Paul McCann: Pics from Saturday and Living Up to Your Word

I thought the last offer by the NHL was delivered without asking to rollback existing contracts. Yes, there is escrow involved, but the players will see that money come back around to them over time. Am I wrong?

I totally agree about honoring current contracts. I don't know how somebody like Shea Weber could manage to survive on only $102,300,000 instead of $110,000,000. I mean, with these gas prices this guy will be bankrupt in 2-3 years tops. It's just not fair for somebody who does sooooo much for this world to have to exist on such a penance. If we lived in a fair world President Obama would cut salaries for cops, firemen and soldiers and start giving that money to these poor suffering hockey players. Perhaps get George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Neil Young and John Mellencamp to do a benefit for them? I'm barely surviving myself under the worry of what's going to happen to these guys. I mean what happens if Paul Bissonnette has to start having sex with 7s and 8s instead of 9s and 10s? Somebody needs to stand up and do something about this. For real.

I totally agree about honoring current contracts. I don't know how somebody like Shea Weber could manage to survive on only $102,300,000 instead of $110,000,000. I mean, with these gas prices this guy will be bankrupt in 2-3 years tops. It's just not fair for somebody who does sooooo much for this world to have to exist on such a penance. If we lived in a fair world President Obama would cut salaries for cops, firemen and soldiers and start giving that money to these poor suffering hockey players. Perhaps get George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Neil Young and John Mellencamp to do a benefit for them? I'm barely surviving myself under the worry of what's going to happen to these guys. I mean what happens if Paul Bissonnette has to start having sex with 7s and 8s instead of 9s and 10s? Somebody needs to stand up and do something about this. For real.
- Lethargic

Good point -- we should only honour the contracts we like

I totally agree about honoring current contracts. I don't know how somebody like Shea Weber could manage to survive on only $102,300,000 instead of $110,000,000. I mean, with these gas prices this guy will be bankrupt in 2-3 years tops. It's just not fair for somebody who does sooooo much for this world to have to exist on such a penance. If we lived in a fair world President Obama would cut salaries for cops, firemen and soldiers and start giving that money to these poor suffering hockey players. Perhaps get George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Neil Young and John Mellencamp to do a benefit for them? I'm barely surviving myself under the worry of what's going to happen to these guys. I mean what happens if Paul Bissonnette has to start having sex with 7s and 8s instead of 9s and 10s? Somebody needs to stand up and do something about this. For real.
- Lethargic

well the players are trying to... and i dont blame them. they gave back once. ... and i dont think ovechkin is wrong. i would leave the nhl for home as well if i had his options and the pa agreed to salary rollbacks. a signed contract is a signed contract and if the owners are willing to sign them they should be willing to pay them. btw, i feel the same about players holding out when under contract

I thought the last offer by the NHL was delivered without asking to rollback existing contracts. Yes, there is escrow involved, but the players will see that money come back around to them over time. Am I wrong?
- Predaceous

What the NHL is doing with the escrow equates to the players paying themselves later from their own escrow. So in essence the players are taking a pay cut because they are writing a part of their own paycheck instead of the owners.

MOSCOW, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Nashville Predators winger Sergei Kostitsyn, who joined Russian club Avangard Omsk during a work stoppage in the National Hockey League (NHL), hopes the lockout will lead to the cancellation of the entire season.

"Let's put it this way - it would be better (for the players) if the lockout continues," Kostitsyn was quoted as saying by Russian daily Sport-Express on Monday.

"Players want a definite answer. If the NHL season is lost - let it be that way. I would then play in Russia for the whole season."

The NHL postponed another week of regular-season games on Friday because of the ongoing labor dispute with players. The regular-season was originally set to start on Oct. 11 and the latest postponement effects a total of 135 games.

MOSCOW, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Nashville Predators winger Sergei Kostitsyn, who joined Russian club Avangard Omsk during a work stoppage in the National Hockey League (NHL), hopes the lockout will lead to the cancellation of the entire season.

"Let's put it this way - it would be better (for the players) if the lockout continues," Kostitsyn was quoted as saying by Russian daily Sport-Express on Monday.

"Players want a definite answer. If the NHL season is lost - let it be that way. I would then play in Russia for the whole season."

The NHL postponed another week of regular-season games on Friday because of the ongoing labor dispute with players. The regular-season was originally set to start on Oct. 11 and the latest postponement effects a total of 135 games.
- Canada Cup

If you read the original article in Russian and put it through Google Translate it seems that his quotes were taken very out of context. I'm not surprised though. Media likes to sensationalize everything nowadays.

Sounds to me like all he wants is stability. Either call off the season or get a deal done. I don't have a problem with that.

If you read the original article in Russian and put it through Google Translate it seems that his quotes were taken very out of context. I'm not surprised though. Media likes to sensationalize everything nowadays.

Sounds to me like all he wants is stability. Either call off the season or get a deal done. I don't have a problem with that.
- Predaceous

I just figured he was happier with a later curfew in mother Russia than North America.

I just figured he was happier with a later curfew in mother Russia than North America.
- slash&smash

Wrong Kostitsyn.

Wrong Kostitsyn.
- Predaceous

Just because he didn't get caught or he was able to get his groupies out of the room before curfew.

Based on what I was hearing on the NEWS....I really haven't missed anything. I told you I was disgusted with the whole thing and I haven't changed my mind. I really don't care if they play this year or not.

MOSCOW, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Nashville Predators winger Sergei Kostitsyn, who joined Russian club Avangard Omsk during a work stoppage in the National Hockey League (NHL), hopes the lockout will lead to the cancellation of the entire season.

"Let's put it this way - it would be better (for the players) if the lockout continues," Kostitsyn was quoted as saying by Russian daily Sport-Express on Monday.

"Players want a definite answer. If the NHL season is lost - let it be that way. I would then play in Russia for the whole season."

The NHL postponed another week of regular-season games on Friday because of the ongoing labor dispute with players. The regular-season was originally set to start on Oct. 11 and the latest postponement effects a total of 135 games.
- Canada Cup

Gotta love that Russian media... Here's a quote from the Tennessean:

Kostitsyn, a native of Novopolotsk, Belarus, said the question, and his answer, was on a different topic.

“The question the Russian reporter asked was if I will live in America after the end of my career,” Kostitsyn said. “I said probably not because my friends and family live here in Belarus.”

[Edit] I tried to post the link, but for some reason, the entire post shows up blank when I put it between the URL bookends:
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20121023/SPORTS02/310230072/Predators-Kostitsyn-clarifies-comments-about-NHL?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Sports%20Nashville%20Predators