The players AREN'T the game, they aren't the product. That's the central problem in the whole mess, they think they're a lot more important than they really are. The game is the product; the players and owners are just the facilitators. When you look at it from a certain perspective, the players are no more important than the arena, or the puck. If this entire group of players went away tomorrow would the game cease to exist? No, they'd just get new players.
I'll pay to watch Sidney Crosby play hockey but I'm not going to pay to watch him wash his car. Hockey is the product, not the players.
Lets be realistic, the players are going to reject this proposal and try to milk ever single last penny they possibly can get out of this. Even if they have already lost WAY more than money by waiting than they would have if they just signed a reasonable deal in the first place. There has been no logic from the players side so far so I doubt you will see it now.
The players AREN'T the game, they aren't the product. That's the central problem in the whole mess, they think they're a lot more important than they really are. The game is the product; the players and owners are just the facilitators. When you look at it from a certain perspective, the players are no more important than the arena, or the puck. If this entire group of players went away tomorrow would the game cease to exist? No, they'd just get new players.
I'll pay to watch Sidney Crosby play hockey but I'm not going to pay to watch him wash his car. Hockey is the product, not the players. - Jeffmt
Come on...
U think the NHL would be a decent product if the "stars" all went to the KHL?
Guarantee the KHL would get better ratings,
Because with BETTER players, you get a BETTER PRODUCT
Come on...
U think the NHL would be a decent product if the "stars" all went to the KHL?
Guarantee the KHL would get better ratings,
Because with BETTER players, you get a BETTER PRODUCT - jdfitz77
I agree that the league needs stars, but it doesn't matter who is wearing my teams jersey. I will cheer for them regardless of who is wearing the jersey. If that was the case the NHL would have just Penguins and Capitals fans.
I hope you're right this time Ek, but I'm not going to get excited until the first puck drop of the season. I've been disappointed too many times by this whole mess.
I agree that the league needs stars, but it doesn't matter who is wearing my teams jersey. I will cheer for them regardless of who is wearing the jersey. If that was the case the NHL would have just Penguins and Capitals fans. - themizer
Sure, me too...
But u take away all the best players and the NHL becomes as relevant as professional lacrosse
Undervaluing what the players bring to the table is a point I just don't get
They players are the most important aspect of the game,
And the NHL knows it...
That's why they market Crosby & Miller & Ovechkin, etc
Sure, me too...
But u take away all the best players and the NHL becomes as relevant as professional lacrosse
Undervaluing what the players bring to the table is a point I just don't get
They players are the most important aspect of the game,
And the NHL knows it...
That's why they market Crosby & Miller & Ovechkin, etc - jdfitz77
I get what you are saying, the league needs them (not Miller in that category). When my favorite player gets traded from my team I don't switch jerseys with them, I continue cheering for my team. I agree the best talent should be in the NHL, but they are just part of the league that we all enjoy.
Sure, me too...
But u take away all the best players and the NHL becomes as relevant as professional lacrosse
Undervaluing what the players bring to the table is a point I just don't get
They players are the most important aspect of the game,
And the NHL knows it...
That's why they market Crosby & Miller & Ovechkin, etc - jdfitz77
The NHL was around long before Crosby & Ovechkin and it will be around long after they're gone. Crosby was out a full year, with doubts that he'd ever return, and the game was just fine. Stars flocked to the WHA once upon a time and how did that turn out? The stars will never go to Europe in large numbers; they tried that this season and most of those guys couldn't even hack it for a month, they're all coming back. They need the NHL more than the NHL needs them.
In the end let's just see how this all turns out. I'm still standing with the belief that they will kill the season until I actually see a signed agreement. We've seen 100 times in this lockout some sense of optimism before it all goes downhill. Though they are running out of time for those.
The NHL was around long before Crosby & Ovechkin and it will be around long after they're gone. Crosby was out a full year, with doubts that he'd ever return, and the game was just fine. Stars flocked to the WHA once upon a time and how did that turn out? The stars will never go to Europe in large numbers; they tried that this season and most of those guys couldn't even hack it for a month, they're all coming back. They need the NHL more than the NHL needs them. - Jeffmt
You can't compare the WHA to the KHL...
The world has changed... A LOT
Espn, NBC, whoever can broadcast games from anywhere now
Before Crosby, they had Gretzky, Lemuix, Yzerman, Hull...
What the hell are u talking about?!
Ya, ppl still watched when Crosby was hurt, but that's bc there was Malkin, Iginla, stamkos, etc etc etc
If those guys left the NHL the league would struggle big time
If what you say is true,
Why doesn't the NHL just use "replacement" players?
The players are ABSOLUTELY vital to the success of the league
In the end let's just see how this all turns out. I'm still standing with the belief that they will kill the season until I actually see a signed agreement. We've seen 100 times in this lockout some sense of optimism before it all goes downhill. Though they are running out of time for those. - FlareKnight
We have not seen the NHL budge that much unlike this latest proposal. Especially, with Contract Lengths. No way they wanted more then a 5 year contract length. Owners do not care they just want income. Owners have went on record saying they want to get back to playing. Even some of the moderates are scratching their heads to this 3 ring Circus.
This counter offer will be tempting to the owners because they know that the players are not going to budge especially when the owners tipped their hand.
We have not seen the NHL budge that much unlike this latest proposal. Especially, with Contract Lengths. No way they wanted more then a 5 year contract length. Owners do not care they just want income. Owners have went on record saying they want to get back to playing. Even some of the moderates are scratching their heads to this 3 ring Circus.
This counter offer will be tempting to the owners because they know that the players are not going to budge especially when the owners tipped their hand. - msaul29
I think this is a pretty accurate assessment. The idea that the owners are now offering major concessions is ludicrous. The one I find most perplexing is how some people are buying the spin around the one time buyout. Look at the proposal carefully, the actual dollars do not count against a team's cap but it does count as a credit towards the 50/50 payout. So, for example, Redden is not included as part of the cap. But under this proposed change the Rangers will be able to buy him out without it counting against their cap but it will count against the players share on the 50/50.
Increasing the contract differentials from 5% to 10% is substantially immaterial. It still stops back ending. Under this provision a player signing for $8m in his top season cannot get less than $7.2m in any subsequent season.
These are nice gestures. But keep it simple, they are merely gestures to allow the players to come in from the cold.