I could care less about this nonsense. 6 Pre Season, 82 Regular Season plus playoffs.... Too long. Ready for a shortened season.

Exactly!! When our economy was strong, jobs were in the USA, and we actually manufactured things here. I guess you prefer sweat shops of today's world!!
- hawks2010

US manufacturing jobs are actually making a comeback. I just sat through a briefing with the chief investment strategist of a bank last week. just the currency exchange alone has increased the cost of doing business in China by 30 percent since 2005. Add in increased oil prices and increased wages for Chinese workers and voila.... more jobs are coming back to the US. Germany just opened multiple manufacturing plants in North Carolina within the last year.

It is really simple: money is the root of all evil. Rich people are evil. Poor people are all good and pure. There should be a salary cap for the whole world. What can a family of 5 live on? $50 thousand? $70 thousand? 100 grand? Further, the workday should only be 5 hours. You should only work 3 or 4 days a week, and 170 days a year. I think most people would like that. Plenty of time for going to the beach, zoo, bars, and a million vacations.
- tomcat24

I hope you were being sarcastic...this is the European way...

The net result of that kind of thinking is zero economic growth. 25% unemployment in Spain. The new French president trying to raise the income tax rate to 75% for those earning more than 1M euro...and the minute that news breaks, France's richest citizens are lining up to leave the country for good. Europe will all implode on itself in due time. You should talk to my friend who lives in the Galicia region of Spain and is an entrepreneur trying to run a small business...he will be happy to explain to you how rosy it all is there....

I don't know about you, but I never got a job from a poor man.

Good spin, tho....
- StLBravesFan

Facts and logic to a lib = spin....

Thirty teams means:

1. More jobs for players - good for the NHLPA
2. TV contracts have more value - good for the NHL

For those two reasons, contraction will never happen.

Best solution is revenue sharing combined with relocation of financially worst teams.

1. Nuke Phoenix and the next worst balance sheet and move them to Hamilton and Quebec.

2. You remove the worst bleeders and actually reduce the revenue sharing needed to keep them afloat.

But that will never happen because the Leafs will never let an NHL team in their market, Bettman seems destined to not admit failure in some of the US markets, and most importantly, the most financially successful franchises are greedy bastardos who won't share a nickel.

I say the players should put forth this exact proposal and be prepared to take Bettman's Winter Classicgasm away until they get it.
- Return of the Roar

I don't agree with you often.. but this time.. it is hard not to.

Facts and logic to a lib = spin....
- TrueGrit

Look I love to debate Poltical, Economics.. etc.. Just not here.

>No amount of TV exposure or number of teams will grow the game of hockey
>The third lowest-rated TV program in the history of NBC is game 3 of the Ducks-Senators Stanley Cup Final -- yeah, that's right, in the history of NBC TV
>And I ask, "Why is it important to grow the game of hockey?"
>Living in Chicago, I'm perfectly happy with a properly contracted NHL, an NHL in which players have to bring it every night, not every third or fourth night, cuz they know they can always find a job in a 30 team NHL
>Please spare me the whining about the poor players -- you are the same posters that will be endlessly complaining about the effort of these same "poor" players
>Hockey is a sport, a game, NHL players are NOT the game -- they are the best at playing the game, but they are NOT the game
>I've skated for over 40 years, have a son who excelled in AAA, Prep Hockey, and played some college
>Hockey is very expensive for the average family -- this game is only healthy in core markets -- where a father taught his kids how to skate and play -- and it will stay that way -- unless a billionaire wants to build ice and roller hockey rinks and supply full equipment, instruction, etc. for free all over America
>Hockey is the greatest team sport to certain group of people: What's wrong with that?

>No amount of TV exposure or number of teams will grow the game of hockey
>The third lowest-rated TV program in the history of NBC is game 3 of the Ducks-Senators Stanley Cup Final -- yeah, that's right, in the history of NBC TV
>And I ask, "Why is it important to grow the game of hockey?"
>Living in Chicago, I'm perfectly happy with a properly contracted NHL, an NHL in which players have to bring it every night, not every third or fourth night, cuz they know they can always find a job in a 30 team NHL
>Please spare me the whining about the poor players -- you are the same posters that will be endlessly complaining about the effort of these same "poor" players
>Hockey is a sport, a game, NHL players are NOT the game -- they are the best at playing the game, but they are NOT the game
>I've skated for over 40 years, have a son who excelled in AAA, Prep Hockey, and played some college
>Hockey is very expensive for the average family -- this game is only healthy in core markets -- where a father taught his kids how to skate and play -- and it will stay that way -- unless a billionaire wants to build ice and roller hockey rinks and supply full equipment, instruction, etc. for free all over America
>Hockey is the greatest team sport to certain group of people: What's wrong with that?
- SnapitUpstairs

The NBA Draft lottery show outdrew game 1 of the Cup Finals...By a lot.
The Cup Finals don't have the TV ratings one would think unless high profile big name teams are there. The playoffs are two months long...and by the end many people lose interest.

I tweeted this today and feel it is true...

Socialism doesn't work for a society but works very well in a sports league.

There is no better example of socialism then the NFL. Not my opinion but admitted by Goodell.

The NHL is so convoluted...The minority swing the biggest bat as they are the only ones making money.

Until the big mkts realize the pot needs to grow and everyone is better off when it does the NHL will continue to stumble along or will be forced to contract.

There is only room for so many teams in Canada...No more than two most likely so the answer is not to just relocate the weak sisters.

On Twitter @AlCimaglia

Lets do that, sometime over the weekend.

- EKolb13

[quote=SnapitUpstairs]>No amount of TV exposure or number of teams will grow the game of hockey
I agree and like Al says Canada can take 2 more teams.
>]

At least some of the Hawks are keeping busy.

http://www.suntimes.com/s...ld-informal-practice.html

The Trib also had an article about this that stated that there were about 30 total players involved, although they gave even fewer names than the Sun Times. How much was Montador participating? How healthy is he?

Lets do that, sometime over the weekend.

- EKolb13

Do we need a passport to head out that way?

I hope you were being sarcastic...this is the European way...

The net result of that kind of thinking is zero economic growth. 25% unemployment in Spain. The new French president trying to raise the income tax rate to 75% for those earning more than 1M euro...and the minute that news breaks, France's richest citizens are lining up to leave the country for good. Europe will all implode on itself in due time. You should talk to my friend who lives in the Galicia region of Spain and is an entrepreneur trying to run a small business...he will be happy to explain to you how rosy it all is there....

I don't know about you, but I never got a job from a poor man.
- MartiniMan

I was being sarcastiic. But I really do feel A LOT of people would like a society like this. Not me, though

I was being sarcastiic. But I really do feel A LOT of people would like a society like this. Not me, though
- tomcat24

Thought so.

But there are way too many who think that way.

It is really simple: money is the root of all evil. Rich people are evil. Poor people are all good and pure. There should be a salary cap for the whole world. What can a family of 5 live on? $50 thousand? $70 thousand? 100 grand? Further, the workday should only be 5 hours. You should only work 3 or 4 days a week, and 170 days a year. I think most people would like that. Plenty of time for going to the beach, zoo, bars, and a million vacations.
- tomcat24

It's actually LOVE of money is the root of all evil. It's the people who are the problem, not the money itself. I think that still aligns with your point above, though.

Do we need a passport to head out that way?
- victorymc98

You might have to bring a shotgun...

You might have to bring a shotgun...
- EKolb13

EK..not to thread jack here but are the Hogs games broadcast on a local TV channel in Rockford?

You need:

- increased exposure of minority players/stars
- more rinks, cheaper access to equipment and ice time
- more promotion in minority communities

It takes money and time. Hockey is for Everyone is a good, albeit small start.
- John Jaeckel

thats your opinion JJ. i want people of good quality in the nhl. not the fricken tatoo wearin, thug ass gangbangers that the NBA parades around!
i let the millionaires work out the economics vs. trying to please a few special interest groups! just my opinion sorry if i upset some of you guys! i do not want another NBA!!
even kids like patrick kane should have been made to go to at least 2 years of college to get some structure and learn respect & responsibility like toews did!

EK..not to thread jack here but are the Hogs games broadcast on a local TV channel in Rockford?
- Glenman12

That's something new that is supposed to start this season. The local CBS affiliate in Rockford will be carrying all 76 games on TV this season. They will be carrying them on their "weather" station rather than their regular station.

I know my cable provider doesn't carry their weather channel, and I'm not sure if Rockford's cable provider carries it. It may be a satellite only thing for all I know?

What I don't get is this: The league was finally starting to see growth in the southern fanbases. Phoenix, Florida and Nashville were experiencing success this season so what should we do? Throw away all the new fans of course! Bettman says the fans will come back. While true for the more traditional markets and long time fans, the new fans might not come back. And if you want league growth, those are the fans you have to target. So why burn the newly built bridges with a lockout? I don't understand why the smaller market owners would want a lockout when they were on the verge of success. And the big boys wouldn't have to share if the southern markets were more successful so I would think they would want to start the season right away.

Sniffle Sniffle, cry cry...nobody cares and they are mean. Hey everyday in America you can wake up and make decisions to positively effect your life. If you want to be a dope, be a dope.

All Romney pointed out and it is 100 percent accurate is that 47 % of people pay no federal income taxes, so they will not be moved to vote by any tax cuts. That is not new math, that is classical math and simple logic.

Currently there is an extremely difficult environment for anyone to take risk and create jobs considering the policy's and philosophy of current admin.
- TrueGrit

And Mint Robme and his buds are part of the 47%, or damn near close. He paid less taxes than I did last year, we know that for sure. And he created lots of jobs in his time, for 9 year old Chinese girls.

That last administration had it figured out, Mint will try it again, with little to no taxes for the Royalists and zero regulation, how did that work out? Record surplus inherited, record deficit passed on. Dow at 12,500 when he came in 5,500 when he left. SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND jobs lost in the crime family's last month occupying the White House.

And you call the poster a dope, Goof?

That's something new that is supposed to start this season. The local CBS affiliate in Rockford will be carrying all 76 games on TV this season. They will be carrying them on their "weather" station rather than their regular station.

I know my cable provider doesn't carry their weather channel, and I'm not sure if Rockford's cable provider carries it. It may be a satellite only thing for all I know?
- EKolb13

ok..it would be nice if Comcast Chicago could work out a temorpary deal with that affiliate to broadcast the games in the Chicago market..

In the grand scheme of things.. How does Mario Lemieux vote or view the issue? Considering he understands how the players feel.. Thoughts here?

The new French president trying to raise the income tax rate to 75% for those earning more than 1M euro....
- MartiniMan

You mean the same top tax rate paid during Eisenhower's administration when this country became the greatest economic super power this earth has ever seen?

In the grand scheme of things.. How does Mario Lemieux vote or view the issue? Considering he understands how the players feel.. Thoughts here?
- victorymc98

Probably the same way Michael Jordan handled the NBA lockout last year: they're owners now.