This still baffles me.........how on earth is james wisniewski getting paid 5.5 per year?????

I will not be surprised if this season is lost or partially lost. It is a new day in the NHLPA with Fehr in charge. He's a rat and his lasting mark on baseball is ridiculously high salaries and the reduction of the "national pastime" to 2nd or 3rd status in the hierarchy of pro sports in North America, behind the NFL and maybe the NBA.

Bettman won big time in 2005. It would be wise for him to approach Fehr as a partner at least to start. Take any acrimony out of it and work on a deal. "Greed" is not a popular concept these days.
- John Jaeckel

I won't be surprise either. In fact, I'm expecting it. Anyone who went through the 1994 baseball season knows. Fehr doesn't give a damn about the NHL. If he didn't care about America's past time, he sure won't care about hockey. He's in it for himself and a select few of the lackey's that are in his inner circle; just like other 'leaders'.

The one thing I do hold out hope for is just what you cite: Greed is not a popular concept these days.

Plan for the worst, hope for the best.

BTW, apparent conspiracy theory in the NBA: Hornets (owned by the league, like the Coyotes) won the first pick in the draft lottery last night - apparently some unhappy campers resulted.
- StLBravesFan

Didn't they have the greatest chance? 25% IIRC for the "top" lottery ball? So the question begs, how did the "25% team" in each the NBA and NHL fare since the inception of the lottery system?

This still baffles me.........how on earth is james wisniewski getting paid 5.5 per year?????
- Wowo2282

Dunno. Like many other guys who were overpaid. Maybe a reason why SB re-signed JO and could get more back in a Hammer trade. Remember when we were talking 2 years ago when SB matched DW's OS for Hammer, that the back-end of his contract would border between reasonable and a deal? As of last season's FA period, that is all the more evident.

Were not supposed to make insinuations regarding politics... Against the rules...

- fattybeef

You can't be serious?? There was absolutely nothing political about that statement. The WHOLE WORLD knows Fox News is an unethical, biased news agency. Canada doesn't want them, England found out the hard way how dirty they really are with the phone hacking scandal, and can you imagine what they are getting away with here in the U.S? No one should ever trust anything that comes from them. Thats pure fact!

You can't be serious?? There was absolutely nothing political about that statement. The WHOLE WORLD knows Fox News is an unethical, biased news agency. Canada doesn't want them, England found out the hard way how dirty they really are with the phone hacking scandal, and can you imagine what they are getting away with here in the U.S? No one should ever trust anything that comes from them. Thats pure fact!
- scorerstouch

Let's keep it to hockey talk please.

Let's keep it to hockey talk please.
- furso27

Sorry but I was accused of something and I had to set the record straight.

You can't be serious?? There was absolutely nothing political about that statement. The WHOLE WORLD knows Fox News is an unethical, biased news agency. Canada doesn't want them, England found out the hard way how dirty they really are with the phone hacking scandal, and can you imagine what they are getting away with here in the U.S? No one should ever trust anything that comes from them. Thats pure fact!
- scorerstouch

Hockey please. Keep this BS on the appropriate sites.

Didn't they have the greatest chance? 25% IIRC for the "top" lottery ball? So the question begs, how did the "25% team" in each the NBA and NHL fare since the inception of the lottery system?
- blackhawk24

I don't remember the percentages, but I do know the Bobcats finish with the worst record and would have had the most "chances".

You can't be serious?? There was absolutely nothing political about that statement. The WHOLE WORLD knows Fox News is an unethical, biased news agency. Canada doesn't want them, England found out the hard way how dirty they really are with the phone hacking scandal, and can you imagine what they are getting away with here in the U.S? No one should ever trust anything that comes from them. Thats pure fact!
- scorerstouch

Complete BS. I come here to get away from the politcal BS. Keep your propaganda to yourself.

Complete BS. I come here to get away from the politcal BS. Keep your propaganda to yourself.
- Lido_Shuffle

Complete BS. I come here to get away from the politcal BS. Keep your propaganda to yourself.
- Lido_Shuffle

Everyone please keep it to yourselves. Everyone. Thanks

I did not. I went to the gym.

Not surprised. People can say what they want about Scotty, Smith et al, but Steve Yzerman, Lidstrom and Datsyuk and Zetterberg were not born great. Their individual work ethics AND the Detroit system and tutelage of Scotty's crew made them great players.

Personally, I doubt Q would hire Smith or Lewis. I think, politically—and maybe practically—it would be the smart move. Never know though.

P.S.: I once passed Lewis on Evergreen Rd. in Southfield, MI and he was driving a cream colored Sedan de Ville . . .
- John Jaeckel

I once was driving to the UC and next to me was Mike Smith (the GM). I regret to this day that I didn't run him off the road!

I once was driving to the UC and next to me was Mike Smith (the GM). I regret to this day that I didn't run him off the road!
- powerenforcer

No doubt he was driving a Volvo.

No doubt he was driving a Volvo.
- furso27

Or a Renault like Fozzy Bear

I don't remember the percentages, but I do know the Bobcats finish with the worst record and would have had the most "chances".
- StLBravesFan

So why is it people think its rigged? Connecting the dots between league ownership and all? It's 25%, 1 in 4. Not bad chances. I don't remember the draft results from either league and know a team can't move up more than so many picks but historically if both leagues show the best-chance team wins the draft 1/4 of the time give or take a few pcts points, what's the big deal?

Nash is 27/28 yrs old and has played 9 seasons in the NHL. That is not the same as Kane. Kane's only declined last season because of Q's circus sideshow linechanges and he had to play center last season. Put him back with Toews and his production will come right back up.
- scorerstouch

Same could be said about putting Nash next to Toews. Kane has 5 seasons with a great center.... Nash on the other hand ?

you seem to be one of those guys always looking to the future.... I.e. Kane hasn't reached his potential yet.... Kane will make clowns of goalies in 5 years. I caution you don't overlook the present. A lot can happen in 5 years. I tend to focus heavily on the present with a cautionary eye towards the future. I'm a huge 'win now' fan. Most of the rest can be sorted out later.

Last year hawks fans were telling me how good this team is going to be with the core intact once the young prospects go pro in 2013 or so..... One year later and Hossa is contemplating retirement, Kane screwed up again, Bolland could be traded. Win now while the assets are in place not later when the assets 'could' be in place. Jmo.

Same could be said about putting Nash next to Toews. Kane has 5 seasons with a great center.... Nash on the other hand ?

you seem to be one of those guys always looking to the future.... I.e. Kane hasn't reached his potential yet.... Kane will make clowns of goalies in 5 years. I caution you don't overlook the present. A lot can happen in 5 years. I tend to focus heavily on the present with a cautionary eye towards the future. I'm a huge 'win now' fan. Most of the rest can be sorted out later.

Last year hawks fans were telling me how good this team is going to be with the core intact once the young prospects go pro in 2013 or so..... One year later and Hossa is contemplating retirement, Kane screwed up again, Bolland could be traded. Win now while the assets are in place not later when the assets 'could' be in place. Jmo.
- moylander

Nash is a beast. He's big, fast, tough, got a bit of a mean streak in him and has great hands. Anyone who would rather have Kane over him does not watch hockey on a regular basis. I'm sorry but Nash has been a sleeping giant in columbus. If he were to be traded here, I really think the sky is the limit.

Same could be said about putting Nash next to Toews. Kane has 5 seasons with a great center.... Nash on the other hand ?

you seem to be one of those guys always looking to the future.... I.e. Kane hasn't reached his potential yet.... Kane will make clowns of goalies in 5 years. I caution you don't overlook the present. A lot can happen in 5 years. I tend to focus heavily on the present with a cautionary eye towards the future. I'm a huge 'win now' fan. Most of the rest can be sorted out later.

Last year hawks fans were telling me how good this team is going to be with the core intact once the young prospects go pro in 2013 or so..... One year later and Hossa is contemplating retirement, Kane screwed up again, Bolland could be traded. Win now while the assets are in place not later when the assets 'could' be in place. Jmo.
- moylander

3 for 3

Bowman always thinks about the future at the expense of the present. Which I think is really a deep seated fear of making bold moves period. When you have a five year window with a great core, every single year you need to go big to win that year. Bowman goes conservative to a fault. He is not a builder and the jury is out if he is even a maintainer.

All these prospects he holds on to like a security blanket . . . not one of them will pan out to be another Toews, Hossa, Keith, Seabrook, Kane. But so many Hawk fans have bought the prospect hype hook, line and sinker.

Nash is a beast. He's big, fast, tough, got a bit of a mean streak in him and has great hands. Anyone who would rather have Kane over him does not watch hockey on a regular basis. I'm sorry but Nash has been a sleeping giant in columbus. If he were to be traded here, I really think the sky is the limit.
- furso27

I am also a Nash fan. He and Toews together would be awfully hard to stop below the circles.

I am also a Nash fan. He and Toews together would be awfully hard to stop below the circles.
- John Jaeckel

Can you imagine a power play of Nash/Toews/Hossa with Keith/Sharp on the point?

Can you imagine a power play of Nash/Toews/Hossa with Keith/Sharp on the point?
- DarthKane

As long as you don't let Keith shoot from the point.

Can you imagine a power play of Nash/Toews/Hossa with Keith/Sharp on the point?
- DarthKane

Can you image a PP with Kane/Toews/Hossa/Keith/Sharp.......oh wait, that was the worst pp in the league. (not being a richard, just saying)
Adding Nash would be great, but subbing Nash for Kane will not improve the pp entry, or any coaching philosophies on the pp.

Can you imagine a power play of Nash/Toews/Hossa with Keith/Sharp on the point?
- DarthKane

I can and I can imagine no one who can handle the puck and distribute, which is a pretty important part of the Power Play.

I can and I can imagine no one who can handle the puck and distribute, which is a pretty important part of the Power Play.
- nickmo2699

So what is your explanation as to why the PP was horrid with Kane, who is supposed to be one of the best distributors in the game?

Their issue was not the ability to distribute, it was their inability to get pucks to the net and have guys in front.