all I know is the owners are a bunch of phucking jack asses
we lost an entire season because they said they couldn't live without a salary cap, and from the moment it was signed, they have all tripped over themselves trying to get around it.
And, no matter what the next CBA brings, somebody will come up with a new idea to get around things, they'll all copy it, and seven years later they'll be telling us they can't live with that either.
For the people freaking about the owners hard line, just remember, its negotiatons. You have to start somewhere & they have all the power (as does any large company over most Unions) & will try & push down the union or even break it. But this time the players have Donald Fehr, hopefully he can push back & use some of his wisdom from decades as the head of the MLB union.
Also remember, these are billionaires-fighting millionaires, mindboggling stuff. The owners can afford another work stoppage more than the players can. But the league cannot survive any long term strife this time, not a chance. - B2B76
True, but the difference this time around is that the players have Donald Fehr on their side. That is a huge difference, and don't expect to see them cave in like they did last time.
This is the best year the league has had in a while. Fan interest way up. TV ratings way up. All of this might be flushed down the perverbrial toilet if the league isn't careful with its proposals. Only 5 years on a contract is ridiculous. The bonus proposal ridiculous. Let's hope this is settled without a work stoppage. All the good things accomplished this year could be forgotten about fairly quickly.
True, but the difference this time around is that the players have Donald Fehr on their side. That is a huge difference, and don't expect to see them cave in like they did last time. - TheMessiah94
Everyone have made good points with regard to the CBA. While its true the players now have Don Fehr at he helm, they will only be as successful as they allow him to be. I found it very interesting, that on the heels of this off season signing frenzy the owners come in loaded for bear. Yes, I realize it's only the 1st exchange of proposals, but I can't help but think the NHL will never be on solid ground until that little wiener on 6th ave. takes his puck and goes home. He's a vindictive little shyt !
Location: Do you smell what The Rock is cooking? Joined: 01.29.2008
Jul 14 @ 9:46 AM ET
all I know is the owners are a bunch of phucking jack asses
we lost an entire season because they said they couldn't live without a salary cap, and from the moment it was signed, they have all tripped over themselves trying to get around it.
And, no matter what the next CBA brings, somebody will come up with a new idea to get around things, they'll all copy it, and seven years later they'll be telling us they can't live with that either.
what a joke - jimbro83
Hahaha, Jimbo R -- knows his sheeeeeeit so well! You should be in there laying the smacketh down on all their candy asses!
Location: There aren't any answers. Only choices. Joined: 07.01.2007
Jul 14 @ 10:46 AM ET
Time to find a new hobby guys, as it doesn't look like there will be any hockey being played this winter.
The owners have certainly dug in. - TheMessiah94
This is the equivalent of a child coming to meet Santa with his list of 100 things. They haven't "dug in." It's the first proposal. And the NHLPA can be expected to come in with its own version of a pie in the sky first proposal. There are 2 1/2 months to go back and forth. This isn't Congress. There will be actual negotiation.
Sadly, they really need to let a couple of teams die. And the league keeps propping up bad situations rather than allowing the market to make the decision. I have a baseball writer friend who says businesses don't do that. But he's wrong. Even McDonald's closes a location that isn't making its nut. Starbucks. Home Depot. If you realize a location isn't going to produce, you have to close it, cut your losses, and move on.
On the other side of that is the union. If they know there is a legitimate chance of jobs being lost, they may concede. But knowing there is a fixed number of jobs available, there's no incentive to be too malleable in the process.
Would never happen, they would never agree on that. - NYRPowerPlay
they'll meet halfway on all the proposals.
thats the point of a negotiation. you figure out what you want, then you ask for a lot more so that what you want ends up as the middle ground. if you want $800 for something, you tell the guy you want $1200 and you act like you're doing the guy a favor accepting $800.
kind of changing my view a bit on adding another big ticket contract in light of this CBA talk.
It may be an overreation, but maybe the wisest thing to do now is not add another big contract at all and ride this thing out, see where it ultimately ends up with the new CBA.
Larry Brooks says this morning that the initial ridiculous leage proposal drops the cap back to 52 million, and the Rangers currently sit at 55 million, and that's without the Stralman and Del Zotto signings.
Many many teams in worse shape than the Rangers, the only thing that could be a problem is a rule change forcing us to keep Wade Redden on the books, no amnesty buyout and no way to keep his heavy contract hidden in the AHL, but that seems unlikely.
But, if the new CBA ultimately sees a reduction in the cap, maybe the wisest thing for the Rangers to do would be to stay in the decent shape they are in now, see what kind of buyouts happen as these other teams struggle to get under the new cap. May be an enviable position.
kind of changing my view a bit on adding another big ticket contract in light of this CBA talk.
It may be an overreation, but maybe the wisest thing to do now is not add another big contract at all and ride this thing out, see where it ultimately ends up with the new CBA.
Larry Brooks says this morning that the initial ridiculous leage proposal drops the cap back to 52 million, and the Rangers currently sit at 55 million, and that's without the Stralman and Del Zotto signings.
Many many teams in worse shape than the Rangers, the only thing that could be a problem is a rule change forcing us to keep Wade Redden on the books, no amnesty buyout and no way to keep his heavy contract hidden in the AHL, but that seems unlikely.
But, if the new CBA ultimately sees a reduction in the cap, maybe the wisest thing for the Rangers to do would be to stay in the decent shape they are in now, see what kind of buyouts happen as these other teams struggle to get under the new cap. May be an enviable position. - jimbro83
it would almost impossible for teams like the Wild, Bruins and Capitals to get to the 52 million mark.
it would almost impossible for teams like the Wild, Bruins and Capitals to get to the 52 million mark. - blacksheep1
3.2 billion dollars in revenue this year and the they have the balls to come in with massive givebacks. If that little shyt is truly serious about getting what I've read, we can all find something else to do this fall and winter. David Stern unleashed that little shyt on the NHL, and it has been one disaster after another. There is not one fan, who has ever attended an NHL game to see an owner. The game is about the players, who risk liife and limb every night to play the game they love. My advice to them is, stay the course, listen to Don Fehr, give him your 100% support even if it means losing another season to lockout. Let that little shyt have his legacy be that of a commissioner who lost two full seasons, while the owners weigh their money. It's almost criminal, maybe it is.
Location: "I got mouths to feed", NY Joined: 08.14.2008
Jul 15 @ 9:57 AM ET
3.2 billion dollars in revenue this year and the they have the balls to come in with massive givebacks. If that little shyt is truly serious about getting what I've read, we can all find something else to do this fall and winter. David Stern unleashed that little shyt on the NHL, and it has been one disaster after another. There is not one fan, who has ever attended an NHL game to see an owner. The game is about the players, who risk liife and limb every night to play the game they love. My advice to them is, stay the course, listen to Don Fehr, give him your 100% support even if it means losing another season to lockout. Let that little shyt have his legacy be that of a commissioner who lost two full seasons, while the owners weigh their money. It's almost criminal, maybe it is. - OLDSCHOOL#6
kind of changing my view a bit on adding another big ticket contract in light of this CBA talk.
It may be an overreation, but maybe the wisest thing to do now is not add another big contract at all and ride this thing out, see where it ultimately ends up with the new CBA.
Larry Brooks says this morning that the initial ridiculous leage proposal drops the cap back to 52 million, and the Rangers currently sit at 55 million, and that's without the Stralman and Del Zotto signings.
Many many teams in worse shape than the Rangers, the only thing that could be a problem is a rule change forcing us to keep Wade Redden on the books, no amnesty buyout and no way to keep his heavy contract hidden in the AHL, but that seems unlikely.
But, if the new CBA ultimately sees a reduction in the cap, maybe the wisest thing for the Rangers to do would be to stay in the decent shape they are in now, see what kind of buyouts happen as these other teams struggle to get under the new cap. May be an enviable position. - jimbro83
The owners are such hypocrites. They cry poor yet very few actually pinch pennies as if they really were poor. Look at teams this summer who spent big money in free agency: Minnesota, Dallas (Whitney and Jagr), Calgary (Hudler, Wideman), Colorado (Parenteau, Zanon). Aside from Calgary, those other clubs don't traditionally dabble in free agency like this. Then you have a team like Nashville who did everything they could to keep Suter. Florida's lavish spending spree last year. Hell, Tampa gave crazy money to Carle. These aren't the Rangers, Red Wings or Leafs spending big bucks. It's the small-to-mid-market clubs this summer that are spending huge money. Yet how can the league continue to cry poverty.
That being said I have to believe any CBA that calls for a reduction in the cap will also have to include an amnesty clause. Assuming nearly half of the league is at least $5 million over that projected $52 million cap, how can the league expect clubs to get back under in time for a start to the season. In all likelihood, the negotiations will go down to the wire which means between when the ink dries on the new agreement and the start of the regular season, there might be just 3 or 4 weeks to get under the cap. If you can't stash salary in the AHL or can't exercise an amnesty clause it gets to be impossible for teams.
My thought is if they were to do anything that drastic they wouldn't enforce the new cap ceiling until next season. However, this is just the first shot by the owners. You have to figure they will be willing to at least meet in the middle (57% now, 46% in the proposal with middle ground being somewhere around 51.5%).
Location: No Whining Allowed! This is a blog. Silly Gif's only! Joined: 02.26.2011
Jul 15 @ 11:43 AM ET
Nope, hes playing it right... Hes waiting for the Nash/Ryan thing to happen, and for Doan to make his decision. Semin is in no rush to sign. - NYRPowerPlay
It's probably a combination of waiting and not many GM's willing to shell out $6.5M for an elite-talent player with questionable motivation issues. Even after Nash/Ryan decide their fates, there still wont be many suitors at that price.
He would be an instant upgrade to your PP. He reminds me of a more talented Victor Kozlov.... a player that can make your jaw drop, on occasion-just not every shift, towards the end of his NHL career.
It's probably a combination of waiting and not many GM's willing to shell out $6.5M for an elite-talent player with questionable motivation issues. Even after Nash/Ryan decide their fates, there still wont be many suitors at that price.
He would be an instant upgrade to your PP. He reminds me of a more talented Victor Kozlov.... a player that can make your jaw drop, on occasion-just not every shift, towards the end of his NHL career. - jmo16
Supposedly Chuck Gormley of CSN Washington says Semin is looking for a two-year deal for $10 million. For teams that miss out on Nash, Doan, etc., that might not be a bad price to pay. I would hesitate to go two years but $5 million per isn't a killer.
Kozlov isn't a bad analogy though I think Semin is more of a natural goal scorer. Kozlov played well with some real good Detroit teams. I think in the right spot Semin can be an excellent player. I do wonder if he would want to play for a coach like Torts, who demands accountability, as the Semin camp has repeatedly stated he wants to play in all situations and be a big-minute player. Not sure if that would happen in NYC.
