So they are willing to play for the love of the game overseas, put someone out of work (and I get the whole getting cut, but these players didn't have a chance to find another job when they got told at the last minute that the spot they earned was now going to a locked out NHLer but stay close to your phone cuz we'll need you when they leave), but they refuse to try and help the NHL for the love of the game?
If they can get by on half their salary overseas why not here?
- braidan

European leagues also have much shorter seasons, play in front of half the number of fans, and therefore likely have a fraction of the pressure placed on them by the organization and fans. If the NHL wanted run the season from September to April, I'm sure the players wouldn't mind taking half the pay. But, the owners won't because they want to make more money; they just want less of it to go to the players whom they work for increasingly longer seasons.

The fact that these players can go and play elsewhere and earn income during the lockout is a valuable piece of leverage in negotiations...if they had no options to play elsewhere the the NHL would have the players by the balls.

It gives them something to do , keep in shape , see the world , scope some babes .. Its not about the coin buddy .. With insurance costs they are playing for practically nothing but the love of the game .. THEY ARE PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY PLAYERS DUDE , that's what hockey players do , PLAY HOCKEY !! no offense , but , DAHHHHH !!

Every hockey team I ever made was at the cost of someone else getting cut ....... You must have played on teams that your daddy coached ..
- HockeyGodz

Nice job demonstrating why most people couldn't care less about the players.

Scumbags who feel that millions of dollars isn't enough, but who are willing to go take jobs from other players trying to make a decent living, don't rank high on my list of people I "care" about.

I hope they are locked out for YEARS.

So many posts missed...glad my bans over.

If the jersey does not have a maple leaf on it, I don't care

Does anyone know if in any of the other major sports the comissioner makes as much as the highest paid players in the league? Just curious

So they are willing to play for the love of the game overseas, put someone out of work (and I get the whole getting cut, but these players didn't have a chance to find another job when they got told at the last minute that the spot they earned was now going to a locked out NHLer but stay close to your phone cuz we'll need you when they leave), but they refuse to try and help the NHL for the love of the game?
If they can get by on half their salary overseas why not here?
- braidan

It was the owners that took 700 jobs out of hockey and what does playing in Europe have to do with the love of the game? In fact what does any of the labour dispute have to do with the love of the game? Did Ford and CAW just reach a deal for the love of the car? This is a straight out economic dispute over who gets how much money -- it is simply about the love of money.

I really don't get this desire on the part of so many hockey fans to demonize one side or another. If you want to hate someone, hate the Canucks -- it's way more satisfying.

The fact that these players can go and play elsewhere and earn income during the lockout is a valuable piece of leverage in negotiations...if they had no options to play elsewhere the the NHL would have the players by the balls.
- Isles4fornow

We'll see how well that works out for the union when the large majority of their players won't find employment elsewhere. I wonder how long the "solidarity" is going to last?

...not to mention the fact that the players love to bemoan the shortness of their careers. Well, with very few exceptions, they will lose significant amount of their career income by spending a year overseas.

We'll see how well that works out for the union when the large majority of their players won't find employment elsewhere. I wonder how long the "solidarity" is going to last?

...not to mention the fact that the players love to bemoan the shortness of their careers. Well, with very few exceptions, they will lose significant amount of their career income by spending a year overseas.
- NightTrain_AlMo

It is still a valuable negotiation tool.....Not if there is no hockey to be played here! anything else is greek to me

Ek, were you in Bern before or after you worked for the Quebec Nordiques?

It was the owners that took 700 jobs out of hockey and what does playing in Europe have to do with the love of the game? In fact what does any of the labour dispute have to do with the love of the game? Did Ford and CAW just reach a deal for the love of the car? This is a straight out economic dispute over who gets how much money -- it is simply about the love of money.

I really don't get this desire on the part of so many hockey fans to demonize one side or another. If you want to hate someone, hate the Canucks -- it's way more satisfying.
- Canada Cup

You made a great point, but you also answered your own question...

People "demonize" the fans or owners, or both BECAUSE for them, it is all about the love of money.

We find it sickening to read about how sorry the owners are and their BS about them doing this for the betterment of the game. We find it nauseating to read about players just wanting to play and "caring" about the fans.

It is pretty easy to hate both groups. They are all lieing scumbags who care about NOTHING except their own money.

Easy to demonize them I think. Which is why I hope the lockout goes on for as long as possible. I am far more interested in watching them lose their precious dollars now, and going forward, than I am interested in watching them play hockey.

Ek, were you in Bern before or after you worked for the Quebec Nordiques?
- scoot174

oh good question!

and ek, tell us about joe sakic really giving it to lindros by wearing 88. that was a good one!

It is still a valuable negotiation tool.....Not if there is no hockey to be played here! anything else is greek to me
- Isles4fornow

I think we disagree here.

When it is an option available to so relatively few players, or an option that a lot of players don't want to take, then it ceases to be a really effective bargaining tool.

In fact, I think it will eventually divide the players. Why do I, as a player at home, want to go without a paycheque when some of my "brethren" are out earning bucks. I think I would find it hard to feel that we are fighting for a common cause.

duplicate

It is still a valuable negotiation tool.....Not if there is no hockey to be played here! anything else is greek to me
- Isles4fornow

I think we disagree here.

When it is an option available to so relatively few players, or an option that a lot of players don't want to take, then it ceases to be a really effective bargaining tool.

In fact, I think it will eventually divide the players. Why do I, as a player at home, want to go without a paycheque when some of my "brethren" are out earning bucks. I think I would find it hard to feel that we are fighting for a common cause.

It is still a valuable negotiation tool.....Not if there is no hockey to be played here! anything else is greek to me
- Isles4fornow

I think we disagree here.

When it is an option available to so relatively few players, or an option that a lot of players don't want to take, then it ceases to be a really effective bargaining tool.

In fact, I think it will eventually divide the players. Why do I, as a player at home, want to go without a paycheque when some of my "brethren" are out earning bucks. I think I would find it hard to feel that we are fighting for a common cause.

Yea fillerbuster!!! i understand your point of view but when you are on a union board you have to do what is best for the group as a whole...if that is using your high level talent as a weapon to influence the person on the other side of the table then it is in the best interest of the whole group...do you really think these guys wanna play over seas...no....they want to stay right where they are and continue their careers(making money)...all i know is if i was NBC i would be fn pissed!!!!

I think we disagree here.

When it is an option available to so relatively few players, or an option that a lot of players don't want to take, then it ceases to be a really effective bargaining tool.

In fact, I think it will eventually divide the players. Why do I, as a player at home, want to go without a paycheque when some of my "brethren" are out earning bucks. I think I would find it hard to feel that we are fighting for a common cause.
- NightTrain_AlMo

That makes no sense. Any NHL'er who wants to play somewhere would be able to play. Why would those that choose not to begrudge others who decide to work?

That makes no sense. Any NHL'er who wants to play somewhere would be able to play. Why would those that choose not to begrudge others who decide to work?
- Canada Cup

For a decent salary? A Salary even in the ballpark of what they would earn in the NHL.

"Any NHL'er", Really?

How about we just see going forward how many players do play elsewhere for a fraction of what they could be earning in the NHL.

For a decent salary? A Salary even in the ballpark of what they would earn in the NHL.

"Any NHL'er", Really?

How about we just see going forward how many players do play elsewhere for a fraction of what they could be earning in the NHL.
- NightTrain_AlMo

if they are locked out...they dont earn a damn thing.....something is more than nothing....unless my calculator is different than yours

For a decent salary? A Salary even in the ballpark of what they would earn in the NHL.

"Any NHL'er", Really?

How about we just see going forward how many players do play elsewhere for a fraction of what they could be earning in the NHL.
- NightTrain_AlMo

Yes any player in the best league in the world should be able to find work if they want to. Why are you so obsessed by this? Those that want to go work somewhere else can do so -- for less money. Those that don't want to will simply stay here and train.

There is no deeper meaning about solidarity or stealing jobs. This is the way that labour markets work.

It was the owners that took 700 jobs out of hockey and what does playing in Europe have to do with the love of the game? In fact what does any of the labour dispute have to do with the love of the game? Did Ford and CAW just reach a deal for the love of the car? This is a straight out economic dispute over who gets how much money -- it is simply about the love of money.

I really don't get this desire on the part of so many hockey fans to demonize one side or another. If you want to hate someone, hate the Canucks -- it's way more satisfying.
- Canada Cup

If you read the post I was responding to it said:

" With insurance costs they are playing for practically nothing but the love of the game ."

So I included it in my reply, that is all.

shows the complete lack of solidarity amongst the players.
let the cattle roam, it just proves the ranchers have all the power.
the players will never win this battle.

Yes any player in the best league in the world should be able to find work if they want to. Why are you so obsessed by this? Those that want to go work somewhere else can do so -- for less money. Those that don't want to will simply stay here and train.

There is no deeper meaning about solidarity or stealing jobs. This is the way that labour markets work.
- Canada Cup

I can see this discussion is going nowhere fast. I stated my opinion. We'll see what happens going forward.

You guys have a nice day.

shows the complete lack of solidarity amongst the players.
let the cattle roam, it just proves the ranchers have all the power.
the players will never win this battle.
- Barx

Playing Europe won't affect the outcome. If Gary can keep the profitable owners onside to throw away a season, they win again