All you people saying screw hockey, this and that... 99% of you will be watching it once the lockout is over.

Get real

Ek,

Tell the NHL & NHLPA to contact me for a proposal that is fair to the players, all 30 teams and especially the fans,

Thanks

Can't both sides just hire a mediator to help settle these negotiations? It could at least help both sides get a little farther along.

How long?

As long as he wants the job.

He took the NHL from a $400M annual revenue league to a $3.3 Billion revenue league. Not to mention, the loads of cash he got owners from expansion team, and finally, a somewhat decent national TV deal.

That is why.
- JDJ

Actually it's WE THE FANS that took it to a $3.3 Billion business. Let's be serious! The fact is it could be even more if Bettman would get it through his head that some markets are not hockey markets.

Can the politics talk. America will essentially remain the same no matter who is president...
- Mr_Clean

Thank you! Politicians come and go. It's the bureaucrats that run government. And they never leave.

All you people saying screw hockey, this and that... 99% of you will be watching it once the lockout is over.

Get real
- StayTunedMTC

Thank you Mr. Hockey. Still on that cup-high I see. It's all rah, rah NHL! Well good for you.

From a Swede that hates the NHL-player invasion. It just creates a circus in the european leagues. My Swedish team Leksand has spent years building a team that should be ready to make a jump back to the top league after many years in the 2nd division but with this STUPID lockout all the teams fills up with NHL-stars and the leagues become lotterys. I hope the Elite League continues to lockout the NHL-players as they are doing right now.
No shortterm contracts are allowed in the Elite League right now and that prevents the players from signing on to play until the NHL-lockout is over.

Blow up the NHL and start a new league....with teams in places where they should be: Quebec City, Seattle, Cleveland, Hartford etc.....(frank) Bettman and (frank) the NHL......I've had enough with this garbage....

From a Swede that hates the NHL-player invasion. It just creates a circus in the european leagues. My Swedish team Leksand has spent years building a team that should be ready to make a jump back to the top league after many years in the 2nd division but with this STUPID lockout all the teams fills up with NHL-stars and the leagues become lotterys. I hope the Elite League continues to lockout the NHL-players as they are doing right now.
No shortterm contracts are allowed in the Elite League right now and that prevents the players from signing on to play until the NHL-lockout is over.
- Dalhabs

Amen brutha...

From a Swede that hates the NHL-player invasion. It just creates a circus in the european leagues. My Swedish team Leksand has spent years building a team that should be ready to make a jump back to the top league after many years in the 2nd division but with this STUPID lockout all the teams fills up with NHL-stars and the leagues become lotterys. I hope the Elite League continues to lockout the NHL-players as they are doing right now.
No shortterm contracts are allowed in the Elite League right now and that prevents the players from signing on to play until the NHL-lockout is over.
- Dalhabs

True true...

You're a Swede? Do you have a sister?

Amen brutha...
- chompsey

Yah, but unfortunately it's wrong. Players are being signed by swedish teams today.

Yah, but unfortunately it's wrong. Players are being signed by swedish teams today.
- bloatedmosquito

I believe that at this point that they will not be allowed to return to the NHL this season then....

There has been some debate in Swedish hockey circles about how best to approach the lockout. The top division, known as Elitserien, has said all players must sign a contract for the entire season — not one that would terminate if the NHL reaches a deal in collective bargaining.

However, the second-tier Allsvenskan is willing to take on NHLers and currently includes past Swedish champions Djurgarden, Leksand and Malmo. Some believe the Elitserien will reconsider its policy when lower-division teams seeking promotion start bringing in reinforcements.

Swedish teams are restricted to having just two players born outside of Europe on their rosters.

http://thechronicleherald...136446-nhl-lockout-starts

Actually it's WE THE FANS that took it to a $3.3 Billion business. Let's be serious! The fact is it could be even more if Bettman would get it through his head that some markets are not hockey markets.
- BurnabyBob

No, we the fans bought into a plan by spending money on tickets and supporting media / TV. Fans did nothing, except spend.

I am tired of all this bullpoop about the NHL is where it is because of the fans, as if it was completely organic, not driven by a business plan.

Hate Bettman, the guy is a jerk, but he is shrewd and has grown the NHL business over his tenure.

The reason the players want to stay above 50% is they are the only league other than the NFL with a hard salary cap. To give numbers to that the NHL cap ceiling was $64.3 million while the NFL ceiling is $120.6 million. Quite a difference. The NHL of all the sports has the lowest average salary. So them wanting a larger piece of the pie is understandable.

Also the players put forth a proposal that would lower their share to 54%. The owners on the other hand want them to lower all the way down to 47%. No one in their right mind would accept a 10% reduction and the fact that the owners have yet to propose the 50/50 split shows they don't care. Any reduction in pay is obviously a loss to the players and pretty much every proposal has the owners winning again, but they seem like instead of taking the victory they are trying to get another crushing victory over the NHLPA.

There is also the fact that the NHLPA was ok with playing under the current CBA this season while a new one was negotiated. Again the owners said no way. The owners seem unwilling to give in on anything.

What is ridiculous is how little the two sides have met since the finals. After the draft they should have been meeting multiple times a week to try and get this done.

it was a false rumour...


http://m.theglobeandmail....le4496245/?service=mobile
- Symba007

Yeah, I know. Seeing if he did.

The contract they hold with the NHL. Well, not void but NBC would have the option to void it should they so choose.

edit: FU real Mr. Clean.
- muffin_man

So that's a no.... and why would they void a deal that loses 5 viewers?

Ek,

Tell the NHL & NHLPA to contact me for a proposal that is fair to the players, all 30 teams and especially the fans,

Thanks
- Devils622

good thing you're here bro, srsly, don't know what we would all do.

The reason the players want to stay above 50% is they are the only league other than the NFL with a hard salary cap. To give numbers to that the NHL cap ceiling was $64.3 million while the NFL ceiling is $120.6 million. Quite a difference. The NHL of all the sports has the lowest average salary. So them wanting a larger piece of the pie is understandable.
- HarvP

You're a product of your market. If I'm a player in a league that makes half of what the NHL is, it would not be acceptable for me to ask for 80-90%. That wouldn't be fair to the owners. There's only so much pie to go around.

the fact that the owners have yet to propose the 50/50 split shows they don't care.
- HarvP

50/50 is what it should be... Are you sure they haven't proposed a 50/50 yet?

There is also the fact that the NHLPA was ok with playing under the current CBA this season while a new one was negotiated. Again the owners said no way. The owners seem unwilling to give in on anything.
- HarvP

I can't blame the owners. Things could be messy if the business went on without an agreement in place.

What is ridiculous is how little the two sides have met since the finals. After the draft they should have been meeting multiple times a week to try and get this done.
- HarvP

Agreed. As others have mentioned, perhaps a mediator should be used... I bet that mediator would come up with something that's actually fair for both sides (something around 50/50) plus a bunch of other sh1t figured in.

So that's a no.... and why would they void a deal that loses 5 viewers?
- burn

Those 5 viewers represent 33.333% of the American audience.

I believe that at this point that they will not be allowed to return to the NHL this season then....
- chompsey

Somebody better tell the Kings that. They are going to be pissed.

*apathetic face emoticon*

Wait... REAL Mr. Clean? Is there a fake one?
- Mr_Clean

You've clearly never met Symber. You sir, are Mr. Clean by name only. He (frank)ing LIVES the character.

If you work for me your're fired.

You've clearly never met Symber. You sir, are Mr. Clean by name only. He (frank)ing LIVES the character.
- muffin_man

http://thechronicleherald.ca/sports/136446-nhl-lockout-starts
- laughs2907

"Swedish teams are restricted to having just two players born outside of Europe on their rosters."
Sounds pretty racist to me.