i was in a Canadian Tire today buying some lights and noticed all the Canuck stuff they had. It was all over the place... wierd stuff like Christmas Stockings with logos on them and stuff like that (By the way, happy birthday Jesus, to celebrate I bought a stocking from a corporation that..... oh I digress)

If you looked around the store, every other aisle as picked through and many spots empty.

The manager happened to be right there so I just casually asked if the Canuck stuff would go on sale soon. He said that it better. Not only is no one buying it but he often hears people comment on how they will never buy that stuff again.

Interesting.

Anyways... no merch, no way.
- Beatle_john

I read in the paper this week in Ottawa that NHL merchandise sells were down 80% at one of the sports store in town. They had NHL baseball cap reduced from $30 to 10 and still not selling.

Just why can't a new league start up?

I realize there are many problems... but come on, we are all opinionated buttheads here. We shouls be able to come up with something....

*GASP*

EK DID YOU SAY GUNS?!

*GASP*

EK DID YOU SAY GUNS?!
- broadstreetbully12

i don't think it necessary to go there.

He also said 'pulled out' but he was not talking about contraception.

Teams who makes money will always make money, they will not be effected by this. The rest don't make squat or lose money. Those owners know they will get hit regardless. Get more cost certainty or why bother playing.
- BigStew

Or just blow it up because the owners insist on telling the players how to spend their share.I was under the impression that the money was pretty much decided?No cost certainty when you are on the bubble,obviously the rich teams don't worry about the poor ones.All these guys will end up losing and us fans will get a better product due to contraction.Carry on boys,you both will lose the pissing match.

Or just blow it up because the owners insist on telling the players how to spend their share.I was under the impression that the money was pretty much decided?No cost certainty when you are on the bubble,obviously the rich teams don't worry about the poor ones.All these guys will end up losing and us fans will get a better product due to contraction.Carry on boys,you both will lose the pissing match.
- eagle50

Money won't be set if they don't play this year. Who ever assumed that the owners gave a crap about other teams? As long as there are 82 games to play the owners making money don't care if there are 20 or 30 teams, they just want here money.

That's what makes a lost Season even worse for the NHL, then the NBA and NFL. That they aren't as popular. And losing a Season makes them even less popular. A sport as big as the NFL is much more capable of making it past a lost Season.
- MJL

Another top notch arguement.

Don't bother to consider that the NHL actually loses less money, and in quite a few cases is ahead of the game by not playing a season.

Another uncomfortable truth, ignored, courtesy of MJL.

When the other leagues decided to play, they were not half way through a frank'n' season either.

I read in the paper this week in Ottawa that NHL merchandise sells were down 80% at one of the sports store in town. They had NHL baseball cap reduced from $30 to 10 and still not selling.
- Symba007

Most of the NHL gear at Bayshore is 20-50% off. Sens store at Scotiabank Place is buy one item get 2nd 50% off.

That's what makes a lost Season even worse for the NHL, then the NBA and NFL. That they aren't as popular. And losing a Season makes them even less popular. A sport as big as the NFL is much more capable of making it past a lost Season.
- MJL

I'm not sure how you consider the one sport dead last in revenue and profit out of the 3 major sports you have listed would have the hardest time losing a season.

The other sports owners ALL make money hand over fist. The majority of NHL owners barely turn a profit substantial enough to get them out of the red. How are the majority of those owners going to be so bad off if they actually lose less by forgoing the season?

I'm not sure how you consider the one sport dead last in revenue and profit out of the 3 major sports you have listed would have the hardest time losing a season.

The other sports owners ALL make money hand over fist. The majority of NHL owners barely turn a profit substantial enough to get them out of the red. How are the majority of those owners going to be so bad off if they actually lose less by forgoing the season?
- MnGump

They lose more money if they don't play.

Everyone likes bananas.

Bananas = NFL
Apples = NBA
Broccoli = NHL
Cabbage = Bettman
And Fehr is a Cauliflower. period.
- GregMorris

This cant be!! I like cabbage and cauliflower Egadz!

This cant be!! I like cabbage and cauliflower Egadz!
- Mq3030

Communist.

They lose more money if they don't play.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Well the owners normally in the black certainly would, but what about the dozen onwers that are constantly in the red? Is losing a season really going to hurt them any worse than if they had played and ended up in the red anyway?

Just why can't a new league start up?

I realize there are many problems... but come on, we are all opinionated buttheads here. We shouls be able to come up with something....
- Beatle_john

Great idea, we should start a new league!

Of course, we won't be able to play in places like Air Canada Centre, Bell Centre, MSG, Joe Louis, the United Center, Staples Center, Pepsi Center, ScotiaBank Place, Rexall, .... well, you get the idea. And we also won't be able to play in any AHL arena also owned by an NHL team.

And then there's silly little expenses like liability insurance, transportation, lodging, marketing (team and league), ... and then you probably have to pay rent for the arenas you actually can play in, pay for front-office staff, secure advertising, league office costs, etc. - but I'm sure that's only like $25 or so. And then there's the need for up-front money to fund all of that, and the need to have financing and lines of credit if/when it becomes necessary to tap extra funds for whatever reason - and banks have this stupid notion that you should provide a business plan, actually have skin in the game, and such stuff.

But other than that, yeah - it wouldn't be difficult to start up a new league at all. I can't believe no one has done it. Maybe Balsillie can put up some money for that now that RIMM has jumped up to $14 a share again.

Great idea, we should start a new league!

Of course, we won't be able to play in places like Air Canada Centre, Bell Centre, MSG, Joe Louis, the United Center, Staples Center, Pepsi Center, ScotiaBank Place, Rexall, .... well, you get the idea. And we also won't be able to play in any AHL arena also owned by an NHL team.

And then there's silly little expenses like liability insurance, transportation, lodging, marketing (team and league), ... and then you probably have to pay rent for the arenas you actually can play in, pay for front-office staff, secure advertising, league office costs, etc. - but I'm sure that's only like $25 or so. And then there's the need for up-front money to fund all of that, and the need to have financing and lines of credit if/when it becomes necessary to tap extra funds for whatever reason - and banks have this stupid notion that you should provide a business plan, actually have skin in the game, and such stuff.

But other than that, yeah - it wouldn't be difficult to start up a new league at all. I can't believe no one has done it. Maybe Balsillie can put up some money for that now that RIMM has jumped up to $14 a share again.
- Irish Blues

It's definitely difficult to start a new league with the idea that you will make what the NHL grossed last year, but all of those arenas are playable in. If a new league was formed with the superstar of the the former NHL I highly doubt that arena availability would be a problem. Everything is for sale.

Great idea, we should start a new league!

Of course, we won't be able to play in places like Air Canada Centre, Bell Centre, MSG, Joe Louis, the United Center, Staples Center, Pepsi Center, ScotiaBank Place, Rexall, .... well, you get the idea. And we also won't be able to play in any AHL arena also owned by an NHL team.

And then there's silly little expenses like liability insurance, transportation, lodging, marketing (team and league), ... and then you probably have to pay rent for the arenas you actually can play in, pay for front-office staff, secure advertising, league office costs, etc. - but I'm sure that's only like $25 or so. And then there's the need for up-front money to fund all of that, and the need to have financing and lines of credit if/when it becomes necessary to tap extra funds for whatever reason - and banks have this stupid notion that you should provide a business plan, actually have skin in the game, and such stuff.

But other than that, yeah - it wouldn't be difficult to start up a new league at all. I can't believe no one has done it. Maybe Balsillie can put up some money for that now that RIMM has jumped up to $14 a share again.
- Irish Blues

Ok... Good...... lets start................ Vancouver could play in Pacific Colossium or Great Western Forum.

next....

It's definitely difficult to start a new league with the idea that you will make what the NHL grossed last year, but all of those arenas are playable in. If a new league was formed with the superstar of the the former NHL I highly doubt that arena availability would be a problem. Everything is for sale.
- trolleytracks

We need 6 teams for year 1. is that not how it is done? Now I think we could go 12 to 14.

Vancouver
Edmonton
Calgary
Toronto
Montreal

Those should be shoo-ins, right?

Ottawa, Winnipeg, Hamilton, Windsor and Quebec City to follow.

New York
Detroit
Boston
Chicago

Again.... pretty certain a market is there.

LA, Minni, Philly , Phoen.... opps.... nope, not there.... to follow

Seattle, Portland could finally be added.

So 9 Markets that could start and 10 more open for expansion teh following year but the league will be maximized at 16 until stable.

Maybe we kick Boston out just for their current owner....


Just imagine...

1. No on ice or board advertising
2. No composite sticks
3. No Helmets (Won;t need em, no one has body armour and single piece wooden sticks keep the shot at a realistic pace)
4. No body armour
5. No Trapizoid
6. No 3 point games
7. No Instigator
8. Realistic suspensions

Did I miss anything?

When you think about it.... holy crap is the current league a crappy mess. It's a blood sport. No skill players necessary.

We need 6 teams for year 1. is that not how it is done? Now I think we could go 12 to 14.

Vancouver
Edmonton
Calgary
Toronto
Montreal

Those should be shoo-ins, right?

Ottawa, Winnipeg, Hamilton, Windsor and Quebec City to follow.

New York
Detroit
Boston
Chicago

Again.... pretty certain a market is there.

LA, Minni, Philly , Phoen.... opps.... nope, not there.... to follow

Seattle, Portland could finally be added.

So 9 Markets that could start and 10 more open for expansion teh following year but the league will be maximized at 16 until stable.

Maybe we kick Boston out just for their current owner....


Just imagine...

1. No on ice or board advertising
2. No composite sticks
3. No Helmets (Won;t need em, no one has body armour and single piece wooden sticks keep the shot at a realistic pace)
4. No body armour
5. No Trapizoid
6. No 3 point games
7. No Instigator
8. Realistic suspensions

Did I miss anything?

When you think about it.... holy crap is the current league a crappy mess. It's a blood sport. No skill players necessary.
- Beatle_john

Ottawa would be a shoe-in over Edmonton. London or Kitchener/Waterloo deserve a team before Windsor.. Markham is the obvious choice. Also Buffalo is stable so they can stay. A wooden stick league is just dumb. Almost as dumb as no helmets. 5-8 i agree with. And less advertisements along the boards would be nice. The game isn't a mess right now. I think the game is fine, but like all sports i think the ref has too much say in the final outcome of the game. There is nothing more annoying than knowing that your team is about to get a penalty because the ref made a blown call earlier.

still in utter shock by what's taken place in Connecticut.

puts things in perspective...

can only hope these pigs--NHL and NHLPA--go away for a long, long time. there's just too much important stuff to deal with.

still in utter shock by what's taken place in Connecticut.

puts things in perspective...

can only hope these pigs--NHL and NHLPA--go away for a long, long time. there's just too much important stuff to deal with.
- scotch_tape

Ya.. well.. its an angry world my friend.. Just be thankful you are sheltered from war and the US carries the big stick. Because the world is a very unfriendly place. Maybe we are seeing the side effects of our new age society.. Maybe there's a few kinks we still need to work out.

Ottawa would be a shoe-in over Edmonton. London or Kitchener/Waterloo deserve a team before Windsor.. Markham is the obvious choice. Also Buffalo is stable so they can stay. A wooden stick league is just dumb. Almost as dumb as no helmets. 5-8 i agree with. And less advertisements along the boards would be nice. The game isn't a mess right now. I think the game is fine, but like all sports i think the ref has too much say in the final outcome of the game. There is nothing more annoying than knowing that your team is about to get a penalty because the ref made a blown call earlier.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Same reason Baseball does not allow alluminum bats. It is artificial. Single piece sticks were good enough for 66 odd years.

This slows down the puck to a realistic speed, met by realistic goalie equipment and all done without a helmet as sticks will be down due to realistic suspensions for even minor infractions and just imagine how cool Guy Lafluer was when he skated... not so much in a helmet. You will create amazing players and personalities right away.

Here I lie dying in the hospotal and these clowns can't get a deal done.

Hate the way people are comparing the NHL and NHLPA to the NFL and NBA, they are supporters, millions and worlds apart!, I don't see there being any hockey, which does suck, but the players suck MORE.

We need 6 teams for year 1. is that not how it is done? Now I think we could go 12 to 14.

Vancouver
Edmonton
Calgary
Toronto
Montreal

Those should be shoo-ins, right?

Ottawa, Winnipeg, Hamilton, Windsor and Quebec City to follow.

New York
Detroit
Boston
Chicago

Again.... pretty certain a market is there.

LA, Minni, Philly , Phoen.... opps.... nope, not there.... to follow

Seattle, Portland could finally be added.

So 9 Markets that could start and 10 more open for expansion teh following year but the league will be maximized at 16 until stable.

Maybe we kick Boston out just for their current owner....


Just imagine...

1. No on ice or board advertising
2. No composite sticks
3. No Helmets (Won;t need em, no one has body armour and single piece wooden sticks keep the shot at a realistic pace)
4. No body armour
5. No Trapizoid
6. No 3 point games
7. No Instigator
8. Realistic suspensions

Did I miss anything?

When you think about it.... holy crap is the current league a crappy mess. It's a blood sport. No skill players necessary.
- Beatle_john

So after all this crap the old league pulled, your going to start changing things and start pissing off sponsors?