Richard Cloutier: Rumor: Fehr Chooses Campoli Over Iginla

I hope Campoli never plays in the NHL again.

Good blog, but, you missed several key points.

1. Fehr had ample time to start negotiations, which he did not. He in fact put off talking to the NHL for several months during last season, and in all purposes, dragged his feet every excuse he got. People were expecting him to start at least talking with the NHL at the latest at the all-star break, after his "tour" of talking with all the players.

2. His total lack of respect with deliberately coming as much as 6 hours late, as well as the reported silly bugger games. Even billion dollar businesses require people that at the very least, have a bit of respect for each other before they negotiate. It is not a very good idea to seriously piss of the EMPLOYERS of the people who hired him before you even get started, and I am pretty sure the players will be paying big time down the road, especially in light of what happened today

3. Speaking of which, holding the threat of desertification, and making sure the owners knew it was going to happen, sure didn't work out the way he planned there did it? He over played his hand, he annoyed enough owners (even the moderates) and he was playing a kid's game against grown adults. The NHL just took a look at his major card, laughed themselves silly, and then promptly took control of the ultimate bargaining tool away from him.

4. It was the NHL that had the first serious offer, laughable as it was. One of the things that should be noted is the NHLPA have (from what I have been able to suss out) NEVER submitted a full and COMPLETE formal offer. There's been portions of it, concepts, but no where have I been able to find has there been a complete offer, with everything in one place. The NHL have done at least a couple, and something that points to the PA bargaining in bad faith from the beginning.

How can you go before a judge, claim the owners are bargaining in bad faith, when you have done nothing but constantly delay things, show a complete and total lack of respect to the entire process by not even being on time deliberately , and not even submit a actual complete offer?

Your comments on the moderate players make total sense. I don't see Fehr being in the slightest bit reasonable, sensible, or even smart to make a deal. It's in his hands to make a deal right now, but I just don't think he will. He appears to believe in his own hype more than actually doing what he is paid to do.

I think the lockout will last a lot longer than people expect, and ultimately, the NHL will just destroy the PA to make them pay for not just what they have done, but who they hired to do it for him.

I hope Campoli never plays in the NHL again.
- robin_steele264

He won't. But he will have a job with the NHLPA.

The NHL has called every bluff the PA has made & have had enough. They filed a court order first, in New York, a state known for warming up to the Employer, not the employee!!

Fehr blew it, his followers are so blind they don't realize he's leading them down a path of destruction. They are getting horrible advice from Fehr & Fehr himself is getting horrible advice from others around him - aka, the lawyer who's client were the NBA players, who just happened to file a disclaimer themselves.

In that case, the threat worked, in this case it won't because the NHL knows full well they will win this battle for several different reasons, one being so many players are currently playing in Europe & that hurts the PA big time.

Second, when push comes to shove, you're going to see alot of players stepping forth & shouting their displeasures at their own Union because deep down, guys like Iginla know full well the deal the NHL offered was not bad & thru this entire process, Fehr & his slaves had one thing in mind, to try and bully the owners & it back-fired bigtime. They'll never admit it, but they picked a fight with a group that was tougher than they'll ever realize.

So dismantle your union Fehr, that alone shows failure on your part as an executive directior - the players hired you to fail - what grade education do the players really have - judging by their actions, i'm sure they all spent time in the milk & cookie class because as adults, they haven't a clue!!

Enjoy another lost season, in fact if this gets caught up in the courts, it will be longer so piss off, go play in Europe & enjoy making less than the NHL minimum for the rest of your lives - greed, greed, greed!!!!!!!

The Players just dont want to play..plain and simple..all they're trying to do is wanting to become the Boss of the league, they don't care about what's fair..they think they've been treated wrong all these years so now they will fight to till the NHL taps out..it's not gonna happen though, players need to remember how much their salaries have grown over the past decade..and that every CBA has always worked out good for the players..
Healthy league equals high player salaries..if the league stayed where it is then a couple teams would fold..meaning less jobs for players..but guys like Campoli and Hainsey couldn't give a rats ass about that because they know their careers are over anyways.
All I know is that when you have about ten teams in the red, and those players on those teams are still averaging over two mill in salaries..those players need to thank their lucky stars that they got jobs..where else in the world do employees make more money than the owners??? Ohh they aren't employees...they are BUSINESS partners..right.

This is becoming laughable, I've said it before and I'll say it again, as it stands now, I hope the league dies a slow and painful death over the course of the next 12 months.

This is becoming laughable, I've said it before and I'll say it again, as it stands now, I hope the league dies a slow and painful death over the course of the next 12 months.
- LeftCoaster

The good ol' cutting off your nose to spite your face. Thats a well thought out idea and should work well for you. The problem with your comment is that you're here for hours every day talking NHL hockey. Yea....posturing. School of Fehr and Bettman. You, my son, have passed BS 101.

It would be so funny to see how all the pro-owner crowd reacts if the PA ever does decertify. Free markets would not br pretty to a franchise like the oilers.

The good ol' cutting off your nose to spite your face. Thats a well thought out idea and should work well for you. The problem with your comment is that you're here for hours every day talking NHL hockey. Yea....posturing. School of Fehr and Bettman. You, my son, have passed BS 101.
- systemtool

Something needs to change, that's the jist of my comment. I'm not saying I don't wanna ever see NHL hockey again! But I'm tired of the labor wars, this one has me worn out with both the NHL and the NHLPA, especially the PA!

It would be so funny to see how all the pro-owner crowd reacts if the PA ever does decertify. Free markets would not br pretty to a franchise like the oilers.
- Canada Cup

Care to elaborate?

It would be so funny to see how all the pro-owner crowd reacts if the PA ever does decertify. Free markets would not br pretty to a franchise like the oilers.
- Canada Cup

Free market wouldn't be pretty for 80% of the players they be signed for less than they make now, no minimum salary. The superstars would make off like bandits though.

Something needs to change, that's the jist of my comment. I'm not saying I don't wanna ever see NHL hockey again! But I'm tired of the labor wars, this one has me worn out with both the NHL and the NHLPA, especially the PA!
- LeftCoaster

I completely agree. Im sick of it too.

What I disagree on, and it upsets me when this happens, is taking sides. Both sides are to blame for this mess. One side is not any more, or any less, to blame. While it seems easier to blame the PA right now, lets not forget that under Bettman there has been 3 lock outs. That under Bettmans rule, 9% of the games during his tenure have been cancelled due to CBA negotiations.

Both sides are guilty here. The NHLPA for being too greedy and blind to the damage theyre doing to themselves, but also the NHL for thinking they can just shut the league down everytime they want to have their way.

Something needs to change, that's the jist of my comment. I'm not saying I don't wanna ever see NHL hockey again! But I'm tired of the labor wars, this one has me worn out with both the NHL and the NHLPA, especially the PA!
- LeftCoaster

Agreed at this point it just who has the bigger Richard fight........ For the record it's me

Care to elaborate?
- robin_steele264

Do you really need to be told about the lack of players, good players that is, wanting to sign in Edmonton as FAs?

Or how much less appealing it is to live there as opposed to many other options?

Gee lets see...New York, LA, Chicago, Boston, Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver...Nah...ill pick Edmonton!!! Woohoo a big mall and (frank) all!

Free market wouldn't be pretty for 80% of the players they be signed for less than they make now, no minimum salary. The superstars would make off like bandits though.
- Yeti1181

Once the huge spenders fill up their rosters you'd have plenty of teams in good markets who would love to ice a team for 20 mill or so.


And some would probably do well... Preds would likely love this.

Something needs to change, that's the jist of my comment. I'm not saying I don't wanna ever see NHL hockey again! But I'm tired of the labor wars, this one has me worn out with both the NHL and the NHLPA, especially the PA!
- LeftCoaster

Just out of curiosity, how does this labor war have you worn out? Like are you somehow involved with the dispute and putting hours of your time into it? How personally are you worn out???

I completely agree. Im sick of it too.

What I disagree on, and it upsets me when this happens, is taking sides. Both sides are to blame for this mess. One side is not any more, or any less, to blame. While it seems easier to blame the PA right now, lets not forget that under Bettman there has been 3 lock outs. That under Bettmans rule, 9% of the games during his tenure have been cancelled due to CBA negotiations.

Both sides are guilty here. The NHLPA for being too greedy and blind to the damage theyre doing to themselves, but also the NHL for thinking they can just shut the league down everytime they want to have their way.
- systemtool

You say both sides are too blame and you don't like taking sides, yet you turn around and blame Betteman for three lockouts was the NHLPA not involved in those lockouts as well?

Do you really need to be told about the lack of players, good players that is, wanting to sign in Edmonton as FAs?

Or how much less appealing it is to live there as opposed to many other options?

Gee lets see...New York, LA, Chicago, Boston, Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver...Nah...ill pick Edmonton!!! Woohoo a big mall and (frank) all!
- systemtool

Evidence would suggest Toronto has the same problem.


This is a pretty tired argument.

One the huge spenders fill up their rosters you'd have plenty of teams in good markets who would love to ice a team for 20 mill or so.


And some would probably do well... Preds would likely love this.
- robin_steele264

Preds havent won a cup. Teams who spend now and make big bucks will love this. Preds will hate this because now there are no NHL rules to protec them like they benefited from in the Weber case.

Preds will hate this as there is nothing to help them keep their talent, and most of their players will bolt at the first opportunity as weve seen many examples of out of Nashville and other smaller markets with smaller pay rolls.

One the huge spenders fill up their rosters you'd have plenty of teams in good markets who would love to ice a team for 20 mill or so.


And some would probably do well... Preds would likely love this.
- robin_steele264

Yes that's exactly right those teams we think don't work will work better in the free market and will still be able to most likely have a relatively competitive team. Ie Phoenix low salary good team.

Evidence would suggest Toronto has the same problem.


This is a pretty tired argument.
- robin_steele264

I agree. But with no cap, there would be less problem in Toronto because they can throw money at the problem and overpay. Without salary cap restrictions, they can buy a team. Also its a more convenient place to live, and more appealing.

Preds havent won a cup. Teams who spend now and make big bucks will love this. Preds will hate this because now there are no NHL rules to protec them like they benefited from in the Weber case.

Preds will hate this as there is nothing to help them keep their talent, and most of their players will bolt at the first opportunity as weve seen many examples of out of Nashville and other smaller markets with smaller pay rolls.
- systemtool

Spending money doesn't always equate to winning

You say both sides are too blame and you don't like taking sides, yet you turn around and blame Betteman for three lockouts was the NHLPA not involved in those lockouts as well?
- Yeti1181

Im not taking sides. Im just pointing out the truth. Bettman has been in charge during 3 lockouts. The NHLPA does not have a constant face to blame.

Preds havent won a cup. Teams who spend now and make big bucks will love this. Preds will hate this because now there are no NHL rules to protec them like they benefited from in the Weber case.

Preds will hate this as there is nothing to help them keep their talent, and most of their players will bolt at the first opportunity as weve seen many examples of out of Nashville and other smaller markets with smaller pay rolls.
- systemtool

Like I said.... Once the huge spending teams fill up, there still plenty of NHL'ers looking for work. Smart GM's can build their team on a meager budget and still be competitive.


Preds would love it and would likely turn a huge profit.