I don't think they'll be a work stoppage, and if there is one, it will only be a short one. The players and owners have nothing to gripe about. The current system works well for both sides. The salary floor and cap go up every year. The league is making more money every year. The players are still getting whopping contracts. They may haggle a bit over percentages of revenue to be split, but i don't think they'll have any major issues to hammer out, unlike last time when the salary cap and floor were first introduced.

My guess is that the season will start on time.
- Jethro09

I agree with you on all points except one issue...Quite simply Donald Fehr. If we all recall his handling the MLB mess when he was head of their union created the last strike. the player's union hired him, he has to earn his money and the players' trust. Not saying your wrong Jethro but...it could get interesting. Looks like the amnesty piece buyout of a players salary and not having it not count against the cap will not happen. We can only hope RDP will be BPT bound!

Jethro...I pray to God you're right about that. Too many egos, too much pride and, really, not a lot of money compared to the other big sports and I smell trouble. I'm in a union, these types of things are never easy to work out, as evidenced by the last agreement. Or, lackthereof. I just hope a lesson was learned five years ago, or whenever that was.

Ok another side note. Is Dee ok?? I mean two days without a new blog gets me worried

But they will try to spin how "Its in the best interest of the game itself that we have a stoppage." maybe they can get Wang & Snow to write it up for the league.

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

October is the most exciting time of the year for work stoppages!

I agree with you on all points except one issue...Quite simply Donald Fehr. If we all recall his handling the MLB mess when he was head of their union created the last strike. the player's union hired him, he has to earn his money and the players' trust. Not saying your wrong Jethro but...it could get interesting. Looks like the amnesty piece buyout of a players salary and not having it not count against the cap will not happen. We can only hope RDP will be BPT bound!
- Mike C

That's my concern too. I don't like having that guy in there one bit.

Ok another side note. Is Dee ok?? I mean two days without a new blog gets me worried
- kasperrko

She's fine, she is writing her playoff push blog as we speak & how we NEED to target Jason Blake next season to take the next step.

XxNYIxX

It doesn't seem like either side has been talking about it or seems worried about it. Football and Basketball had hints of work stoppages for a long time before it.
I agree with what someone said above, a serious work stoppage would kill the sport. Plenty of people I know said that got them out of hockey. I feel like a baseball strike would get me less interested in baseball.

Jethro...I pray to God you're right about that. Too many egos, too much pride and, really, not a lot of money compared to the other big sports and I smell trouble. I'm in a union, these types of things are never easy to work out, as evidenced by the last agreement. Or, lackthereof. I just hope a lesson was learned five years ago, or whenever that was.
- potvin05

And lets not forget about the realignment issue

A little off-topic, but if these (frank)ing morons get locked out or go on strike, it would have to go down as one of the most epically terrible decisions in the history of sports. Didn't these idiots (both sides of the CBA) learn anything from the last debacle?

I know things are different in Canada, but if there is some kind of work stoppage, this sport will not survive it. Hockey is already considered a niche sport in the US. Below the ranks of Nascar, golf, soccer and poker....these players and owners can't allow it to happen.
- potvin05

Couldn't agree more.

It doesn't seem like either side has been talking about it or seems worried about it. Football and Basketball had hints of work stoppages for a long time before it.
I agree with what someone said above, a serious work stoppage would kill the sport. Plenty of people I know said that got them out of hockey. I feel like a baseball strike would get me less interested in baseball.
- Isles316

I think the hint was when Fehr decided to play hardball on the realignment issue for seemingly no reason at all. Hopefully that wasn't setting the tone for how things are going to go when they get into more substantive issues.

I think the hint was when Fehr decided to play hardball on the realignment issue for seemingly no reason at all. Hopefully that wasn't setting the tone for how things are going to go when they get into more substantive issues.
- UIF

You know I would agree with that except that the realignment wasn't great. The players make more money in the playoffs and probably earn bigger contracts from that as well. Look at Ville Leino. The uneven divisions were crap and it was a blessing for us, we never would have made the playoffs.

She's fine, she is writing her playoff push blog as we speak & how we NEED to target Jason Blake next season to take the next step.

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

Dont get me started again today it wont be pretty . I am not even going to watch tonight. Hope the Flyers crush us into an oblivion

Dont get me started again today it wont be pretty . I am not even going to watch tonight. Hope the Flyers crush us into an oblivion
- kasperrko

My girlfriend wanted to come to the game tonight so guess I'm going. I don't make a lot of good decisions. I guess I can take the positive that my gf wants to spend time with me doing something I like rather than giving me crap for it. Right guys? RIGHT?

My girlfriend wanted to come to the game tonight so guess I'm going. I don't make a lot of good decisions. I guess I can take the positive that my gf wants to spend time with me doing something I like rather than giving me crap for it. Right guys? RIGHT?
- Isles316

Yeah that should be the only reason why you are going for your GF! Take some advice root for the Flyers at least you will be statisfied and happy when they win

Nabokov will start tonight against the Flyers, who will go with Bryzgalov. Parenteau is back in the lineup, and Staios and Reasoner are scratched

XxNYIxX

You know I would agree with that except that the realignment wasn't great. The players make more money in the playoffs and probably earn bigger contracts from that as well. Look at Ville Leino. The uneven divisions were crap and it was a blessing for us, we never would have made the playoffs.
- Isles316

Ha, that's probably true.

Nabokov will start tonight against the Flyers, who will go with Bryzgalov. Parenteau is back in the lineup, and Staios and Reasoner are scratched

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

Wow Jack must of had a vision. If I sit the old guys who cant play maybe we will win. Good going Captain Jack.

Wow Jack must of had a vision. If I sit the old guys who cant play maybe we will win. Good going Captain Jack.
- kasperrko

they just had breaking news on espn saying that dp is going to start tonight sorry kasper

Wow Jack must of had a vision. If I sit the old guys who cant play maybe we will win. Good going Captain Jack.
- kasperrko

only took until the games don't matter anymore. Terrific! Still, I can't believe how bad and unaffective Reasoner has been. 32 points last season and 14 goals isn't anything to have a party over but it's another example on how EVERY non first line forward has majorly underachieved. It just goes to show you how good Tavares and Moulson are. Other teams just have to worry about them and they have 60 goals combined and pushing 130 combined points.

they just had breaking news on espn saying that dp is going to start tonight sorry kasper
- ovi8isles

that is it I am finding the closest bridge. If I see that piece of I dont know what to call him cause crap is better then him on my tema I am going to go insane. Literally I am going to go nuts.

only took until the games don't matter anymore. Terrific! Still, I can't believe how bad and unaffective Reasoner has been. 32 points last season and 14 goals isn't anything to have a party over but it's another example on how EVERY non first line forward has majorly underachieved. It just goes to show you how good Tavares and Moulson are. Other teams just have to worry about them and they have 60 goals combined and pushing 130 combined points.
- Isles316

Exactly they come here to die for some reason. I dont get it either. I still say something is going on in that locker room. Someone is bringing this team real down. I dont know if it is the coaches or players or the guy who cleans the locker room but someone

Moulson, Parenteau, Tavares have been terrific. If you told me they would have the seasons they are having production wise, I would think we made the playoffs.

Comeau was a disaster
Rolston (frank)ing distaster
Okposo started the season like a disaster and has only really produced with Tavares,Moulson
Grabner, on pace for only about 50% production from last year
Neilson, has been ok, but could have been better
Bailey, shown some signs but overall has been invisible
Martin,basically on schedule and is physical but provides little offense. Still he is 21 yrs old, he should get better in that regard
Pandolfo,basically gives us all he has left, which isn't much. Don't hate the guy, he tries but completely a desperate signing
Reasoner,disaster
Staios,as expected, below average d-man but he plays twice as many minutes as he should
Streit,has been bad
AMac, has been average at best
hamonic,has been good, will get better
Jurcina, awful
Eaton, awful

How the crap can all these players play below average? Coaching sucks. Team sucks. I suck. I'm going to puke.

Exactly they come here to die for some reason. I dont get it either. I still say something is going on in that locker room. Someone is bringing this team real down. I dont know if it is the coaches or players or the guy who cleans the locker room but someone
- kasperrko

maybe its all the support from the fans!

XxNYIxX

Exactly they come here to die for some reason. I dont get it either. I still say something is going on in that locker room. Someone is bringing this team real down. I dont know if it is the coaches or players or the guy who cleans the locker room but someone
- kasperrko

I agree. Something isn't right. Yet Tavares, Neilson, Okposo, Grabner etc all signed long term. Moulson too. So it can't be that bad to play here.

But the team hasn't played one game where they looked desperate all season. They looked half dead in about 20% of their games. It's like they are waiting for a spark or for someone else to make a big hit, score a big goal or make a game changing play. Tavares, does that but even he now is trying to skate through entire defenses by himself instead of getting the puck deep. They need a real veteran leader. Someone that the younger guys really respect. I think they respect Streit but I can't see him as the vocal guy they need that EVERYONE respects.

Shane Doan is a UFA. I'd over pay him. He plays his freaking heart out every game and if you caught the Coyotes game when he had the hat trick, I couldn't be happier for him. Look at how his teammates reacted to him. He is a loved player and has as much heart as anyone in the league. He could be a decent 2nd line center or winger that brings grit.

I'd drive to Phoenix to bring him here.

Moulson, Parenteau, Tavares have been terrific. If you told me they would have the seasons they are having production wise, I would think we made the playoffs.

Comeau was a disaster
Rolston (frank)ing distaster
Okposo started the season like a disaster and has only really produced with Tavares,Moulson
Grabner, on pace for only about 50% production from last year
Neilson, has been ok, but could have been better
Bailey, shown some signs but overall has been invisible
Martin,basically on schedule and is physical but provides little offense. Still he is 21 yrs old, he should get better in that regard
Pandolfo,basically gives us all he has left, which isn't much. Don't hate the guy, he tries but completely a desperate signing
Reasoner,disaster
Staios,as expected, below average d-man but he plays twice as many minutes as he should
Streit,has been bad
AMac, has been average at best
hamonic,has been good, will get better
Jurcina, awful
Eaton, awful

How the crap can all these players play below average? Coaching sucks. Team sucks. I suck. I'm going to puke.
- Isles316

See I hate Jack and a lot of other people in this organization, but I think one big problem is Mark STreit. Let me explain. Ever since he got that C on his jersey he has been horrible. He really is not a leader at all. He is not vocal at all. WE never here of players only meetings or Streit calling out certain players. A captain takes control of the team and calls certain people out. I does not deserve that C at all. Tavares does. That could be a start. This team has no heart what so ever. I dont get that they can play solid were half a game and be horrid the other half. It makes no sense. They just feel ok whatever happens, happens now. I mean I cant blame Nabby for all of this . These players need some discipline. I would have them running drills for hours, if you cant handle that then play the game. Those who show heart and play well can be excused. Time to point out the problems and work on them. Not just keep running them out there to look worse and worse