Michael Stuart: A Staunch Defense of Lightning Owner Jeff Vinik

I am Glad he is getting involved . I feel he will be a voice a reason . As compared to Bettman and Jacobs with their screw the players attitude.

I am Glad he is getting involved . I fell he will be a voice a reason . As compared to Bettman and Jacobs with their screw the players attitude.
- Maximum Signal

Yeah, it could be good to have a refreshing voice in the room. I just hope that what Eklund said about him doing whatever Jacobs says isn't completely accurate.

I am Glad he is getting involved . I fell he will be a voice a reason . As compared to Bettman and Jacobs with their screw the players attitude.
- Maximum Signal

Neither Bettman nor Jacobs have a screw the players attitude. That is the type of bullpoop the PA wants you to beleive. Both of those guys have stated they love hockey and hockey players. They are shrewd business men that have no bones business attitudes.

People need to stop buying the spew about these guys.

Neither Bettman nor Jacobs have a screw the players attitude. That is the type of bullpoop the PA wants you to beleive. Both of those guys have stated they love hockey and hockey players. They are shrewd business men that have no bones business attitudes.

People need to stop buying the spew about these guys.
- Iggysbff

People need to stop buying the Crap the owners and Bettman are putting out as well . It is pathetic that these all mighty owners need the players to protect them from themselves . Anywhere else in the business world can you sign a contract and say no we are not going to honor that contract we signed in Good faith without getting your butt sued off ?
Maybe we need some voices of reason that understand honor integrity to get involved on both sides.

People need to stop buying the Crap the owners in Bettman are putting out as well . It is pathetic that these all mighty owners need the players to protect them from themselves . Anywhere else in the business world can you sign a contract and say no we are not going to honor that contract we signed in Good faith without getting your butt sued off ?
Maybe we need some voices of reason that understand honor integrity to get involved on both sides.
- Maximum Signal

Agreed.

Both sides need to stop spewing crap. Get a frickin deal done and play some frickin hockey. It shouldn't be that hard of a concept

The ONLY reason I have not cancelled my season tickets is b/c of the outstanding ownership of Mr Vinik. Any other owner(s) in the Bolts history and I would be gone but Vinik has done NOTHING to deserve to be punished. I wish there was a way I could cancel my tickets to punish the NHL without punishing Vinik, but alas there is not. Vinik is the best owner in the Bolts history and honestly probably the best owner in all of Tampa sports history.

The ONLY reason I have not cancelled my season tickets is b/c of the outstanding ownership of Mr Vinik. Any other owner(s) in the Bolts history and I would be gone but Vinik has done NOTHING to deserve to be punished. I wish there was a way I could cancel my tickets to punish the NHL without punishing Vinik, but alas there is not. Vinik is the best owner in the Bolts history and honestly probably the best owner in all of Tampa sports history.
- uf1910

I have read some great stuff about him . I have a friend in Tampa that is a long time Bolts season ticket holder that sings his praises . We feel the same way about our new owner in Buffalo , Mr Pegula . The fresh blood in ownership is good and perhaps should have more of a role in these negotiations

Neither Bettman nor Jacobs have a screw the players attitude. That is the type of bullpoop the PA wants you to beleive. Both of those guys have stated they love hockey and hockey players. They are shrewd business men that have no bones business attitudes.

People need to stop buying the spew about these guys.
- Iggysbff

If they don't have that type of attitude, they sure aren't showing that they don't. Jacobs especially. I don't believe that Bettman is calling the shots, but he is front and center. The NHL from day 1 has come at the players with an adversarial posture, and was very aggressive from the get go. And hasn't shown any real sign of wanting to form a quality relationship with it's labor force, and build an environment where everyone prospers. If they had done so, maybe they'd be playing Hockey right now.

The ONLY reason I have not cancelled my season tickets is b/c of the outstanding ownership of Mr Vinik. Any other owner(s) in the Bolts history and I would be gone but Vinik has done NOTHING to deserve to be punished. I wish there was a way I could cancel my tickets to punish the NHL without punishing Vinik, but alas there is not. Vinik is the best owner in the Bolts history and honestly probably the best owner in all of Tampa sports history.
- uf1910

Don't know a lot about him, but everything I read sound positive. I especially like the part about how he has maintained his commitments. Wish the other NHL Owners felt the same way.

People need to stop buying the Crap the owners and Bettman are putting out as well . It is pathetic that these all mighty owners need the players to protect them from themselves . Anywhere else in the business world can you sign a contract and say no we are not going to honor that contract we signed in Good faith without getting your butt sued off ?
Maybe we need some voices of reason that understand honor integrity to get involved on both sides.
- Maximum Signal

Virtually everywhere else in the business world, contracts have out clauses. The NHL does not. Maybe they should start putting them in.

Virtually everywhere else in the business world, contracts have out clauses. The NHL does not. Maybe they should start putting them in.
- Iggysbff

Read Exhibit 1 of the last CBA. There's a lot of so called "out clauses" in a standard SPC.

Michael Stuart you are now on my hero list for this post. Just below Jesus and my dad!

Neither Bettman nor Jacobs have a screw the players attitude. That is the type of bullpoop the PA wants you to beleive. Both of those guys have stated they love hockey and hockey players. They are shrewd business men that have no bones business attitudes.

People need to stop buying the spew about these guys.
- Iggysbff

I'm right with you. None of these guys own hockey teams to make a ton of money; they do it because they love the game. All of them want to be playing, but they want to be playing in a healthy business environment. It's hard to fault the owners for that. I'm pro-owner based on a working knowledge of fiscal responsibility.

Michael Stuart you are now on my hero list for this post. Just below Jesus and my dad!
- Artyukhin76

Awwww

So sweet.

Of the 6 owners at the meeting he is probably the only one I wouldn't pie in the face.

Of the 6 owners at the meeting he is probably the only one I wouldn't pie in the face.
- ODalton

Of the 6 owners at the meeting he is probably the only one I wouldn't pie in the face.
- ODalton

I'm right with you. None of these guys own hockey teams to make a ton of money; they do it because they love the game. All of them want to be playing, but they want to be playing in a healthy business environment. It's hard to fault the owners for that. I'm pro-owner based on a working knowledge of fiscal responsibility.
- Michael_Stuart

Is it hard to fault the Owners for not creating a healthy business environment? Maybe if they exercised some fiscal responsibility, we wouldn't be in a lockout.

Is it hard to fault the Owners for not creating a healthy business environment? Maybe if they exercised some fiscal responsibility, we wouldn't be in a lockout.
- MJL

Exercising fiscal responsibility in an industry with so much demand a such a little supply for talent is incredibly difficult. Even as an economic libertarian, I believe that some sort of regulation is needed in a system like the NHL. Hard to fault either side for what's happened.

Exercising fiscal responsibility in an industry with so much demand a such a little supply for talent is incredibly difficult. Even as an economic libertarian, I believe that some sort of regulation is needed in a system like the NHL. Hard to fault either side for what's happened.
- Michael_Stuart

It's not at all difficult to blame the Owner's for what happened. The system needs to be fixed. But the Owners need to take responsibility for it. And not expect the players to foot the bill for everything.

It's not at all difficult to blame the Owner's for what happened. The system needs to be fixed. But the Owners need to take responsibility for it. And not expect the players to foot the bill for everything.
- MJL

They're not expecting the players to foot the bill for everything. Considering the losses sustained by many franchises over the last few years, having the players take zero risk isn't exactly fair. Only in the NHL are employees (players) not subject to adverse economic conditions. The owners have taken responsibility for it in saying that the system can't continue this way. The players have said that they're willing to work with the owners on this. From the players' perspective, there's very little wrong with the previous CBA -- it maximizes their long-term wealth with little to no risk.

Why do you think the players were so eager to play under the current system during negotiations? It certainly wasn't for the fans, let me tell you that.

They're not expecting the players to foot the bill for everything. Considering the losses sustained by many franchises over the last few years, having the players take zero risk isn't exactly fair. Only in the NHL are employees (players) not subject to adverse economic conditions. The owners have taken responsibility for it in saying that the system can't continue this way. The players have said that they're willing to work with the owners on this. From the players' perspective, there's very little wrong with the previous CBA -- it maximizes their long-term wealth with little to no risk.
- Michael_Stuart

C'mon Michael! Saying the system can't continue this way isn't taking responsibility for it. And wanting to players to give in every area isn't taking responsibility for it. Of course they're expecting the players to foot the bill. The same way they did in the last CBA. It was their deal. The Cap was what they wanted. Owner's have shown zero fiscal responsibility. That's why were in a lockout again. And likely will again in the future if they don't change from within. Are you telling me that players in the NFL, NBA, and MLB are subject to adverse economic conditions? And when you invest in an NHL team, you sign on to take that risk. Players never take on financial risk. In any sport. The players are willing to do their share and take a reduced share to help fix the system. What are the Owner's willing to do, besides take from the players?

C'mon Michael! Saying the system can't continue this way isn't taking responsibility for it. And wanting to players to give in every area isn't taking responsibility for it. Of course they're expecting the players to foot the bill. The same way they did in the last CBA. It was their deal. The Cap was what they wanted. Owner's have shown zero fiscal responsibility. That's why were in a lockout again. And likely will again in the future if they don't change from within. Are you telling me that players in the NFL, NBA, and MLB are subject to adverse economic conditions? And when you invest in an NHL team, you sign on to take that risk. Players never take on financial risk. In any sport. The players are willing to do their share and take a reduced share to help fix the system. What are the Owner's willing to do, besides take from the players?
- MJL

Well, if they're not taking, they're staying the same (which hasn't worked) or giving more (which won't work). It's the only logical option. Saying the system can't work is taking responsibility for it. They've said that the system they crafted isn't effective for the business. Look at the finances; it's abundantly obvious. Players in the NFL don't have guaranteed contracts in the same sense that NHL players do, the NBA has a better revenue split than the NHL and the MLB has a ridiculous amount of capital to play with.

When you sign on to invest in an NHL team, you're signing on to be a part of a business. Sorry, but I refuse to fault governors of a board for wanting to make their business healthier. That's why they are there.

And that's just it. They are OWNERS -- they are in control of the situation. It's like anything in the private sector. If the business is struggling, which it is (all this PA talk of record revenues is nice, but it's useless without looking at operating expenses to generate a net profit/loss statistic) then it's in the owners' best interest to lower wages. Firms paying out 57%+ of revenues in salaries to employees don't last long. It's an unhealthy business practice.

C'mon Michael! Saying the system can't continue this way isn't taking responsibility for it. And wanting to players to give in every area isn't taking responsibility for it. Of course they're expecting the players to foot the bill. The same way they did in the last CBA. It was their deal. The Cap was what they wanted. Owner's have shown zero fiscal responsibility. That's why were in a lockout again. And likely will again in the future if they don't change from within. Are you telling me that players in the NFL, NBA, and MLB are subject to adverse economic conditions? And when you invest in an NHL team, you sign on to take that risk. Players never take on financial risk. In any sport. The players are willing to do their share and take a reduced share to help fix the system. What are the Owner's willing to do, besides take from the players?
- MJL

I mean, I know we're not going to agree here. So let's just leave it at that. I respect your opinion and I sincerely hope you respect mine.