AND they are being led by someone whose primary goal is to put the finishing touches on his own image, who is just leading them down the garden path.
- NightTrain_AlMo

yup!!
he has nothing to lose in this
the league is playing dirty, but would you take a salary cut VS nothing?
I wouldn't want a salary cut as a player, but between that and nothing? and then still getting the cut when I decide to accept it a year or two later?

Their word, their honor and "good faith" included an understanding shared by all parties concerned that a rollback might be part of the next CBA.

You are alone if you think that is not true.

So... when one party suddenly will not accept a rollback, (especially the ones who got a fat huicy signing bonus)...

Then who was not negotiating in good faith.

NHLPA...

"Yeah Yeah give me money up front since we know there will be a rollback"

2 months later...

"We ain't taking no rollback, you have to honor the contracts we signed, in full"

You can spin it any way you want, but you lost this one because your arguement applies perfectly against you.
- NightTrain_AlMo

Disagree. I doubt very seriously that that was not part of the contract negotiations. Further more, look at the SPC, and what it says. I doubt very seriously that it contains any language about a rollback. You can spin it any way you want, but you couldn't be more wrong. Signing bonuses have been part of Free Agent contracts for a long time. And if there wasn't an expiring CBA coming up, that contract still would have contained a signing bonus.

it justs comes across as whining
- dmarsden2988

In your opinion.

While I have no issues with players being pissed off about this, I am starting to wonder if Fehr's refusal to negotiate was to ensure all these contracts got signed before any negotiations started.

If the NHLPA had started negotiating beforehand, I would wonder if the players would have taken the chance in signing those deals or if the owners - likely the UFAs would have, but I wonder about the RFAs or guys still on entry level contracts.

The NHLPA and Fehr continually pushed off negotiations to get these deals they know would not likely be possible under a new CBA, certainly if there was a restrictions on contract length and reduction in cap/revenue share.

Stop making the players out to be martyrs - they knew exactly what they were getting into and the NHLPA helped them get as much as possible before the clampdown came.

The guys who signed their long-term deals 3-4-5 years ago have a reason to female dog - none of these guys do.
- JDJ

Your incorrect in stating that I'm making players out to be martyrs. I have said no such thing. And you are again applying your standard on me. Since your into telling people to stop doing things, I'd appreciate if you would stop doing that. Every player that could potentially lose money has a reason to female dog. Who are we to say otherwise?

Your incorrect in stating that I'm making players out to be martyrs. I have said no such thing. And you are again applying your standard on me. Since your into telling people to stop doing things, I'd appreciate if you would stop doing that. Every player that could potentially lose money has a reason to female dog. Who are we to say otherwise?
- MJL

I did not say YOU WERE MAKING PLAYERS INTO MARTYRS? Did I say MJL is making players into martyrs? No, I said, in general, don't make these players out to be martyrs (like the article tries to do/Suter tries to make them out to be)- they knew exactly what they were getting into.

Stop making everything so personal and grow the hell up.

Just (frank) and get it over with already.

Eklund: Time For Bettman/Fehr to Allow Others to Build Trust #NHLPlayer2NHLPlayer
- Eklund

There's no way that snake Iginla will go behind the union's back again like last time. Him and Linden really screwed the players.

There's no way that snake Iginla will go behind the union's back again like last time. Him and Linden really screwed the players.
- takeyourvitamins

I really don't blame the guy. He lost $7.5M last time and risks losing $7M this time... that is a lot of coin to lose on principal.

i hope everyone involved in this thing realizes they are doing more damage than good. im glad they are fighting over dollars that arent going to be there. i was the biggest hockey fan in the state of virginia. i packed all my pictures and bobble heads, posters, fatheads, ect. up last night, and giving them to charity. F. U. NHL

Eklund: Time For Bettman/Fehr to Allow Others to Build Trust #NHLPlayer2NHLPlayer
- Eklund

Fehr and Bettman need to go to a weekend counselling session at Catfish Lake.

When games in January get canceled, the season is done, fans will be switching to NBA and NFL.
- Thehabsfan93

No thanks....hockey or nothing...whether it be AHL, CHL, KHL, I don't care.....even table hockey with buddies and beer......hockey or nothing

I love how the players are upset with GMs signing these deals knowing they would get money back due to the stoppage and they were negotiating in bad faith. REALLY? So not one of these players and their high priced agents knew the CBA was up this fall and none of them surmised that the league would be looking for money back.

So the players are either incredibly naive or much more stupid than I first thought. I have ZERO sympathy for these guys now, and they deserve everything they get. Playing stupid just makes you look dumber than already believed you are.

Then there's Parise, who just signed his $10M bonus, which is in the bank and his forever, criticizing the owners in all this. Dude, you just ripped the guy who gave you $10M just to sign. why not just go up to him and kick him in the nuts while you're at it. NHL Players have solidified through all this that they are indeed the most unintelligent pro athletes out there. The fact that they can't see how much they will be losing by the end of this just astounds me. Donald Fehr did everything in his power to destroy Baseball, and it's a much stronger league. Donald Fehr and his ego could be the most destructive force the NHL has ever seen.

I love how the players are upset with GMs signing these deals knowing they would get money back due to the stoppage and they were negotiating in bad faith. REALLY? So not one of these players and their high priced agents knew the CBA was up this fall and none of them surmised that the league would be looking for money back.

So the players are either incredibly naive or much more stupid than I first thought. I have ZERO sympathy for these guys now, and they deserve everything they get. Playing stupid just makes you look dumber than already believed you are.

Then there's Parise, who just signed his $10M bonus, which is in the bank and his forever, criticizing the owners in all this. Dude, you just ripped the guy who gave you $10M just to sign. why not just go up to him and kick him in the nuts while you're at it. NHL Players have solidified through all this that they are indeed the most unintelligent pro athletes out there. The fact that they can't see how much they will be losing by the end of this just astounds me. Donald Fehr did everything in his power to destroy Baseball, and it's a much stronger league. Donald Fehr and his ego could be the most destructive force the NHL has ever seen.
- jbearx

Oh they knew they might have to give some money back, Fehr is trying to limit how much they will end up giving back.

I really don't blame the guy. He lost $7.5M last time and risks losing $7M this time... that is a lot of coin to lose on principal.
- JDJ

Iginla is no snake, he seems to be one of the most rational players around actually. And the deal that Linden was a part of in the last lockout, actually generated more revenue for the players than ever before. And it will take Iginla and other rational players to go behind the real snake's back to get this done. And that snkae, Donal Fehr, will be nowhere to be seen when the dust settles on this issue.

Oh they knew they might have to give some money back, Fehr is trying to limit how much they will end up giving back.
- Symba007

of course they knew!

So playing stupid and trying to convince us that they got blindsided just makes them look much dumber and to be honest, shows very little respect to the fans by thinking we're all so stupid.

Iginla is no snake, he seems to be one of the most rational players around actually. And the deal that Linden was a part of in the last lockout, actually generated more revenue for the players than ever before. And it will take Iginla and other rational players to go behind the real snake's back to get this done. And that snkae, Donal Fehr, will be nowhere to be seen when the dust settles on this issue.
- jbearx

I know, I was just trying to stir the pot.

I know, I was just trying to stir the pot.
- takeyourvitamins

LOL...you missed your sarcastic emoticon is all then

fehr = goodenow

MLB is the worst sport to follow. basically if you do not follow a strong market team you have to wait around till your team is able to have a few good consecutive drafts, then wait till these players develop, only to know that in 2 years your team will be horrible again.

football is not a better product than hockey. the NFL just markets better and the players know that they are not bigger than the league. now look at the NHL. the least educated league out of the 4 main sports. the majority of players never had to be apart of the system. never worked a real job or had the responsiblity of college. just worked out and played hockey. literally children of men.

fehr = goodenow

MLB is the worst sport to follow. basically if you do not follow a strong market team you have to wait around till your team is able to have a few good consecutive drafts, then wait till these players develop, only to know that in 2 years your team will be horrible again.

football is not a better product than hockey. the NFL just markets better and the players know that they are not bigger than the league. now look at the NHL. the least educated league out of the 4 main sports. the majority of players never had to be apart of the system. never worked a real job or had the responsiblity of college. just worked out and played hockey. literally children of men.
- joshs

Exactly!

And now you have Suter actually taking on Liepold, the guy who just gave him that big fluffy bonus that will never be touched:

http://sports.yahoo.com/b...trace-134957617--nhl.html

These Players need to have their heads removed from their arses. Fehr is not being honest with them. I guarantee you that if somebody neutral could look over the last NHL proposal and tear it down for the players, they would see it's not as bad as Fehr is making it out to be.

fehr = goodenow

MLB is the worst sport to follow. basically if you do not follow a strong market team you have to wait around till your team is able to have a few good consecutive drafts, then wait till these players develop, only to know that in 2 years your team will be horrible again.

football is not a better product than hockey. the NFL just markets better and the players know that they are not bigger than the league. now look at the NHL. the least educated league out of the 4 main sports. the majority of players never had to be apart of the system. never worked a real job or had the responsiblity of college. just worked out and played hockey. literally children of men.
- joshs

Bettman=Bettman

3 CBAs and 3 lockouts

Bettman=Bettman

3 CBAs and 3 lockouts
- Canada Cup

yup when will the players learn.

Bettman=Bettman

3 CBAs and 3 lockouts
- Canada Cup

He's not much better...but we need to stop blaming him for this, he is merely a figurehead for the 30 owners. I'm no fan of Gary Bettman's and would like nothing more than to see him turfed as well. But when all's said and done, the owners WILL win this battle, the players WILL lose more money than they first thought, and that snake oil salesman Fehr will be riding off into the sunset with his money that the players have paid him and Gary Bettman will still be viewed as the guy who came out on top. And that hurt to say, cause I can't stand the little troll. I just hate Donald Fehr a lot more.

He's not much better...but we need to stop blaming him for this, he is merely a figurehead for the 30 owners. I'm no fan of Gary Bettman's and would like nothing more than to see him turfed as well. But when all's said and done, the owners WILL win this battle, the players WILL lose more money than they first thought, and that snake oil salesman Fehr will be riding off into the sunset with his money that the players have paid him and Gary Bettman will still be viewed as the guy who came out on top. And that hurt to say, cause I can't stand the little troll. I just hate Donald Fehr a lot more.
- jbearx

yup bettman is a d#$K for not sitting in a closed room, & negotiating, with the PA till they get a deal settled. but fehr is no better than goodenow. i mean cmon really with these offers that are not even at 50/50 but at 50/50 in a few years with a projected increase in HRR. thats just bush

Donald Fehr hasn't been serious about this since the get go. And the offer they made last week is a perfect example. It had the players actually making MORE in the first season and never reached 50/50 til near the end of the contract. When the players start losing more money, they'll realize that Fehr has brainwashed them and will find a 3rd party to get this deal done...just like the last time!

None of this should surprise anyone who remembers the last lockout...it will end almost the same way.

[quote=jbearx]


If Fehr is the evil negotiator everyone claims why would the players be surprised or brainwashed? Both sides looking to play hardball from the start. Ironically, they got very close to a deal which could be easily completed.

PS - hit ! by accident when responding