i think a 2 year shut down would break the union
- bobbyisno1

Oh, I gotcha. You're probably right about that. I really hope it doesn't come to that though.

Easy now, Just pointing out that there is more to the issue, surely this needs some consideration?
- steve362

i heard you the first time

Oh, I gotcha. You're probably right about that. I really hope it doesn't come to that though.
- BlueBallz

cause 2 years would suck without hockey, but everybody has become way to greedy and it should be the fans imposing a 2 year lockout

cause 2 years would suck without hockey, but everybody has become way to greedy and it should be the fans imposing a 2 year lockout
- bobbyisno1

I have put exactly $0.00 into NHL merchandise and ticket sales since the last lockout.

My aunt works for an advertising company and gets free Leaf tickets occasionally. I declined them on more than one occasion because I feel that even entering the building is contributing to the problem.

I have put exactly $0.00 into NHL merchandise and ticket sales since the last lockout.

My aunt works for an advertising company and gets free Leaf tickets occasionally. I declined them on more than one occasion because I feel that even entering the building is contributing to the problem.
- BlueBallz

If you ever watched a game on TV or bought an NHL game you're lying.

If you ever watched a game on TV or bought an NHL game you're lying.
- AdamFrench

I have watched but haven't bought any games. I understand that watching helps generate advertising dollars, but I said I contributed $0 to tickets and merchandise sales and that remains true.

If you ever watched a game on TV or bought an NHL game you're lying.
- AdamFrench

I may not be buying anything NHL related anytime soon, but my wallet is a Leafs wallet go figure

help the NHL and NHLPA

All this talk about video games and whether or not they can be good for your brain, and no love for the Portal series?

and the players need to realize the owners simply do not care

they are willing to sit out.. they dont like losing money

so for the owners its sit out and lose a little money.. or play and lose alot... not a whole lot of motivation for the owners to get things going is it?

the owners will get their way in the end.. the sooner the players understand this the sooner we get back to hockey

cause owners look at a stagnant asset in a better light than they do one that loses money
- Dozzer

we're all aware of that. that's what i'm saying. they got their pound of flesh, seems pretty moronic to hold up the process on something that doesnt effect the owners losing money.

i think a 2 year shut down would break the union
- bobbyisno1

This is a joke right? The NHL can't do jack about the union. It's there to stay. Labor laws in both Canada and the United States prevent the NHL from just running away from the union.

How many goals did the new Paul Coffey score?

This is a joke right? The NHL can't do jack about the union. It's there to stay. Labor laws in both Canada and the United States prevent the NHL from just running away from the union.
- Two_For_Truth

I think he meant it more figuratively.

we're all aware of that. that's what i'm saying. they got their pound of flesh, seems pretty moronic to hold up the process on something that doesnt effect the owners losing money.
- burn

Bettman isn't satisfied with getting some of what he wants. He wants everything. It's astonishing that people can get behind Bettman and his all or nothing war. It's ludicrous that they created the system, they abused the system and now they're trying to fix everything by trying to pass over the consequences to somebody else.

I think he meant it more figuratively.
- sanfordnson

Certain people have suggested going with scab players and think that the NHLPA would just disappear and everything would be perfect again.

Going two full years without hockey would do immense and irreversible damage to the NHL. Not to mention, the teams that do actually make money would have a conniption.

Certain people have suggested going with scab players and think that the NHLPA would just disappear and everything would be perfect again.

Going two full years without hockey would do immense and irreversible damage to the NHL. Not to mention, the teams that do actually make money would have a conniption.
- Two_For_Truth

Two years would break the NHL might have been a better way to put it. I believe this too. I think two years without would even turn the hardcore fans away. Hell, just this lockout has already guaranteed the only thing I would do this year, even if they have a season, is casually watch on TV. No live games, no merch. (frank) them.

Two years would break the NHL might have been a better way to put it. I believe this too. I think two years without would even turn the hardcore fans away. Hell, just this lockout has already guaranteed the only thing I would do this year, even if they have a season, is casually watch on TV. No live games, no merch. (frank) them.
- sanfordnson

However this turns out, I really hope that this is the last thing Bettman ever does. I hope he gets the hell out of the way and stops destroying this game. But I also know that his right hand man, Daly, isn't much better.

Bettman isn't satisfied with getting some of what he wants. He wants everything. It's astonishing that people can get behind Bettman and his all or nothing war. It's ludicrous that they created the system, they abused the system and now they're trying to fix everything by trying to pass over the consequences to somebody else.
- Two_For_Truth

Agreed

Watching Canada beat the Americans never gets old.

Who needs the perpetual disappointment of the Leafs when you have team Canada replays?

Missing hockey yet? Nope.

Bring on the draft lottery.

People talk about Bettman like he owns the league and runs it personally, like Vince McMahon and the WWE. He's just a bagman for the owners, get rid of Bettman and they'll just bring in someone else to do the same thing.

People talk about Bettman like he owns the league and runs it personally, like Vince McMahon and the WWE. He's just a bagman for the owners, get rid of Bettman and they'll just bring in someone else to do the same thing.
- Zezel

If Bettman was just a bag man for the owners, why is it that the owners get fined if they say anything? When was the last time you saw a bag man place a fine on the mob boss for speaking his mind? Bettman has special provisions in place to ensure he has complete control of the league and the direction it is going in.

This is a joke right? The NHL can't do jack about the union. It's there to stay. Labor laws in both Canada and the United States prevent the NHL from just running away from the union.
- Two_For_Truth

No union = no CBA = no anti trust exemption for the NHL

That's about the last thing the league would want, they would have no control over costs, player movement, etc.

This is a joke right? The NHL can't do jack about the union. It's there to stay. Labor laws in both Canada and the United States prevent the NHL from just running away from the union.
- Two_For_Truth

sorry, but if the union folds laws wont do a thing about it.
if the majority wants to go back to earning money they fold the union

If Bettman was just a bag man for the owners, why is it that the owners get fined if they say anything? When was the last time you saw a bag man place a fine on the mob boss for speaking his mind? Bettman has special provisions in place to ensure he has complete control of the league and the direction it is going in.
- Two_For_Truth

Because the owners agree to those rules. Bettman doesn't have control of the league, because if he does something the owners don't like, he gets fired. If they like what he does, he stays on the job. Bettman is not an owner, he's an employee. Bettman's job is to be the public face and take the flak for thirty owners, and particularly the big owners like Toronto, Detroit, New York, etc. You think Illitch et al are under Bettman's control? Guess again.

sorry, but if the union folds laws wont do a thing about it.
if the majority wants to go back to earning money they fold the union
- bobbyisno1

You truly have no clue how unions or labor laws work at all.

Good luck with the anti-trust lawsuits. I'm sure the NHL is dying to deal with that.