Eklund: Politics and Lockouts Made Strange Bedfellows

Furst!



*edit - Hamburg Freezers? Really??

Wow. Quiet in here today.

It's certainly an interesting situation what with AEG being in the situation that it is. It does strike me as a little odd that an NHL owner would want to pay NHL players through his group (either directly or indirectly) during this lockout. But then, it also strikes me as odd that players would want to go anywhere near any team that has even a mild scent of NHL ownership. Just a really weird situation, in my opinion.....

Furst!



*edit - Hamburg Freezers? Really??
- Kinger34

If Wendy's owned them, they'd be the Hamburg Never Freezers

It is time to understand that a Hockey Fan loves Hockey... not the NHL. sure the NHL is the provider, but just like we have choice in choosing our cell phone company, we have choice in our sports entertainment provider and if we lose trust in out cell phone company, we are the first to complain loudly so all that will hear and move on.







Remember, we love hockey, not the NHL. We love the sport, not the provider.

Let this incarnation of the NHL die by its own sword. I do not want to support a minority of owners who dictate the league though the power of a supermajority while real, significant and important game issues remain unsolved.

And yes, I truly blame the owners. They set up this CBA, they created the pyramid marketing scheme that was NHL-expansion and make decisions based on their bottom line with no regard for the sport of hockey or safety of it players.

The owners may be able to outlast the players. If that’s where it ultimately goes... but they cannot outlast competition in the sports provider market if fans choose to follow a legitimate incarnation of a Hockey league rather than the corporate shill we currently have.



It's almost the NHL has tried to create a monopoly bubble around the NHL where outside economic factors are ignored if the league's 30 teams make money. Here is where the rubber meets the road.... 30 teams will not make money. A small minority will and carry the rest of the loser franchises with them. YES, 30 can, theoretically survive, but so could 32 or 44... but the game suffers horribly.



And what of the well-off franchises?

Why are the Maple Leafs not rewarded for their finacial loyalty but instead need to feed the status quo of the league. One will easily notice that since the new CBA came in, those who were in well-off positions, retained them. Those who were rebuilding AND make money have a huge disadvantage as they must both prop up with team while supporting their competators which drives the status quo and creates an unfair climate when it comes to UFAs.

Another way to say it is: How does Vancouver feel about giving money to Phoenix to Phoenix can sign players in an attempt to beat Vancouver?

And what of the middle of the road franchises? How does Buffalo, St. Louis, Colorado or Minnesota feel when they are established franchises and need payments only to see much of that pot of gold shipped to other groups who only seem to be in the league to flesh out an 82 game schedule?

It is time to change cell phone providers. It is time to create a new League where the bottom line is the sport itself which will intrinsically create a new set of guidelines on player safety, equipment, lenghth of schedule and number of games played.

We love hockey... not the NHL. They are not one and the same thing. As much as they will tell you otherwise, they are not.



(Sorry Ek, but this is the Blog topic that we need to hear today.)

Fix your post BJ you tool. You ruined the page stupidface.

It is time to understand that a Hockey Fan loves Hockey... not the NHL. sure the NHL is the provider, but just like we have choice in choosing our cell phone company, we have choice in our sports entertainment provider and if we lose trust in out cell phone company, we are the first to complain loudly so all that will hear and move on.







Remember, we love hockey, not the NHL. We love the sport, not the provider.

Let this incarnation of the NHL die by its own sword. I do not want to support a minority of owners who dictate the league though the power of a supermajority while real, significant and important game issues remain unsolved.

And yes, I truly blame the owners. They set up this CBA, they created the pyramid marketing scheme that was NHL-expansion and make decisions based on their bottom line with no regard for the sport of hockey or safety of it players.

The owners may be able to outlast the players. If that’s where it ultimately goes... but they cannot outlast competition in the sports provider market if fans choose to follow a legitimate incarnation of a Hockey league rather than the corporate shill we currently have.



It's almost the NHL has tried to create a monopoly bubble around the NHL where outside economic factors are ignored if the league's 30 teams make money. Here is where the rubber meets the road.... 30 teams will not make money. A small minority will and carry the rest of the loser franchises with them. YES, 30 can, theoretically survive, but so could 32 or 44... but the game suffers horribly.



And what of the well-off franchises?

Why are the Maple Leafs not rewarded for their finacial loyalty but instead need to feed the status quo of the league. One will easily notice that since the new CBA came in, those who were in well-off positions, retained them. Those who were rebuilding AND make money have a huge disadvantage as they must both prop up with team while supporting their competators which drives the status quo and creates an unfair climate when it comes to UFAs.

Another way to say it is: How does Vancouver feel about giving money to Phoenix to Phoenix can sign players in an attempt to beat Vancouver?

And what of the middle of the road franchises? How does Buffalo, St. Louis, Colorado or Minnesota feel when they are established franchises and need payments only to see much of that pot of gold shipped to other groups who only seem to be in the league to flesh out an 82 game schedule?

It is time to change cell phone providers. It is time to create a new League where the bottom line is the sport itself which will intrinsically create a new set of guidelines on player safety, equipment, lenghth of schedule and number of games played.

We love hockey... not the NHL. They are not one and the same thing. As much as they will tell you otherwise, they are not.



(Sorry Ek, but this is the Blog topic that we need to hear today.)
- Beatle_john

BJ with a long cat post

BJ with a long cat post
- Symba007

the worst kind

If Wendy's owned them, they'd be the Hamburg Never Freezers
- _Zippy_

I once worked for Wendys. It was the mid nineties and all of their beef was frozen.

It is time to understand that a Hockey Fan loves Hockey... not the NHL. sure the NHL is the provider, but just like we have choice in choosing our cell phone company, we have choice in our sports entertainment provider and if we lose trust in out cell phone company, we are the first to complain loudly so all that will hear and move on.







Remember, we love hockey, not the NHL. We love the sport, not the provider.

Let this incarnation of the NHL die by its own sword. I do not want to support a minority of owners who dictate the league though the power of a supermajority while real, significant and important game issues remain unsolved.

And yes, I truly blame the owners. They set up this CBA, they created the pyramid marketing scheme that was NHL-expansion and make decisions based on their bottom line with no regard for the sport of hockey or safety of it players.

The owners may be able to outlast the players. If that’s where it ultimately goes... but they cannot outlast competition in the sports provider market if fans choose to follow a legitimate incarnation of a Hockey league rather than the corporate shill we currently have.



It's almost the NHL has tried to create a monopoly bubble around the NHL where outside economic factors are ignored if the league's 30 teams make money. Here is where the rubber meets the road.... 30 teams will not make money. A small minority will and carry the rest of the loser franchises with them. YES, 30 can, theoretically survive, but so could 32 or 44... but the game suffers horribly.



And what of the well-off franchises?

Why are the Maple Leafs not rewarded for their finacial loyalty but instead need to feed the status quo of the league. One will easily notice that since the new CBA came in, those who were in well-off positions, retained them. Those who were rebuilding AND make money have a huge disadvantage as they must both prop up with team while supporting their competators which drives the status quo and creates an unfair climate when it comes to UFAs.

Another way to say it is: How does Vancouver feel about giving money to Phoenix to Phoenix can sign players in an attempt to beat Vancouver?

And what of the middle of the road franchises? How does Buffalo, St. Louis, Colorado or Minnesota feel when they are established franchises and need payments only to see much of that pot of gold shipped to other groups who only seem to be in the league to flesh out an 82 game schedule?

It is time to change cell phone providers. It is time to create a new League where the bottom line is the sport itself which will intrinsically create a new set of guidelines on player safety, equipment, lenghth of schedule and number of games played.

We love hockey... not the NHL. They are not one and the same thing. As much as they will tell you otherwise, they are not.



(Sorry Ek, but this is the Blog topic that we need to hear today.)
- Beatle_john

I love lamp

I once worked for Wendys. It was the mid nineties and all of their beef was frozen.
- Kinger34

nothingburgers?

I once worked for Wendys. It was the mid nineties and all of their beef was frozen.
- Kinger34

Yeah I don't get it... It is illegal to ship food, at least in the United States, without it being frozen. Why do they make such a stupid claim?

It is time to understand that a Hockey Fan loves Hockey... not the NHL. sure the NHL is the provider, but just like we have choice in choosing our cell phone company, we have choice in our sports entertainment provider and if we lose trust in out cell phone company, we are the first to complain loudly so all that will hear and move on.







Remember, we love hockey, not the NHL. We love the sport, not the provider.

Let this incarnation of the NHL die by its own sword. I do not want to support a minority of owners who dictate the league though the power of a supermajority while real, significant and important game issues remain unsolved.

And yes, I truly blame the owners. They set up this CBA, they created the pyramid marketing scheme that was NHL-expansion and make decisions based on their bottom line with no regard for the sport of hockey or safety of it players.

The owners may be able to outlast the players. If that’s where it ultimately goes... but they cannot outlast competition in the sports provider market if fans choose to follow a legitimate incarnation of a Hockey league rather than the corporate shill we currently have.



It's almost the NHL has tried to create a monopoly bubble around the NHL where outside economic factors are ignored if the league's 30 teams make money. Here is where the rubber meets the road.... 30 teams will not make money. A small minority will and carry the rest of the loser franchises with them. YES, 30 can, theoretically survive, but so could 32 or 44... but the game suffers horribly.



And what of the well-off franchises?

Why are the Maple Leafs not rewarded for their finacial loyalty but instead need to feed the status quo of the league. One will easily notice that since the new CBA came in, those who were in well-off positions, retained them. Those who were rebuilding AND make money have a huge disadvantage as they must both prop up with team while supporting their competators which drives the status quo and creates an unfair climate when it comes to UFAs.

Another way to say it is: How does Vancouver feel about giving money to Phoenix to Phoenix can sign players in an attempt to beat Vancouver?

And what of the middle of the road franchises? How does Buffalo, St. Louis, Colorado or Minnesota feel when they are established franchises and need payments only to see much of that pot of gold shipped to other groups who only seem to be in the league to flesh out an 82 game schedule?

It is time to change cell phone providers. It is time to create a new League where the bottom line is the sport itself which will intrinsically create a new set of guidelines on player safety, equipment, lenghth of schedule and number of games played.

We love hockey... not the NHL. They are not one and the same thing. As much as they will tell you otherwise, they are not.



(Sorry Ek, but this is the Blog topic that we need to hear today.)
- Beatle_john

Not a single NHL game will be played this October that's for sure, and there's a pretty good chance there wont be any in the first week of November.

Not a single NHL game will be played this October that's for sure, and there's a pretty good chance there wont be any in the first week of November.
- Thehabsfan93

Wont be a game this year in the NHL. Their greed couldn't split up 2.1 billion, you think they are going to be able to split up 3.2 billion?

Wont be a game this year in the NHL. Their greed couldn't split up 2.1 billion, you think they are going to be able to split up 3.2 billion?
- ShootingSemin

They'll be playing by the end of November. Greed will save them.

They'll be playing by the end of November. Greed will save them.
- Canada Cup

Neither Bettman nor Fehr has a history of blinking, and players have already made long term plans. I do not share your optimism.

Neither Bettman nor Fehr has a history of blinking, and players have already made long term plans. I do not share your optimism.
- sanfordnson

Nothing at stake in these negotiations worth a full year. It's not like they're bringing in a cap. It would be the height of stupidity to throw away $3bn in a fight over 3 or 4 % of that money. I actually think they both know what they are doing and both sides know when the losses outweigh the potential gains. They are not at that point yet.

anyone down for an awesome fantasy hockeyleague please join in yahoo. league id is 24077 and password is nolockout. lets go! big league big teams!

Neither Bettman nor Fehr has a history of blinking, and players have already made long term plans. I do not share your optimism.
- sanfordnson

Same here, this is now a battle of egos and a media battle. Neither side will want to make the 1st significant compromise.

In my connected league as blues I traded McDonald and berglund to phx for michalek, hanzel and a first.
Thoughts?

Same here, this is now a battle of egos and a media battle. Neither side will want to make the 1st significant compromise.
- Symba007

Which i said it would end up a few months ago, while others held optimism that it wouldn't get to that point.. You are correct, neither side wants to give up the 1st big compromise, and neither will.

Nothing at stake in these negotiations worth a full year. It's not like they're bringing in a cap. It would be the height of stupidity to throw away $3bn in a fight over 3 or 4 % of that money. I actually think they both know what they are doing and both sides know when the losses outweigh the potential gains. They are not at that point yet.
- Canada Cup

3 billion reasons at stake. That's a lot of reasons, and a lot of stakes. It would be stupid yes, but stupidity is not a new concept for the NHL, it's damn close to being their motto.