I am NOT saying it is anybody's fault, but if you were the 3rd and 4th liner sitting at home not getting paid and you see the top players getting paid still AND probably making the biggest noise about not giving back money then it might be a little upsetting.
- braidan

i understand your point of view but if Buttman knows ever player is sitting at home waiting on him...he wins!!!....if he thinks there is a chance he might not get a star player back that hurts his business and makes him more likely to negotiate

its part of the process....if 4th liners were going to europe what impact would that have...none!!....if ovi or malkin go now your making a point...yes they are tools in the negotiation process which benefis the 4th liners...they are fighting for them
- Isles4fornow

ovi and malkin did go.....thats the point.
they are taking jobs from players trying to make a living playing hockey in europe...it does not matter to guys like ovi and malkin toss the nhl season, they have millions and millions of dollars in the bank and on the way.
The guys hurt are the 3rd and 4th liners here at home, and the players in europe whose jobs are being taken.

Did those marathon sessions this past weekend yield any results? Are we starting on October 11?
Waiting for some other good news from Eklund-the Optimist.

its part of the process....if 4th liners were going to europe what impact would that have...none!!....if ovi or malkin go now your making a point...yes they are tools in the negotiation process which benefis the 4th liners...they are fighting for them
- Isles4fornow

also, it is not 'part of the process'....it's part of the problem.

also, it is not 'part of the process'....it's part of the problem.
- Barx

it is "part of the process"..you've obviously never been part of a negotiating board...they didnt go to europe to take someones job over there....they are going so Buttman thinks he is loosing someing of value

it is "part of the process"..you've obviously never been part of a negotiating board...they didnt go to europe to take someones job over there....they are going so Buttman thinks he is loosing someing of value
- Isles4fornow

it plays right into Bettmans hands....just like the last time.

Ek!!

I thought the NHL and NHLPA had some type of meetings this weekend

How did that work out??

Oh wait it didnt happen at all - Just false hope!!

it plays right into Bettmans hands....just like the last time.
- Barx

How does is benefit Buttman...and dont say it divides the troops

In Union terms, the players going overseas are "scabs". I am not impressed. There are other ways to stay in shape and keep your edge. Not negotiating and taking a job at a fraction of your contract value is plain wrong.

In Union terms, the players going overseas are "scabs". I am not impressed. There are other ways to stay in shape and keep your edge. Not negotiating and taking a job at a fraction of your contract value is plain wrong.
- wolfie

No in union terms scabs would be replacement players...or any union member playing for the NHL w/o a cba while his brothers sit and watch..."scabs" cross union lines

How does is benefit Buttman...and dont say it divides the troops
- Isles4fornow

It absolutely creates dissension among players.
It also discredits their stance.
The players will NEVER win a battle with the owners. Ever.

bring on the replacements. it's time to give the guys in the beer leagues a shot!

bring on the replacements. it's time to give the guys in the beer leagues a shot!
- Why So Serious

Lets just promote all the AHL guys up and start the season on Time..........Leafs may make the finals!!

It absolutely creates dissension among players.
It also discredits their stance.
The players will NEVER win a battle with the owners. Ever.
- Barx

i dont hear any complainty about it from any players...just the media and some fans
it strengthens their stance
3rd time is the charm

i dont hear any complainty about it from any players...just the media and some fans
it strengthens their stance
3rd time is the charm
- Isles4fornow

then you don't know any of them......

then you don't know any of them......
- Barx

only 2 but im sure you know a lot more

No in union terms scabs would be replacement players...or any union member playing for the NHL w/o a cba while his brothers sit and watch..."scabs" cross union lines
- Isles4fornow

There is no difference between the two scenarios. I know exactly what a scab is. I work in a unionized environment. What the NHL players are doing by taking jobs away from others, in some cases for no pay, ie Steen, Enstrom is deplorable.

There is no difference between the two scenarios. I know exactly what a scab is. I work in a unionized environment. What the NHL players are doing by taking jobs away from others, in some cases for no pay, ie Steen, Enstrom is deplorable.
- wolfie

- Isles4fornow

Do you honestly think what the players are doing is ok?

Do you honestly think what the players are doing is ok?
- wolfie

Do i like it no.. but as someone who has been through union negotiations, strikes, and lockouts, i understand what is actually going on..thats how negotiations go

if your job locked you out you would just sit at home and wait for that phone call?

Doesn't your dad work in Europe?
- Canada Cup

yep switzerland

Do i like it no.. but as someone who has been through union negotiations, strikes, and lockouts, i understand what is actually going on
- Isles4fornow

Where is the show of solidarity? If the NHLPA were a united front they would be looking at solutions that help the entire membership. Allowing the privileged few to do their own thing while the rest sit and rot is hardly helping their case.

I am not condoning the actions of the NHL. It's pretty clear to even the casual observer that the split should be 50/50 and their needs to be a way to allow the lower earning teams a chance to compete. Either through better revenue sharing or the ability to trade cap space for cash....(just spitballing).

I fail to see how doing what some players are doing by going overseas actually helps their case. It doesn't put any kind of pressure on the league. Think of it. These players are only taking in a fraction of what they would if they were playing in the NHL. Yet they refuse to take a paycut in the NHL?!? It doesn't make any sense. They're undermining their own position.

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

They have tried to help the NHL with their proposals to make the lowlife teams that don't deserve an ice hockey club actually make a profit .. Come on man , seriously , a fricken ice hockey team in the Arizona desert ?!? , how stupid is THAT !! ... That's like MLB putting a franchise in Anchorage , Alaska , Ya think they could make a profit ?? ... why should the players take a pounding for all of the stupid ownership mismanagement , TIME & TIME AGAIN !! .. Every time the CBA expires , its the same S#@$... TAKE TAKE TAKE , Cause were to stupid to manage our teams WISELY .. Lets leave hockey teams in non traditional demographics and hope for a F%$#&^ miracle

As far as taking ppl's jobs ? , COMPETITIVE HOCKEY , is , COMPETITIVE HOCKEY its not house league man , ya know where everybody gets an equal share of the ice time , get real bro ... Do you think for one second that a euro player would come over to North America and try to win a job on a NHL team .. Well , think again cause they try all the time .. Have a look at all the Euro players toiling in Major Jr " A " ..... Waaaaaaaaaah , Waaaahhhhhhhh , there taking Canadian Jr players jobs ... BS , you have to earn everything you get in Pro sports , not just hockey

I understand you miss Hockey but the fact of the matter is , most of the owners don't respect the Cattle ( players ) or fans for that matter .. A bunch of F%^$&^ hippocrates ... You think the Leafs/Habs want a lock out , their losing MILLIONS !!!

I am NOT saying it is anybody's fault, but if you were the 3rd and 4th liner sitting at home not getting paid and you see the top players getting paid still AND probably making the biggest noise about not giving back money then it might be a little upsetting.
- braidan

Thank you.

Do i like it no.. but as someone who has been through union negotiations, strikes, and lockouts, i understand what is actually going on..thats how negotiations go

if your job locked you out you would just sit at home and wait for that phone call?
- Isles4fornow

You're comparing apples to oranges. First, my union doesn't take 57% of my companies revenue. Second, wages are the same across the board. Third, I don't make millions of dollars.

I couldn't stay at home and wait. My bills, kids and wife couldn't afford for me to sit around. Does that make me a hypocrite?

It might but the situations are completely different. If it was the fringe NHLers heading over I would probably have less of an issue. But that isn't the case. It's the headliners going over. They shouldn't have a financial need to go. If they do, they have other problems.