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Free speech? Really? There's a big difference between being free to say something and being smart enough not to. esteef

Z should be in politics, "I know for a fact the Russians will probably stay." esteef

+10 for NOT having a Facebook account. esteef

And yet without the owners putting up money and taking the financial risk, there would be no league for these awesomely famous face-of-the-league stars to play in. Fehr's point is dumb, of course fans know the players more than the owners. What sport is this NOT the case. Hollywood diva mentality starting to creep into the NHLPA. People would still go watch games if the current crop of stars were to never show up again. We'll see how many fans follow Datsyuk and Zetterberg to Europe to watch them play. esteef

Agree, but as a huge Magnum P.I. fan, I would totally get the Ferrari dood. esteef

I heard Bettman pees the bed. esteef

Maybe all the "euros" will go back to play in Europe and they'll rename the NHL the Don Cherry Hockey League! esteef

The changes are more in terms of what will continue to be done on contract and how long they will be done for. So specifically they don't address pay, but ultimately they certainly affect pay for the contract period. Sometimes the changes benefit me, sometimes they don't. edit: So yes, the changes are not soley "salary" in nature. Just making the point that contracts change all the time for people who are "OMFG! They signed a contract!" esteef

Contracts are not etched in stone folks. I'm a contractor myself and see modifications and changes to them in the middle of the contract period all the time. Just sayin'. esteef

"Speaks volumes" as in I'm on the player's side? How profound. esteef

Are you trying to tell us you DON'T have a cow outfit? I call bulls***! esteef

There are some bad calls happening in the NFL right now, (just like there were with the "real" refs and replay officials) but I think people are just dogpiling on the replacements at this point. The NFL media, the coaches nor the players are making it any easier for these guys that have been put in a tough spot. esteef

Silly fans, the owners don't "need" s***. The players "need" a league. Go to europe, play in minor leagues or pump gas. esteef

But the team owners do own the best "ranches", and these "cattle" know it. esteef

The same people criticizing Jimmy D would be applauding any player that gave a "color" interview vilifying Bettman and the owners. Hilarious stuff around here these days. esteef

^ Then every year there'd be an argument over what the "profit" would be with the owners projecting higher than they know they'll achieve and the players lowballing to easily get the bonuses. Plus, don't the players salaries already factor in what they bring to their respective "market". If that's the case then I'm sure the owners would want the salaries to come down then if the players want to share in the actual end of year profits. I'm no financial type though so who knows? esteef

How about just fold all the teams in the "weaker markets" and tell the players to go find jobs elsewhere. That's what would happen if my boss "poorly managed" my company and I woudn't be guaranteed squat. esteef

You just dated yourself there Mr.! esteef

Which would give the owners even more leverage during the lockout. esteef

True, but the owners take all the financial risk. If things go bad, the players still get their money. The players wouldn't be stars to idolize if there were no owners investing money to provide a league. They both are taking risks, one is physical one is financial. I can see both sides. esteef

Not bad but he's no "tough guy". esteef

Splash! esteef

You guys are all getting pissed off for nothing. On December 21st none of this will matter. esteef

This is why the lockout usually works. It boils down to who can do without the money the longest, which is usually the owners. Sure players can go to other leagues and get paid, but most won't make what they made in the NHL. All the while the clock on their prime playing years keeps ticking away. They have the most to lose and the owners know it. esteef

Already cancelled my NHL Center Ice for this season. Just wait until the NHL adopts the NFL strategy of blacking out games on t.v. unless the arena sells out. Yay! esteef