Location: Drinking the tears of the defeated from Lord Stanley's chalice. Joined: 01.18.2007
Nov 27 @ 10:22 PM ET
As far as Myers is concerned, he may be right, but he's still part of the problem. Just like the league is. They are all in this big stinking mess together.
I'm 42, grew up in niagara falls, been a fan since I can remember. I would welcome an NHL season regardless of when it started, however, here are a few reasons why I am frustrated.
1) Some owners/teams seem reasonable and under control, however, there are just as many who are throwing $$ and huge contracts around like they are meaningless (Suter). Teams can say no to overpaying players (Peca/Buffalo) especially this past summer when they knew what Bettman would be asking for.
2) Bettman and Fehr are paid to do a job, one of the most important aspects of that job is to negotiate a CBA whereby both sides are content, and the league opporates as it is expected. They have proved that they both are unable to do that. Instead of actually negotiating, (making consessions and recommending solutions), they are using the fans, sponsors, employees, tv contracts, and merchandisers as human shields. The longer they go, the more casualties there will be.
3) whatever the league has made the last few years is less than it could have made with better management. Hemroging money away in places like florida, and Phoenix,
No heritage classic last year.
4) there should have been a gag order for the players from the beginning. Tweeting pictures of your fararri, all the Bettman name calling.
5) neither side has learned anything from the previous recent lockout, and totally ignoring the retired players that have been telling them to work out a deal, don't drag it out.
6) the nhlpa allowing members to go play in Europe and take jobs from other players.
falls on deaf ears.....sorry the sound of millions of dollars out weighs the moral issue. ok now that thats out of the way....go ahead and compare millionaire unions to unions where people only make 30k to 50k a year. - joshs
Location: In Philly's head. . .there's a, ON Joined: 02.16.2007
Nov 27 @ 10:43 PM ET
I can honestly say that I hate the NHL. I am personally boycotting the festering carcass of the National Hockey League for the entire season (if ever they decide to put the fans first and start playing). I urge all true hockey fans to join me in this boycott. Only by removing the enormous revenues generated by fans like us, will the owners and players come back to reality.
I assume then you will be happy if they decertify?After all,a union seems to benefit the owners in todays sport union. - eagle50
The PA benefits both the players and the owners alike... Even if they were to De-certify, which would take over 50% of the players approval to do so, a new PA would be in place once the litigation for antitrust suits is over.
Bottomline - this needs to happen. I enjoy hockey just as much as anything in this world. It is a part of me. I grew up on the French Connection - it is in my blood. I find this whole lockout a joke and brand killer. Of course when it is over, us fans will get back into our routine but the sport itself will be damaged significantly. How do you grow your markets, negociate your tv rights and sell to your advertisers when you don't currently play hockey and you have a history of lockout and disruption in your sport.
I get both sides - valid points. The time is to cut a deal and move forward. Embrace this great game and play some hockey. This is what I want for Christmas - put it on my list.
Hamrilk gets it, Crosby gets it, Mayers doesn't. It's not about pride, or "digging in" and everyone thinking the same, it's about getting the best possible deal they can but still having a season. Crosby is on the side of the players more, but the way he talks, he doesn't sound like a robot reciting whatever he was told by the union, not like Mayers.
Two options left out of your poll.
1)I will watch NHL hockey on TV if/when it returns but will not spend any money on NHL merchandise or tickets this year.
Also, a response for the frustrated player.
"I DON'T GIVE A poop"
Agreed. If they want to play, I'll watch. If they dont, then I dont care.
Mayers? Idiot. How does some guy who is in the top 1% of earners in either country expect us to feel sorry for him? - Buffalo--Sabres
never understood this mentality. Not his fault pros get paid well, think it was a walk in the park to get there? This guy is making a fraction of what the top guys are, he is essentially fighting to preserve their paychecks. I am willing to bet the owners aren't giving very much. How much did the deal change during the last lockout? Oh ya, it didn't.
at this point it really shouldn't matter who is to "blame" because the only way "blame" means anything is if the fans make it so, and in that case, the only effective response is the same either way, and it WILL happen if they're dumb enough to lose another season
never understood this mentality. Not his fault pros get paid well, think it was a walk in the park to get there? This guy is making a fraction of what the top guys are, he is essentially fighting to preserve their paychecks. I am willing to bet the owners aren't giving very much. How much did the deal change during the last lockout? Oh ya, it didn't. - Jay Uller
Nope, not his fault. But I can completely understand why nobody would have any sympathy for him. As difficult as it may have been for him to get to the NHL, he still gets half a million dollars a year to play a kids game.
You are right, this is all about preserving the paychecks for the top guys. It's not as though the NHL is looking to lower the league minimum. Even the crappiest player in the league will continue to get 10x the salary of the average person.
Location: I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity., NY Joined: 11.27.2012
Nov 28 @ 5:47 AM ET
The cold hard fact is that having the 2nd work stoppage in 8 years for a sport that (I love more than any other) but is and was a fringe sport for so so many is simply unconscionable !
I am sure the 'on the fence' fans will at some point in their lives glance at this game and league once again if and only when idle time becomes available in large quantity.
Me ? Well . I am going to watch and go to games because I have a simple pure love for the game. Hell , I have been watching Sabres classics on MSG every Monday night at 8pm just to get my hockey fix. Last nights (Sabres Ottawa 2006 playoff series) where Pomms walks around Alfredsson and Emery for a shorthanded , game winning , series clinching goal is what its all about .
A shame they are destroying a great game and losing fans by the row full.
I feel for the ushers/concession workers and small business owners this lockout effects but lets face it this game needs a shake up. Rapid expansion has dilluted a skill game so much that a baby deer could skate better than some of the thugs thats get playing time.
Goodbye tampa, dallas, phoenix, nashville, florida, carolina. Goodbye columbus because after all this time you still stink. Hello quebec, hamilton and seattle. 26 team 2 conference league with a raised talent pool.
No more carcillo, gilles or bissonette.
Let Canadians buy season tickets for Hamilton and see where buffalo is after a couple years and then move them to the GTA will the Bills. Maybe then the citizens of upstate new york will think twice about booing the Canadian national anthem then.
The only thing i love more than hockey is my family. I am an ohl season ticket holder and i dont need the NHL.
Location: I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity., NY Joined: 11.27.2012
Nov 28 @ 7:17 AM ET
I feel for the ushers/concession workers and small business owners this lockout effects but lets face it this game needs a shake up. Rapid expansion has dilluted a skill game so much that a baby deer could skate better than some of the thugs thats get playing time.
Goodbye tampa, dallas, phoenix, nashville, florida, carolina. Goodbye columbus because after all this time you still stink. Hello quebec, hamilton and seattle. 26 team 2 conference league with a raised talent pool.
No more carcillo, gilles or bissonette.
Let Canadians buy season tickets for Hamilton and see where buffalo is after a couple years and then move them to the GTA will the Bills. Maybe then the citizens of upstate new york will think twice about booing the Canadian national anthem then.
The only thing i love more than hockey is my family. I am an ohl season ticket holder and i dont need the NHL. - EBomber
With Terry Pegula and perhaps the best core fans around the NHL I strongly beg to differ that the Sabres ever go anywhere. I am so sure of that, I'd bet my life on it.
You could not be more off with that assumption. You clearly do not live in Buffalo and therefor I will chalk your ignorance up to that.
During playoff games the Buffalo Sabres have just as many fans outside watching the game on the big screen in "the plaza" in 20 degree temps than are jam packed inside the arena.
