True true true,

Here is who should be ticked off - the now 31 owners. If I recall the cap is a 50/50 split before the 5% escalators. So @75M each franchise sees 150.0M in gross revenues? Cost of non ice talent must go up along with other expenses. Their portion of the pie must be shrinking each year. Yet on the flip side few clubs are sold and zero bankruptcies. I must be missing something...
- riozzo

I'm sure they get a fair amount of coin from revenue that is not "hockey-related" (and therefore doesn't have to be shared with the players). But the issue you raise is why I expect there will be another lockout in a few years.

True true true,

Here is who should be ticked off - the now 31 owners. If I recall the cap is a 50/50 split before the 5% escalators. So @75M each franchise sees 150.0M in gross revenues? Cost of non ice talent must go up along with other expenses. Their portion of the pie must be shrinking each year. Yet on the flip side few clubs are sold and zero bankruptcies. I must be missing something...
- riozzo

No, because the HRR isn't twice the cap hit - it's (effectively) twice the cap hit minus the escrow. Players salaries get adjusted when HRR is tried up after their season (within the next couple of weeks) - the escrow reduces their total compensation to 50% of tried up HRR.

The owners profits may reduce in a stagnant cap situation because of increasing non-ice costs, but like all businesses, if that is the case, figure out how to increase revenues.

Don't forget - they each just got 1/30 of $500,000,000 from Las Vegas - with probably another slug coming in a few years from another expansion team - which they don't share with the players.

Don't feel sorry for the owners.

Can someone please explain the extreme passion to break-up what at worst has been the second best line IN THE ENTIRE LEAGUE during the past two seasons?

I mean, this year I have the 72 15 88 line ranked 9th in the NHL in goals scored and last year I think they were 1st.

If it ain't broke don't fix it! Let's not overreact to an early exit to what very well may be the Stanley Cup Champs.

If you wanna play both sides of the coin and move big contracts for the future while still seriously competing for the cup let's look at moving 81 and/or 7.
- Snatch Wanchuk

You are missing the point.

When Toews line is dominant, and Kane's line is missing a piece, they are cup contenders.

When Kane's is dominant, and Toews line is missing a piece, scoring titles are won, but they are a first round exit.

It's easy enough to see, fix your top line, and make it dangerous again, and everything else falls into place.

Murray is taking a beating!

You are missing the point.

When Toews line is dominant, and Kane's line is missing a piece, they are cup contenders.

When Kane's is dominant, and Toews line is missing a piece, scoring titles are won, but they are a first round exit.

It's easy enough to see, fix your top line, and make it dangerous again, and everything else falls into place.
- dahawks8819

That's the hope.

Bowman and his guys will do their best and show up " at the high stakes" poker table when it comes to making deals possibly involving some of their prospects, while behind closed doors they feel the Zambrano effect! " We Stinks"! Just look at Rockfords potential roster , along with some of the crap Quennville was forced to play at different times. Go Preds!!

a horrible pp...followed immediately by terrible give away and a goal...2 pens get beat

the preds do it again with a come back 3rd

a horrible pp...followed immediately by terrible give away and a goal...2 pens get beat

the preds do it again with a come back 3rd
- bogiedoc

I hope they pull this off; especially after getting jobbed on their first should have been goal.

Joke...

Pens are the luckiest bums imaginable.

True true true,

Here is who should be ticked off - the now 31 owners. If I recall the cap is a 50/50 split before the 5% escalators. So @75M each franchise sees 150.0M in gross revenues? Cost of non ice talent must go up along with other expenses. Their portion of the pie must be shrinking each year. Yet on the flip side few clubs are sold and zero bankruptcies. I must be missing something...
- riozzo

Teams are not sold because there is no long term profit in owning one.

And no bankruptcies because its mostly corporations that own these teams - and they use them as tax write offs against their profitable companies when consolidating them.

Companies would rather have the write off than pay the 35 percent to Uncle Sam.

I hope they pull this off; especially after getting jobbed on their first should have been goal.
- matt_ahrens

Soft goal by Rinne -- maybe he was asleep after not seeing a shot for more than 35 minutes.

The other leagues have several US networks competing for contracts - NHL has only one.
- StLBravesFan

Doesn't matter. It's Bettman's job to maximize revenue and he hasn't been doing that. While I acknowledge there make be obstacles for the NHL it's Bettman's responsibility to navigate through them and make the league money. That isn't happening.

I don't know how much longer the owners will accept minimal revenue growth like this. The Hawks seem to play ball with what the league wants but how long before Wirtz gets tired of the league's current direction?

I'm not being sarcastic here. If the league had continued its previous growth or even something close to it we wouldn't be worried about Toews and Kane's contracts or who becomes the latest cap casualty every year.

No, because the HRR isn't twice the cap hit - it's (effectively) twice the cap hit minus the escrow. Players salaries get adjusted when HRR is tried up after their season (within the next couple of weeks) - the escrow reduces their total compensation to 50% of tried up HRR.

The owners profits may reduce in a stagnant cap situation because of increasing non-ice costs, but like all businesses, if that is the case, figure out how to increase revenues.


- StLBravesFan

Don't forget - they each just got 1/30 of $500,000,000 from Las Vegas - with probably another slug coming in a few years from another expansion team - which they don't share with the players.

Don't feel sorry for the owners.

Not entirely true. You are forgetting the 400+ million in losses the league has been carrying with the Arizona team. Most of the entry fee is going into covering that, so in reality, there is no true "profit" to be had from this expansion. Mostly just a recoup of past losses.

Joke...

Pens are the luckiest bums imaginable.
- ArlingtonRob

and this one is ovah...another game for the nhl to be proud of

You are missing the point.

When Toews line is dominant, and Kane's line is missing a piece, they are cup contenders.

When Kane's is dominant, and Toews line is missing a piece, scoring titles are won, but they are a first round exit.

It's easy enough to see, fix your top line, and make it dangerous again, and everything else falls into place.
- dahawks8819

I don't agree with this premise, when both lines are dominate they advance. When either isn't they they don't.

Awful game...embarrassing first game of the final.

Pens played like a lottery team tonight and come out smelling like roses.

Awful call on the offsides turned this game into a joke.

Awful game...embarrassing first game of the final.

Pens played like a lottery team tonight and come out smelling like roses.

Awful call on the offsides turned this game into a joke.
- ArlingtonRob

Ratings are going to be in the tank.

Soft goal by Rinne -- maybe he was asleep after not seeing a shot for more than 35 minutes.
- Hank_Greenberg

yeah, that one and the fluke one he gave up earlier that his Dman bounce in. Plus that stupid off sides ruling, this is one that got away from the Preds.

I don't agree with this premise, when both lines are dominate they advance. When either isn't they they don't.
- walleyeb1

Not true. Can you say the Kane line was dominant when Kane was dragging the likes of Handzus and Richards around??

For 5+ years, the biggest complaint around here was Kane did not have a true 2nd line center, but they still managed to win 3 cups without it.

But for the three cups, Toews had the likes of Sharp in his prime, and a young Saad on his left - and that line was dominant.

Point is, Kane can carry lesser talent with him and still score at a high level, but for this team to truly contend for the cup, Toews needs 1st line talent to skate with.

These facts have been proven over the last 7+ years.

Doesn't matter. It's Bettman's job to maximize revenue and he hasn't been doing that. While I acknowledge there make be obstacles for the NHL it's Bettman's responsibility to navigate through them and make the league money. That isn't happening.

I don't know how much longer the owners will accept minimal revenue growth like this. The Hawks seem to play ball with what the league wants but how long before Wirtz gets tired of the league's current direction?

I'm not being sarcastic here. If the league had continued its previous growth or even something close to it we wouldn't be worried about Toews and Kane's contracts or who becomes the latest cap casualty every year.
- DarthKane

I agree with all of this - a league so dependent on stadium revenues cannot grow revenues more than the 2% that apparently is this league's number - they need the same kind of massive new TV moneys that the other leagues have realized the past many years.

Time for a more marketing-oriented league office, one that is as good at generating new revenues as the current league execs are at containing player costs.

JMcD - your table is ready.

Awful game...embarrassing first game of the final.

Pens played like a lottery team tonight and come out smelling like roses.

Awful call on the offsides turned this game into a joke.
- ArlingtonRob

I agree those officials should not do another game the rest of the year . BS calls in the 1st magnified by make up calls in the 2nd .Just complete garbage by the ref's

I'm not a Sid fan...but can respect what the Pens are doing...and doing without Letang. Also, they earned their spot in playoffs with a really strong regular season. The Preds regular season barely got them in the playoffs. It's like they coasted all year and snuck in. I don't want a "wild card" team to win the cup...especially the one team that annually attempts to keep Hawk fans out of their stadium. Go Pens.

a horrible pp...followed immediately by terrible give away and a goal...2 pens get beat

the preds do it again with a come back 3rd
- bogiedoc

Hey Bogie - so they disallowed the first goal of the game and then gave the Pens a 5-3...the NHL continues to show they have clown show officiating.

Meanwhile if the Hawks are truly going to shake up the makeup/chemistry of this team start with the GM and McD send them anywhere but here...or get rid of Q and get your guy in here.

If Stan really wants to instill his vision on this team - then he should get rid of Q (who was brought in by Scotty) and hire his own guy. Daley getting moved is on Q...as well as Brouwer and others...not to mention Q's penchant for dreadful special teams...

Meantime Bowman has blown how many moves..? And handed out how many NMCs /NTCS...Stan has shown time and again that he's out over his skis despite the rosy outlook by several posters on this board. Stan's defenders will quickly point out he's won two Cups as the steward of this team...and he should be commended for that...

But one can only wonder had the right moves been made would this team be looking at a dynasty right now? The lack of center depth in 2014 which killed us against the Kings and then the lack of a 4D two springs ago...when after winning a Cup Stan's first move was to go after Runny...w

I'm not a Sid fan...but can respect what the Pens are doing...and doing without Letang. Also, they earned their spot in playoffs with a really strong regular season. The Preds regular season barely got them in the playoffs. It's like they coasted all year and snuck in. I don't want a "wild card" team to win the cup...especially the one team that annually attempts to keep Hawk fans out of their stadium. Go Pens.
- onehundredlevel

i'm with you...somehow nashville and stanley cup have no business in the same sentence...

but the preds got robbed tonight and they are just amazing at the comebacks they produce..

Not true. Can you say the Kane line was dominant when Kane was dragging the likes of Handzus and Richards around??

For 5+ years, the biggest complaint around here was Kane did not have a true 2nd line center, but they still managed to win 3 cups without it.

But for the three cups, Toews had the likes of Sharp in his prime, and a young Saad on his left - and that line was dominant.

Point is, Kane can carry lesser talent with him and still score at a high level, but for this team to truly contend for the cup, Toews needs 1st line talent to skate with.

These facts have been proven over the last 7+ years.
- dahawks8819

So basically we're saying Toews is the drag on this team. Kane can lift the play of those on his line Toews isn't capable of doing this and his play actually drops off! If that's the case we're in deep trouble.