baseball competition is getting into its playoffs, so, one competitor is gone, and the interest will switch to something else. And that something else is hockey. Simply, the first two months (of the season) aren’t as interesting for the owners as the rest. It doesn’t bother anybody that they’re going to lose the first month and a half.”
The topic of NHL commissioner Gary Bettman was on the agenda, too. What do you think, idnes.cz asked, is Bettman a great negotiator or someone who doesn’t give a hoot about hockey?
“First of all, I don’t believe he would be doing anything without hearing from the owners first. That he’d do something on his own during negotiations, no. He’s not that kind of a player. These are billionaires, there are 30 of them, so, he’s got his instructions. It does not depend on him only, definitely not.”
Edmonton Journal
- AlEx_OiL

Wow. A rational level, level-headed response from a player. Head = explode.

Donald Fehr is the most arrogant piece of poop.
He is a failure in every aspect. He never brought anything constructive in his entire career. I award him no points and may god have mercy on his soul.


P.S. He would be great in the CSN along with Nadeau Dubois

Not true.

http://www.quanthockey.co...utions/CareerLengthGP.php

About 48% of players play 3 years or less, and about 63% will play for 5 years or less.

And if you look at games played, about 50% of the players will suit up for 100 or less career games and about 70%+ suit up for less than 240 games (or roughly 3 seasons worth of games).

So, when these guys lose 2-3-4 paychecks this season (let alone the whole season), that impact will likely be greater than if they took the current deal on the table, with a properly negotiate "make whole" provision by the NHLPA.

That is the reality.


- JDJ

That's not the reality. If it was, why don't the players take the deal? Is it because they don't know what you know? Or is it the other way around? I know the answer.

So who really benefits from NHLPA's position? The star players are the ones who have the most to gain by the NHLPA's stance / the most to lose on the NHL's proposal.

Like I said, it is the star players the NHLPA is negotiating for, not the "average" player who will get (frank)ed over in this process. The star players will make more than enough money, regardless of what the final deal is.

Feel free to look at actual numbers and put them into context to reality, not what should happen or what is right or what you want to see happen or what could potentially happen if some miracle revenues keep climbing 7%-10% a year with no new revenue outlets given the NBC deal is locked for 10 years and only ticket increases will sustain that growth.

The players will lose, regardless of the deal struck. And if revenue is impacted down the road by games missed / season cancelled, it will just end up being a worse deal for them.

And that ain't rhetoric talking.
- JDJ

I disagree that it's the star players negotiating for all the players. Every player is losing money. The star players are losing more. And I'll again ask you to put into context what is your definition of the players losing?

It was in the meeting with the league where he said he had not run the numbers.

Good Lord you NHLPA nut-huggers miss some freaking obvious points. It is like, by supporting the NHLPA you assume their level of intelligence.
- NightTrain_AlMo

Were all well aware of when he said it. He also made the same coomment in interviews. The response was for a reason which I outlined previously. Things are said in meetings and because they know it will be leaked to the press. I thought it was obvious what Fehr was really saying, but I guess not to some.

Crosby probly doesn't even know how to calculate a return on asset or a return on equity. Yet they put him in the spot light and ask him to comment on business related affairs.

Crosby probly doesn't even know how to calculate a return on asset or a return on equity. Yet they put him in the spot light and ask him to comment on business related affairs.
- The_Price_is_right

But he's the greatest at everything I thought

But he's the greatest at everything I thought
- Yeti1181

Cindy is a amazing and the poster boy for the NHL

Cindy is a amazing and the poster boy for the NHL
- Flyers_1488

I sincerely hope Ovechkin stays in Russia.

name another sport that has guranteed contracts?
- joshs

Baseball. That one should be painfully obvious, it's one of the things Fehr made absolutely sure of in all his fights with the owners.

yeah but NHL players total contract is guranteed. sign a 4 year deal worth 12million you will get that even if you dont produce or get sent to the AHL. i am from buffalo the bills signed merriman last year then cut him this year and now resigned him & thats the uber spetacular NFL
- joshs

Not always true; the player can still be bought out, in which case he only gets a fraction of the remaining value of the contract [2/3rds if 26 or older when the buyout is executed; 1/3rd otherwise].

The topic of NHL commissioner Gary Bettman was on the agenda, too. What do you think, idnes.cz asked, is Bettman a great negotiator or someone who doesn’t give a hoot about hockey?
“First of all, I don’t believe he would be doing anything without hearing from the owners first. That he’d do something on his own during negotiations, no. He’s not that kind of a player. These are billionaires, there are 30 of them, so, he’s got his instructions. It does not depend on him only, definitely not.”
Edmonton Journal
- AlEx_OiL

Great, now Jagr is a shill for Bettman.

That's not the reality. If it was, why don't the players take the deal? Is it because they don't know what you know? Or is it the other way around? I know the answer.



I disagree that it's the star players negotiating for all the players. Every player is losing money. The star players are losing more. And I'll again ask you to put into context what is your definition of the players losing?
- MJL

Because they aren't that smart and lack foresight, just like the majority of professional athletes in this country. The fact that the firing of Paul Kelly and hiring of Donald Fehr happened largely under the leadership of a concussed Eric Lindros should tell you all you need to know.

I sincerely hope Ovechkin stays in Russia.
- The_Price_is_right

Yeah I wouldnt mind seeing that either..... He is one Ugly dude

Crosby probly doesn't even know how to calculate a return on asset or a return on equity. Yet they put him in the spot light and ask him to comment on business related affairs.
- The_Price_is_right

I've said this before: the main thing that the NHLPA is good at is insulting the public's intelligence. Nothing screams "in tune with reality" like parading a bunch of uneducated early 20-somethings and having them give the fans, many of whom, as season ticket holders, are accountants, lawyers, and hold other high-end positions in the financial world, a lecture on finances.

Were all well aware of when he said it. He also made the same coomment in interviews. The response was for a reason which I outlined previously. Things are said in meetings and because they know it will be leaked to the press. I thought it was obvious what Fehr was really saying, but I guess not to some.
- MJL

Is English your first language?

Crosby probly doesn't even know how to calculate a return on asset or a return on equity. Yet they put him in the spot light and ask him to comment on business related affairs.
- The_Price_is_right

Those are simple equations. As long as they teach basic algebra in Canada, I'm confident he'd be able to figure it out.

Because they aren't that smart and lack foresight, just like the majority of professional athletes in this country. The fact that the firing of Paul Kelly and hiring of Donald Fehr happened largely under the leadership of a concussed Eric Lindros should tell you all you need to know.
- buffalofan19

I think hiring Fehr is the opposite of lacking foresight - they went out and got the most feared Labour Negotiator in the world and paid a huge amount to do it, and it seems to be paying off.

Players who are playing in Europe have a different level of motivation to sign a deal and play, than players who are sitting at home.

If you can't see this. Then I can't help you.
- NightTrain_AlMo

And anyone who wanted to go to Europe could have gone. Some decided to play there - some decided to stay.

And I' sure that Rick Nash who is reported to paying $100,000/month in insurance to play in Davos has no motivation to return to his $7.8M salary.

But yes, please help me understand.

i agree with the dude that said the u.s. doesnt give a crap. you dont hear about it on espn so there for you dont hear about it. the damage has been done. that 7 billion that they have grown by since the last lockout, well you can kiss that good bye. right when hockey was starting to get half way popular round here, they go and do this. dont nobody want to watch a bunch of whining beyatchiz. put that in your pipe.



- pensfan024

The casual US sports fan watches ESPN and pisses on hockey. Hockey fans in the US watch hockey and piss on ESPN.
The recent spike in popularity of the NHL (it's already trending down) is directly related to the US Olympic team advancing to the gold medal game. The current regime has done Richard to "grow" the sport in the states. Fans grow the sport, not lawyers.

I think hiring Fehr is the opposite of lacking foresight - they went out and got the most feared Labour Negotiator in the world and paid a huge amount to do it, and it seems to be paying off.
- tuna99

I actually think Bettman has outperformed Fehr where it matters.

Reported this morning that some owners believe Bettman has gone too far and offered too much. Also reported that players are pushing Fehr and the PA to find a settlement option that works. Overall it does not really mean very much that Bettman may be outperforming Fehr.

Specifically, there is intense pressure to do a deal Thursday. It will get done and it will very close to the NHL last offer.

I actually think Bettman has outperformed Fehr where it matters.

Reported this morning that some owners believe Bettman has gone too far and offered too much. Also reported that players are pushing Fehr and the PA to find a settlement option that works. Overall it does not really mean very much that Bettman may be outperforming Fehr.

Specifically, there is intense pressure to do a deal Thursday. It will get done and it will very close to the NHL last offer.
- spatso[/quote]

I sure hope so!

I actually think Bettman has outperformed Fehr where it matters.

Reported this morning that some owners believe Bettman has gone too far and offered too much. Also reported that players are pushing Fehr and the PA to find a settlement option that works. Overall it does not really mean very much that Bettman may be outperforming Fehr.

Specifically, there is intense pressure to do a deal Thursday. It will get done and it will very close to the NHL last offer.
- spatso

I see it the opposite way - I think Fehr has controlled the process from the beginning and all the pressure is on the NHL.

The players WANT to play hockey - the owners HAVE to play hockey this season. They have no choice, they cannot have another 1 year lockout

Bettman has no more bullets left in his gun, now all he can do is posture and pout and stomp his feet, once he's done his hissy fit the best he can is get the owners is the 50-50 HRR split over 3 years instead of 5 and there will be no player roll--back.

I actually think Bettman has outperformed Fehr where it matters.

Reported this morning that some owners believe Bettman has gone too far and offered too much. Also reported that players are pushing Fehr and the PA to find a settlement option that works. Overall it does not really mean very much that Bettman may be outperforming Fehr.

Specifically, there is intense pressure to do a deal Thursday. It will get done and it will very close to the NHL last offer.
- spatso

Take it as you will, there are a majority of owners who aren't happy with bettman last week. The higher end ones felt he gave to much in the 50/50 offer, and the lower end ones felt the players counters should've garnered more attention. Non of the above felt at all consulted about what took place. The owners aren't near as united as the media would have you believe. Some players families have been consulted as well.. Trying to get past fehr. The NHL brass feels as though the majority of players are being misrepresented.. And want to hear their side first hand.

I think hiring Fehr is the opposite of lacking foresight - they went out and got the most feared Labour Negotiator in the world and paid a huge amount to do it, and it seems to be paying off.
- tuna99

ROFL!

How exactly is it paying off.

We have no agreement. That couldn't be success could it.

UNLESS... the goal was to not negotiate. Nah that can't be true can it?

Hmmm.

I sincerely hope Ovechkin stays in Russia.
- The_Price_is_right

Agreed! He's an idiot most of the time, for that matter so are most of the Russians.

I actually think Bettman has outperformed Fehr where it matters.

Reported this morning that some owners believe Bettman has gone too far and offered too much. Also reported that players are pushing Fehr and the PA to find a settlement option that works. Overall it does not really mean very much that Bettman may be outperforming Fehr.

Specifically, there is intense pressure to do a deal Thursday. It will get done and it will very close to the NHL last offer.
- spatso

This is the 3rd time you've predicted a deal will be done. Only to have it not happen the previous times. A deal happening on Thursday is unlikely. But I truly hope your right.