Come on, we've lost too much with too many stars. No other nation provides so many top picks or such continuous top end talent, but they handcuff themselves by needing to give spots to former invitees. Bronze is pretty mediocre for them.
- AdamFrench

There's too many politics within Hockey Canada, the best kids should play...end of story!

There's too many politics within Hockey Canada, the best kids should play...end of story!
- LeftCoaster

Yup, also this trend of blaming goalies is seriously an issue. Luongo wasn't a god at the Olympics, but he was much better than Marty, yet he took all the blame. Just like literally every goalie outside of Pogge/Price/Mason has felt on Canada. Even with a .967sv% you suck and ruined the team if you lose.

Because Leaf fans are oh so patient?
- burn

I am an older leaf fan, I have been patient for a very long time.....

Totally agree.

All of these teams signing players to long contracts will severly regret them in about 5-6 years. At that point there will be many teams trying to trade bloated contracts (ala Lu) but no one will bite...

Good Ol' NHL... Gary will go down in history...
- Hockey_Reverend

Philly knows they (frank)ed up with Bryz, now they are trying to load the back end with prime talent so bryz is sheltered better and negate the goaltending as much as possible

Totally agree.

All of these teams signing players to long contracts will severly regret them in about 5-6 years. At that point there will be many teams trying to trade bloated contracts (ala Lu) but no one will bite...

Good Ol' NHL... Gary will go down in history...
- Hockey_Reverend

Just like he did in the NBA eh

Yeah... would you rather make 3 million or 6 million....

Hmmm let me think about that.....
- robin_steele264

I have always said, I would rather the players make more money than owners making it all.

I am an older leaf fan, I have been patient for a very long time.....
- MindFr3eak

PMA!!!! .....good morning

Thank the owners. Can't blame players for taking more money.
- robin_steele264

Ive always hated this arguement. It really goes both ways. Especially when we see players holding out or using the richer teams to force GMs into over paying.

As easy as it is to say the owners should simply walk away and refuse to hand out these contracts, but the reality is they need to hand out these contracts to get the big names which in turn should/could lead to more seats in the building and more playoff dates and fan interest in the future.

PMA!!!! .....good morning
- JIMI-JAMES

Public misplay of affection?

Public misplay of affection?
- weirdoh

Hey Weirdoh! Cheers

Hey Weirdoh! Cheers
- JIMI-JAMES

What's going down?

For Sale: one blue and white bandwagon that doubles as a golfcart...high mileage, comes with 45 year supply of empty blue and white labelled prozac bottles

What's going down?
- weirdoh

my pecker after I took a leak this morning

For Sale: one blue and white bandwagon that doubles as a golfcart...high mileage, comes with 45 year supply of empty blue and white labelled prozac bottles
- JIMI-JAMES

how much

my pecker after I took a leak this morning
- JIMI-JAMES

I'd be interested in pics if you have any.

how much
- Mr_Smokey

is that with or without the 14 year payment plan? ...warning.. the last 5 years you may be paying for nothing so you might as well buy it outright at that point

I'd be interested in pics if you have any.
- weirdoh

One day someone is going to take you seriously and you are going to be very sorry.

Ive always hated this arguement. It really goes both ways. Especially when we see players holding out or using the richer teams to force GMs into over paying.

As easy as it is to say the owners should simply walk away and refuse to hand out these contracts, but the reality is they need to hand out these contracts to get the big names which in turn should/could lead to more seats in the building and more playoff dates and fan interest in the future.
- Gunslinger

What this argument is missing is the role of the agent. In many ways they're as culpable, if not more so, than the players. If agents were to be given a one-time set fee for work, rather than a percentage cut, you can bet your ass that they wouldn't lean on players to hold out, or demand such ridiculous contracts. I would be willing to bet my left nut that it wasn't Parise who thought up the idea of the $12m signing bonus...

I'd be interested in pics if you have any.
- weirdoh

I'll have to change the tire on the wheelbarrow thats holding my gut up in order to go find the camera

For Sale: one blue and white bandwagon that doubles as a golfcart...high mileage, comes with 45 year supply of empty blue and white labelled prozac bottles
- JIMI-JAMES

Sweet! I need a new golf bag, might as well go for a cart, eh? Whats the expiry date on those Prozac?

One day someone is going to take you seriously and you are going to be very sorry.
- Cfser

I know it's coming. I dread it. It'd be awkward. Like the time people told a poster on here that I was a girl. So I played along with it. It got weird.

I know it's coming. I dread it. It'd be awkward. Like the time people told a poster on here that I was a girl. So I played along with it. It got weird.
- weirdoh

well that's one way to kill a thread

What this argument is missing is the role of the agent. In many ways they're as culpable, if not more so, than the players. If agents were to be given a one-time set fee for work, rather than a percentage cut, you can bet your ass that they wouldn't lean on players to hold out, or demand such ridiculous contracts. I would be willing to bet my left nut that it wasn't Parise who thought up the idea of the $12m signing bonus...
- lumlums

The problem is not the ridiculous contracts. With a cap, the more you give to Weber, the less there is to go round. Owners have price certainty and the league as a whole has seen a huge growth in revenues.

The problem is that too many teams can't keep up with the revenue growth that theLeafs, rangers, etc are driving. It's revenues, not salaries that are the problem. Salaries are just a by-product of revenues.

There is a reason for smaller revenue teams to want rules tightened up to prevent big market teams from finding ways to use their $ to get around the cap but that isn't the central issue.

What this argument is missing is the role of the agent. In many ways they're as culpable, if not more so, than the players. If agents were to be given a one-time set fee for work, rather than a percentage cut, you can bet your ass that they wouldn't lean on players to hold out, or demand such ridiculous contracts. I would be willing to bet my left nut that it wasn't Parise who thought up the idea of the $12m signing bonus...
- lumlums

that's their job.

The agent represents the player, their job is to get the most money possible for the player. If they still only took a flat fee (which would never work because of salary differentiation) then the agents getting guys the most money would get all the work anyway.

Agents have no choice but to use everything within the rules (or blurring the lines a bit) to get the best possible deal for their client.

Public misplay of affection?
- weirdoh

Did anyone match Burkes offer for Komi?