Wait the city is that big just because it has a big mall? Are you that ignorant or just trying to be an bumhole and trash the city for no reason. Way to edit your post and take out the word "pleasant" before the word options. Sure some cities are more attractive to live in than others but they all have there bad points. Some players just want to play hockey and raise a family. Please explain to me what is so bad about Edmonton for that???
- ruttager17

Winter in Edmonton blows ass if i could live and play hockey in cali or Vancouver guess what lol but Im curious why would u play in edmonton when Vancouver offers the same amount of money????

My reply was not an attempt to refute you. No reply was necessary for that. Your post refutes itself. Simply because no one with half a brain would post that.
- MJL

If herp derp... Then why herpa derp derp blurp?

To be fair, it didnt take those teams that long. They were playoff teams only about two years after landing their big picks in the draft, if im not mistaken. But those teams built around their stars with veterans. Something Oilers could use a little of.
- systemtool

Wrong. It took them longer than that. It's funny how quickly people forget that.

Well, yea, that comes with draftin top 3 overall.

You guys have had 3 consecutive 1st overalls, no reason to not see it as a fair barometer. Scored sweet with Ebs a steal at 22nd overall and just a female genitalia hair out of lottery with Gagner.
- systemtool

Well we never even got to see Yakupov play yet.

Gagner is a pretty good player... He's no Kadri though.

well..since they had 5 years of lotto picks, Id say that gives us two more years for your fair barometer.
- sanfordnson

Yup.

Well we never even got to see Yakupov play yet.

Gagner is a pretty good player... He's no Kadri though.
- laughs2907

Check out my advent calendar.

Evidence leans to it being true, than not. Again, Im envious of the Oilers youth and potential, but a little objective honest isnt something to get your back up over.
- systemtool

12 point increase and they greatly improved in almost every area... I'm happy with that progress.

Its cute you have to bring the Leafs into this just to make a point your point. Speaks volumes.
- systemtool

He had a point though.

yakupov hasnt played yet. so the third pick has no bearing on your point.

we completely tore it down in the same offseason as we picked hall. and then we had 1 year with nuge. incidentally hall missed a third of that season too.

should our one 18 and one 19 year old have turned us around into a cup contender??

this actually only year 3 of the rebuild coming up. fact.
finishing last the year before we picked hall (2010) does not constitute part of it.

god these people are such clueless monkeys
- hugefemale dog77

Good point.

Check out my advent calendar.


- RichardHertz

Cool story but I don't think MLB union decertified. They did sue the owners for collusion and won. Other than the legal analysis was fun. I kept hearing Jack Nicholson saying "you cant handle the truth". By the way, making someone wait isn't negotiating in bad faith it is just negotiating with bad manners.
- Canada Cup

I have thru great amount of surfing have found out in fact that the MLBPA did not in fact decertify I will give you this. I have also found out the MLB is excempt from anti-trust lawsuits. In the cases where they were finally sued it was proven that Baseball in fact acted in bad faith with the reserve clause where if a player signed a contract with a team they could put him on a reserve list after his contract concluded. Thus making it impossible for him to play for any other major league baseball team. This reserve clause was challenged several times in 1953 and 1972 before being clarified to one season only in 1975. But in fact to sue MLB who have a congress given excemption you have to prove the there is a monoply for one(NHL has no monoply), Prove MLB didn't have the best interest in the game in mind, prove the reserve clause was in fact used to stop player movement.
Saying that IMO I really cannot see how the NHLPA can actually prove callusion and unfair labor practices. The NBAPA used this threat successfully because this could possibly be proved under a monoply hindering pro basketball players from playing elsewhere. The NHL is not a monoply, does not have a reserve clause, and the CBA prohibits callusion amoung owners but not amoung players and agents. I personally believe the NHLPA would have been laughed out of court looking at the CBA and the Power the NHLPA actually still holds. (Mainly the ability to have free agency and the ability to plan with one another to where they want to play Suter/Parise come to mind.) This is only my non legal opinion of course after surfing for answers to how baseball antitrust cases were won.

My reply was not an attempt to refute you. No reply was necessary for that. Your post refutes itself. Simply because no one with half a brain would post that.
- MJL

Cant stand being wrong in the face of my arguments eh? I dont blame you for surrendering.

Cant stand being wrong in the face of my arguments eh? I dont blame you for surrendering.
- sanfordnson

I do surrender! How can anyone refute "Its all the players fault. Anyone with a brain knows this. "

I do surrender! How can anyone refute "Its all the players fault. Anyone with a brain knows this. "
- MJL

as per the original post, only a few people will try and refute it, and/or dont know it.
those with only half a brain....

So the players are voting on whether or not to dissolve... Would have been nice if they voted on the NHL's previous offer.

So the players are voting on whether or not to dissolve... Would have been nice if they voted on the NHL's previous offer.
- laughs2907

a no vote might push them in that direction....?

a no vote might push them in that direction....?
- hugefemale dog77

Uggghhhh the whole process is so slow and stuuuuuuuuupiiiiiiiiddddddd.

Richard Cloutier: Rumor: Fehr Chooses Campoli Over Iginla
- Maxbone

I just wanted to say Thank You for an honest, non-partisan, accurate assessment of the state of affairs.
Any sports league is no different than a typical corporation (which I, unfortunately, am part of, albeit at much less fame).
You are a voluntary employee of said corporation, and for better-or-worse, subject to their rules. If you want more money, play in KHL.
I'd rather see a curtail on the Luongo/DiPietro contracts, and have a healthier league as a result. 5 yr limits seem fair, considering I could be fired at a moments notice if I fail at my fiduciary responsibilities OR (like the NHL) it is not producing the profits is anticipated.
Life, it is not fair. It is rough, it comes rife with disappointment and concessions, and often...failure. Seems Fehr is unwilling to admit defeat, along with some fringe players in court.
Seems to speak volumes that two of the steadiest and honorable players of the last 10 yrs (Iginla/St Louis), along with many of the same types from the 90's (JR, Modano et all) are being excluded. This has broke down to a pride thing, nothing more.
The owners are doing the profit sharing, producing the hundreds of jobs (per franchise) among the city revenue, and also sharing the burden of the losses. Yes, it is easy to point the finger and say SO WHAT YOU ARE RICH. But in the end, without owners, there is no NHL and no franchises.
I know it is in vogue to hate on Bettman, but his job is to make all parties (but especially, those with the most to lose) happy. He has made a myriad of errors, but as this drags on, it seems like it is not one of them. He (and the owners) seem to be in the right, in comparison with similar situations in the labor force. These players are NOT losing their job, they are asked to make concessions for the greater good of the games future. I have had my comp plan 'adjusted' a few times in my 10.5 yr career, but I continue, because if I protested I'd be out of a job.
The Union causes entitlement, misinformation, a divide, all the while eroding fanbases and the goodwill on many cities and ESPECIALLY the next generation not able to watch hockey.
I, for one, don't want to see this game fade to relative oblivion. Flame on, but Bettman and the owners are right. Cut a deal (it can't be that bad), continue to enjoy your STILL significant paychecks in the midst of the worst recession in 80 yrs, and come back to entertain us?

Thank you.

I just wanted to say Thank You for an honest, non-partisan, accurate assessment of the state of affairs.
Any sports league is no different than a typical corporation (which I, unfortunately, am part of, albeit at much less fame).
You are a voluntary employee of said corporation, and for better-or-worse, subject to their rules. If you want more money, play in KHL.
I'd rather see a curtail on the Luongo/DiPietro contracts, and have a healthier league as a result. 5 yr limits seem fair, considering I could be fired at a moments notice if I fail at my fiduciary responsibilities OR (like the NHL) it is not producing the profits is anticipated.
Life, it is not fair. It is rough, it comes rife with disappointment and concessions, and often...failure. Seems Fehr is unwilling to admit defeat, along with some fringe players in court.
Seems to speak volumes that two of the steadiest and honorable players of the last 10 yrs (Iginla/St Louis), along with many of the same types from the 90's (JR, Modano et all) are being excluded. This has broke down to a pride thing, nothing more.
The owners are doing the profit sharing, producing the hundreds of jobs (per franchise) among the city revenue, and also sharing the burden of the losses. Yes, it is easy to point the finger and say SO WHAT YOU ARE RICH. But in the end, without owners, there is no NHL and no franchises.
I know it is in vogue to hate on Bettman, but his job is to make all parties (but especially, those with the most to lose) happy. He has made a myriad of errors, but as this drags on, it seems like it is not one of them. He (and the owners) seem to be in the right, in comparison with similar situations in the labor force. These players are NOT losing their job, they are asked to make concessions for the greater good of the games future. I have had my comp plan 'adjusted' a few times in my 10.5 yr career, but I continue, because if I protested I'd be out of a job.
The Union causes entitlement, misinformation, a divide, all the while eroding fanbases and the goodwill on many cities and ESPECIALLY the next generation not able to watch hockey.
I, for one, don't want to see this game fade to relative oblivion. Flame on, but Bettman and the owners are right. Cut a deal (it can't be that bad), continue to enjoy your STILL significant paychecks in the midst of the worst recession in 80 yrs, and come back to entertain us?

Thank you.
- FLflames34

that was a gooder

I just wanted to say Thank You for an honest, non-partisan, accurate assessment of the state of affairs.
Any sports league is no different than a typical corporation (which I, unfortunately, am part of, albeit at much less fame).
You are a voluntary employee of said corporation, and for better-or-worse, subject to their rules. If you want more money, play in KHL.
I'd rather see a curtail on the Luongo/DiPietro contracts, and have a healthier league as a result. 5 yr limits seem fair, considering I could be fired at a moments notice if I fail at my fiduciary responsibilities OR (like the NHL) it is not producing the profits is anticipated.
Life, it is not fair. It is rough, it comes rife with disappointment and concessions, and often...failure. Seems Fehr is unwilling to admit defeat, along with some fringe players in court.
Seems to speak volumes that two of the steadiest and honorable players of the last 10 yrs (Iginla/St Louis), along with many of the same types from the 90's (JR, Modano et all) are being excluded. This has broke down to a pride thing, nothing more.
The owners are doing the profit sharing, producing the hundreds of jobs (per franchise) among the city revenue, and also sharing the burden of the losses. Yes, it is easy to point the finger and say SO WHAT YOU ARE RICH. But in the end, without owners, there is no NHL and no franchises.
I know it is in vogue to hate on Bettman, but his job is to make all parties (but especially, those with the most to lose) happy. He has made a myriad of errors, but as this drags on, it seems like it is not one of them. He (and the owners) seem to be in the right, in comparison with similar situations in the labor force. These players are NOT losing their job, they are asked to make concessions for the greater good of the games future. I have had my comp plan 'adjusted' a few times in my 10.5 yr career, but I continue, because if I protested I'd be out of a job.
The Union causes entitlement, misinformation, a divide, all the while eroding fanbases and the goodwill on many cities and ESPECIALLY the next generation not able to watch hockey.
I, for one, don't want to see this game fade to relative oblivion. Flame on, but Bettman and the owners are right. Cut a deal (it can't be that bad), continue to enjoy your STILL significant paychecks in the midst of the worst recession in 80 yrs, and come back to entertain us?

Thank you.
- FLflames34

Good post... The only thing I'd disagree with is the part about making more money in the KHL. This may be true for a couple of players this season (cap set at 1.1 billion rubles (approx. US$36.5 million), but each club can waive the cap for one player transferred directly from the NHL, if he is eligible to play for the Russian national team.) but if many players move to the KHL,the cap situation will not permit players to earn salaries even close to what they made in the NHL... Add in the fact that it's not unusual for KHL teams to have trouble paying their players.

Bottom line... NHL players have no idea how good they have it right now. The threat of leaving the NHL to go to the KHL is laughable.

Good post... The only thing I'd disagree with is the part about making more money in the KHL. This may be true for a couple of players this season (cap set at 1.1 billion rubles (approx. US$36.5 million), but each club can waive the cap for one player transferred directly from the NHL, if he is eligible to play for the Russian national team.) but if many players move to the KHL,the cap situation sill not permit players to earn salaries even close to what they made in the NHL... Add in the fact that it's not unusual for KHL teams to have trouble paying their players.

Bottom line... NHL players have no idea how good they have it right now. The threat of leaving the NHL to go to the KHL is laughable.
- laughs2907

Then, it boils down to picking the lesser of two evils. In corporate, there is no better analogy then that. Go with the flow, or (if you have the means) quit and produce a better idea. Else, you will be the fool the NHLPA is making its players look like...for pride...whereas I will assume the vast majority oppose the major principles of the lockout and are willing to concede.

Either pick the hand that feeds you, albeit, slightly less than previously accustomed to...or fly halfway across the world in hopes of a paycheck.
My point being, it isn't like their situation is so terrible. Even if salaries are curtailed 24%, or capped at 5 yrs (which, very few players are good enough to get contracts longer than this anyway), the likelihood is these trade-offs are much more digestible than the prospect of playing in a Russian industrial city in hopes of equal pay.

Again, life is rife with failure, corporate world is subject to potential concessions, and the oligarchy (or, in the NHLPA, 'leadership') is victim to turnover at a moments notice...as Cloutier eloquently pointed out. So those who sell out their brothers for VICTORY, as fringe as they may be, may get future spots...but for how long?

I'd rather not bite the hand that feeds too much, ownership, else I have no legs to skate on. While plenty of the NHLers (specifically, the 30+) can be shrewd investors, many more will be stuck holding the same bag as other professional sport entities in which there is no fall-back upon retirement.

So, one yr of lost game-checks for principal is a cataclysmic event for less prestigious job holders (from arena workers to front office to customer service), derives a yr of eventual retirement income for the player with a limited life skill-set, and a souring of the mood for the sport as a whole (discouraging future children from pursuing it).

I live in Florida....ESPN...I could not tell you the last time I saw hockey even mentioned. It is all but forgotten. And so is lost a year in the life of these fringe players who will likely have some atrophy in skill and in the end will eventually be supplanted by younger/better players anyway.

Then, it boils down to picking the lesser of two evils. In corporate, there is no better analogy then that. Go with the flow, or (if you have the means) quit and produce a better idea. Else, you will be the fool the NHLPA is making its players look like...for pride...whereas I will assume the vast majority oppose the major principles of the lockout and are willing to concede.

Either pick the hand that feeds you, albeit, slightly less than previously accustomed to...or fly halfway across the world in hopes of a paycheck.
My point being, it isn't like their situation is so terrible. Even if salaries are curtailed 24%, or capped at 5 yrs (which, very few players are good enough to get contracts longer than this anyway), the likelihood is these trade-offs are much more digestible than the prospect of playing in a Russian industrial city in hopes of equal pay.

Again, life is rife with failure, corporate world is subject to potential concessions, and the oligarchy (or, in the NHLPA, 'leadership') is victim to turnover at a moments notice...as Cloutier eloquently pointed out. So those who sell out their brothers for VICTORY, as fringe as they may be, may get future spots...but for how long?

I'd rather not bite the hand that feeds too much, ownership, else I have no legs to skate on. While plenty of the NHLers (specifically, the 30+) can be shrewd investors, many more will be stuck holding the same bag as other professional sport entities in which there is no fall-back upon retirement.

So, one yr of lost game-checks for principal is a cataclysmic event for less prestigious job holders (from arena workers to front office to customer service), derives a yr of eventual retirement income for the player with a limited life skill-set, and a souring of the mood for the sport as a whole (discouraging future children from pursuing it).

I live in Florida....ESPN...I could not tell you the last time I saw hockey even mentioned. It is all but forgotten. And so is lost a year in the life of these fringe players who will likely have some atrophy in skill and in the end will eventually be supplanted by younger/better players anyway.
- FLflames34

Yup.

So the players are voting on whether or not to dissolve... Would have been nice if they voted on the NHL's previous offer.
- laughs2907

It will be interesting to see how the quotes about how happy they are with the union and how solid they are, as well as the quote mentioning filing a disclaimer as a tactic, will play out in court.

I have no idea how the courts can say the disclaimer passes the stink test. If the courts decide they don't want to be involved, I have no idea how they would then turn around and call the lockout illegal.

So i guess ebs decided he wanted to be the best player in the ahl tonight. ahah

It will be interesting to see how the quotes about how happy they are with the union and how solid they are, as well as the quote mentioning filing a disclaimer as a tactic, will play out in court.

I have no idea how the courts can say the disclaimer passes the stink test. If the courts decide they don't want to be involved, I have no idea how they would then turn around and call the lockout illegal.
- Aetherial

Yeah for sure. It should be interesting.