Not that I'm a b ball guy at all, but from what I was reading the Knicks were also afraid if they matched the Lin offer sheet how it would effect the other premadonna guys in that lockeroom to have this still new guy get so much $ for doing very little. Makes sense too even though I would say F Carmelo & Stodamire, etc. Such egos on all these guys.
- B2B76

stoudemire is cool but melo messed up that teams dynamic. they were a beast team before the melo trade with a lot of depth but literally traded away everyone.

what they did is similar to how the rangers would look if sather gave into howson's demands tbh.

Not that I'm a b ball guy at all, but from what I was reading the Knicks were also afraid if they matched the Lin offer sheet how it would effect the other premadonna guys in that lockeroom to have this still new guy get so much $ for doing very little. Makes sense too even though I would say F Carmelo & Stodamire, etc. Such egos on all these guys.
- B2B76

so not signing because the effect on Melo and Stoudamire seems pretty short sighted, as if they win, all would be forgiven. Plus, the Felton move was a direct reaction to getting peeved by the offer, so there was no reason to do that if going to match the offer.

so not signing because the effect on Melo and Stoudamire seems pretty short sighted, as if they win, all would be forgiven. Plus, the Felton move was a direct reaction to getting peeved by the offer, so there was no reason to do that if going to match the offer.
- airjan23

Hey hey, I said its just what I read. It seems generally agreed that the contract Houston signed him to was OUTRAGEOUS. Why match it? He could still be a flash in the pan. What did he actually play, 25-30 games?

Hey hey, I said its just what I read. It seems generally agreed that the contract Houston signed him to was OUTRAGEOUS. Why match it? He could still be a flash in the pan. What did he actually play, 25-30 games?
- B2B76

he isnt that good.he had a good stretch,that was it.play him a full season he would be no where near as good and is no where close to the money he got

he isnt that good.he had a good stretch,that was it.play him a full season he would be no where near as good and is no where close to the money he got
- TheRussian

I have the same feeling about Lin, I dont think hes that good. He took advantage of the fact that he has some decent game (as Stephen A Smith says, hes not a complete scrub) and that no one knew who he was. Once teams started paying attention to him, he was a turnover machine and was mediocre.

- Crimsoninja

I have the same feeling about Lin, I dont think hes that good. He took advantage of the fact that he has some decent game (as Stephen A Smith says, hes not a complete scrub) and that no one knew who he was. Once teams started paying attention to him, he was a turnover machine and was mediocre.
- NYRPowerPlay

Glad we are talking about the Knicks. It may very well the only game in town come this fall. There were 18 players today at the 1st session since the owners rolled out their absurd demands. This is vintage Fehr, as he wants to show player unity so he rolls out as many players as he can, mostly player reps, including Brandon Dubinsky. Of course, the little shyt said, they would need to take the demands seriously before they can move forward. He 's such a dooshbag.

Glad we are talking about the Knicks. It may very well the only game in town come this fall. There were 18 players today at the 1st session since the owners rolled out their absurd demands. This is vintage Fehr, as he wants to show player unity so he rolls out as many players as he can, mostly player reps, including Brandon Dubinsky. Of course, the little shyt said, they would need to take the demands seriously before they can move forward. He 's such a dooshbag.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

I wouldn't expect any type of progress until they get pretty close to the Sept 15 date. Both sides need a looming deadline to come to their senses.

I wouldn't expect any type of progress until they get pretty close to the Sept 15 date. Both sides need a looming deadline to come to their senses.
- TPC

I don't think the players need to get into a pissing match with the little shyt and his merry band of small market morons. All they need to do is point to the feeding frenzy of this off season, some by the same by the same small market wizzards, and the 3.2 billion in revenue this year. The players resolve not to be pushed around by the little shyt will determine their fate. I for one, hope they stay strong, even if it means losing another season.

I don't think the players need to get into a pissing match with the little shyt and his merry band of small market morons. All they need to do is point to the feeding frenzy of this off season, some by the same by the same small market wizzards, and the 3.2 billion in revenue this year. The players resolve not to be pushed around by the little shyt will determine their fate. I for one, hope they stay strong, even if it means losing another season.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

I don't think the whole season will be lost. Unlike in 2003 when the league was losing money, I am pretty sure it was fairly profitable last year. No way the whole season is lost. Around Thanksgiving seems to be my guess.

I don't think the whole season will be lost. Unlike in 2003 when the league was losing money, I am pretty sure it was fairly profitable last year. No way the whole season is lost. Around Thanksgiving seems to be my guess.
- TPC

No one wants see the NHL play this year more than me, but I think this is the time for the NHLPA to finally stop being pushed around like 2nd class citizens and draw the line. I guess time will tell.

No one wants see the NHL play this year more than me, but I think this is the time for the NHLPA to finally stop being pushed around like 2nd class citizens and draw the line. I guess time will tell.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

Yea true....just without any player movment happening there is literally nothing else to talk about.

No one wants see the NHL play this year more than me, but I think this is the time for the NHLPA to finally stop being pushed around like 2nd class citizens and draw the line. I guess time will tell.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

i didn't think the proposal by the owners was THAT obsurd.

owners aren't going after guaranteed contracts which is huge and they're not going after NTC/NMC either.

only way to go from their initial proposal is towards lower demands.

i didn't think the proposal by the owners was THAT obsurd.

owners aren't going after guaranteed contracts which is huge and they're not going after NTC/NMC either.

only way to go from their initial proposal is towards lower demands.
- rangerdanger94

I do. There wasn't a single concession of any kind given to the players in that proposal. Not one. All they want to do is take away things the players currently have. I know how I'd feel if my bosses did that to me. My company pays a majority of the medical and dental benefits for me and my fiancee. I'd be furious if my bosses came to me and said well Glen, we're going to lower your pay by nearly 20% and your now going to have to foot half of your medical. I obviously don't make the kind of money the players do but in essence that's how I see the owners proposal to the players. As an employee I didn't hold a gun to my bosses' heads and force them to pay me the salary they are. How is it fair they now ask to take those things away? It's just crap.

Typically I hate unions but in this case I am 100% pro player. Who cares if they didn't come after guaranteed contracts or NMC? So what. They want to lower the salary cap substantially (about 20%) and prolong the control a team has over a player from six years to 10? That's just crap.

I do. There wasn't a single concession of any kind given to the players in that proposal. Not one. All they want to do is take away things the players currently have. I know how I'd feel if my bosses did that to me. My company pays a majority of the medical and dental benefits for me and my fiancee. I'd be furious if my bosses came to me and said well Glen, we're going to lower your pay by nearly 20% and your now going to have to foot half of your medical. I obviously don't make the kind of money the players do but in essence that's how I see the owners proposal to the players. As an employee I didn't hold a gun to my bosses' heads and force them to pay me the salary they are. How is it fair they now ask to take those things away? It's just crap.

Typically I hate unions but in this case I am 100% pro player. Who cares if they didn't come after guaranteed contracts or NMC? So what. They want to lower the salary cap substantially (about 20%) and prolong the control a team has over a player from six years to 10? That's just crap.
- gkmkiller

Yea I couldn't believe that part. Making a player play 10 years in the league before they reach UFA status...that is crazy

I do. There wasn't a single concession of any kind given to the players in that proposal. Not one. All they want to do is take away things the players currently have. I know how I'd feel if my bosses did that to me. My company pays a majority of the medical and dental benefits for me and my fiancee. I'd be furious if my bosses came to me and said well Glen, we're going to lower your pay by nearly 20% and your now going to have to foot half of your medical. I obviously don't make the kind of money the players do but in essence that's how I see the owners proposal to the players. As an employee I didn't hold a gun to my bosses' heads and force them to pay me the salary they are. How is it fair they now ask to take those things away? It's just crap.

Typically I hate unions but in this case I am 100% pro player. Who cares if they didn't come after guaranteed contracts or NMC? So what. They want to lower the salary cap substantially (about 20%) and prolong the control a team has over a player from six years to 10? That's just crap.
- gkmkiller

The initial offer wouldn't contain concessions. Those are what negotiating is for. They don't expect to get all of any of the things they proposed. They expect to be pulled toward a middle ground. We still haven't seen a union counterproposal, and may not. The union may come to negotiate item by item, or they may come back with a full counter. But one thing I've seen as positive for the union is the fact that no one, not one player, has overreacted or spoken out. They've calmly gone about the business of (for those involved) reviewing the proposal and discussing negotiations with the committee. They aren't buying into the all out war drama the media is trying to sell.

The initial offer wouldn't contain concessions. Those are what negotiating is for. They don't expect to get all of any of the things they proposed. They expect to be pulled toward a middle ground. We still haven't seen a union counterproposal, and may not. The union may come to negotiate item by item, or they may come back with a full counter. But one thing I've seen as positive for the union is the fact that no one, not one player, has overreacted or spoken out. They've calmly gone about the business of (for those involved) reviewing the proposal and discussing negotiations with the committee. They aren't buying into the all out war drama the media is trying to sell.
- bodiva88

I realize what the purpose of and the strategy behind negotiating is. However I still do not like how far they are pushing the players on this. They took it beyond the extreme in my opinion. The players are playing it coolly which is great but the way I would be angry if I was a player.

My guess is they started at a 46% share of revenue for the players with the knowledge they would be comfortable settling in at 50%. Personally I think that is ridiculous. If I was a player I might entertain giving back a few percentage points and an initial offer to split down the middle would be fine. Anything less forget it. At least negotiate seriously league. A 4% drop in the player's share would give the owners another $128 million out of the revenue pie assuming revenues remain static. Did the league lose $128 million last year?

Maybe I'm just impatient for a resolution. If I was a party to the negotiations I might be more patient but I'm not; I'm just a fan.

Hello!

@DarrenDreger: Breaking: Shea Weber agrees to offer sheet with Philadelphia. 14 years, upwards of $100 mil. Preds have 7 days to match. Wow!!



i think the flyers would have to send their 1st, 2nd and 3rd in next year's draft, right?

@DarrenDreger: I'm told a number of teams were in on a possible Shea Weber trade. If Preds don't match, they receive 4- 1st round picks as compensation.

no need for anybodt to clarify now. Preds have to take the picks right?

@DarrenDreger: I'm told a number of teams were in on a possible Shea Weber trade. If Preds don't match, they receive 4- 1st round picks as compensation.

no need for anybodt to clarify now. Preds have to take the picks right?
- tomburton99

yo,

I don't think there is any doubt that Nashville will match offer. They can't let Weber and Suter go this offseason and only end up with 4 first round picks to show.

And they lost Radulov for good too.

Guaranteed they will match.

The initial offer wouldn't contain concessions. Those are what negotiating is for. They don't expect to get all of any of the things they proposed. They expect to be pulled toward a middle ground. We still haven't seen a union counterproposal, and may not. The union may come to negotiate item by item, or they may come back with a full counter. But one thing I've seen as positive for the union is the fact that no one, not one player, has overreacted or spoken out. They've calmly gone about the business of (for those involved) reviewing the proposal and discussing negotiations with the committee. They aren't buying into the all out war drama the media is trying to sell.
- bodiva88

These are classic Don Fehr tatics. he plays his cards close to the vest in the early going. Appearing to be calm, cool and collected. He asks his player reps to the same. He has Tom Glavine helping him communicate with the player reps and any other player who wants to be part of the process. Mark my words, this has just begun, don't mistake Fehr's approach, when he comes out with his 1st public comment about the ongoing talks, he'll have 10-15 players standing behind him, and he use words like "the notion" and "the clubs need to take a closer look" I'm waiting any minute now for Buttman to say "Don has to realize this is not baseball" trust me it will come.

yo,

I don't think there is any doubt that Nashville will match offer. They can't let Weber and Suter go this offseason and only end up with 4 first round picks to show.

And they lost Radulov for good too.

Guaranteed they will match.
- jimbro83

The Rangers made a mega offer to Nashville 2 weeks ago for Weber, and were prepared to sign him long term, obviously, that did not work.

The Rangers made a mega offer to Nashville 2 weeks ago for Weber, and were prepared to sign him long term, obviously, that did not work.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

if the Rangers had signed Weber to an offer sheet I would have been annoyed, because I really do think it's a waste of time and I do believe Nashville will match.

Probably make them all wait to last minute so Flyers have 7 days of not being able to make any other plans.

Flyers just assured Weber will be stuck in Nashville for 14 years.

Nashville may not be able to afford Weber right now. He could be owed $26 million in one calendar year 2 mil salary, $12 mil bonus on the day he signed so he gets $12 mil the minute Nashville matches and another $12 mil the same day the next year.

Idk man, that's gonna be a tough pill to swallow for the Preds.

EDIT- And it's likely that the next season would be the same. I'm sorry, but I can't see the Preds paying Weber $40 million over two calendar years. They can't afford him at that price.