frankgrimes

Personally I'd rather have a league with fewer teams, no salary cap and no work stoppage every 5 years. Well they've lost money because of the on ice product and owning a hockey club is a longtime investment. You don't see a guy like Pegula whining... The NHL could just wipe out the floor or make it 26 % so the so called poor teams can wont be forced to overspend but the problem is Bettman and his stupid parity illusion. You think an original 6 matchup would have had such terrible ratings? I highly doubt that. Ok the southern teams are a neccessary evil then don't cry about losing money, because there are better options. The NHL and Bettman created these problems so it is on to them to fix it with their own money. How about the midget paying 50 % of his salary to help out his mickeymouse clubs? The bastard would move them asap before accepting well not surprising if you think about his background. Sent from my BlackBerry

@ this point it is just funny and I mean really funny, now they can't even agree on oneline or twoline at best sentences. Sounds like if either side is talking about apples the other one understands Cocacola. Sent from my BlackBerry

Not the TV deal again. You know the Canadian $ had to do with economics but this thing here is about fanbase and hockey markets. Something that can not be fixed. The NHL tried and failed simple as that count the losses and try real hockeymarkets. You can't cry poor while sitting on billions and investing millions to support failed franchises. You thing the NBC guys do care abou that? They want good ratings and hockeymarkets such as Hamilton, QC porovide exactly that. Sent from my BlackBerry

I think the Islanders biggest problem has never been the arena, their biggest disadvantage is called Wang. Unless they are getting rid off that headache nothing will change which is really sad, because the fans deserve a better on ice winning product. Might be wrong but I highly doubt places like Brooklyn are a good location for hockey teams.

Look at the contracts and then you'll see how much both sides thought they were worth. Players are the product simple as that and don't even start talking about greedy when a bunch of billionaires want to cry poor and a damn midget making more than 90 % of the players is asking for a reduced salary while his own won't be touched. But whatever having so much fun watching the Swiss league and a bunch of locked out players over there.

Here is a really good summary of what needs to happen (concessions from both sides) for the lockout to end. Basically I agree with all points but the biggest one is so simple: http://www.usatoday....to-end/1650627/ If the owners want the players to give back again, they can't ask for reduced player rights like waiting even longer for UFA status or no arbitration, this is not 2004-5. If the players "win" we won't have this crap every 5 or 6 years simple as that and it would also mean the end to the dark Bettman era. Players are the product, fans are watching the players/teams not the owners if people want to watch a bunch of billionaires in their super luxury suits go on I highly doubt, the ratings or even attendence would be that great.

Also it could be more than that if the best owner in all of sports wouldn't have th share the revenue wth failed franchises or pay for a effing undersized anti hockeyguy. The players hired Fehr to get a fair deal no offer from the NHL has been close to that. I'd say however long it takes if some OWNER created problems and this atrocious commissioner are removed its well worth it. Sent from my BlackBerry

The NHL can go eff off. I hope the players won't budge so the midget fatback Daily and the play it poor owners won't try this s*** again. Sent from my BlackBerry

Win 8 sucks hatrd Sent from my BlackBerry

Well Daily and midget your proposal is still a joke players don't gain anything from signing it. 1. Give up 7 % of their salary which is way too much, 52 to 48 would be fair for both sides. 2. On top of that giving up more rights, so they'd have to play for teams even longer just because they were unlucky enough to get drafted by a questionable team 3. That shouldn't even be possible legally, because even talking about changing existing contracts is a big showing the PA the fingers from the owners. . Who is responsible for stuff going wrong? Owners for extending an undersized man, responsible for a lockout hattrick, allowing franchises in places that don't even know what snow means. Want to fix mistakes? Start with firing the most hated person in hockey. Sent from my BlackBerry

If they at least can get someone, who isn,t a complete stubborn growing the game by punishing clubs with a fanbase and a great hockey history idiot,, so his failed non hockey markets can be competitive it woulb be a step forward The N H L simply can't support 30 franchises a fact everyone DESPITE the weasel knows.. Sent from my BlackBerry

Guessing you've missed the point of who created this mess. Just a hint it is an undersized overpaid minime with a bunch of 8 billionaire blowhards. The owners decided to allow the most hated man in hockey such powers and they've accepted things like - sunbelt failure - refusing to move some babysitted teams - can't control themselves - blindsiding players this summer All the players did was accepting great contracts +willingly & freely+ offered by a bunch multi billionaires. Oh and btw. teams like the Wings are getting punished and limited for having a long tradition and an established fanbase. Illitch has to pay millions so the effing midget can support his stupid grow the game and false parity crap. Wanna swim with the Sharks but can't support to do so ? Well could luck in another city hungry for hockey such as Quebec. Sent from my BlackBerry

A contract ones again is a legal binding agreement, the contract you are signing today with all the clauses can not be modified until BOTH sides agree to it. Boy I'd love seeing ******* like Jacobs crying infront of a judge about a contract he has willingly given out and then with all his billionaire friends crying again about not being able to pay it. Judges would rip these dirty gamblers a new one.

Want to hit the NHL where it hurts? Stop buying their stuff, going to the games at least at the start (whenever that will be), cancel center-ice packages and stop buying merchandise with the NHL logo printed on it - these are the things that hurt. Do some people honestly believe the PA or NHL cares about unliking them? *lol* this is a business and as we all know you hurt a business by refusing to buy ( = giving them money) their stuff.

Well I hope they do win, these damn NHL ********* meaning the undersized midget and his gambling owners need to learn a lesson. If am a player and this thing continues over a year I'd take my new "owner" to court a contract is a binding, free-will agreement between two sites and to me it is absolutely clear some owners never wanted to life up to the contracts they've given out, to me thats blindsiding and I hope they are going to pay a price for that. At this point I really don't care if e we have a season or not, all I want is Bettman gone asap and so are some of the so called owners, don't want to spend m oney? Don't own a hockey club, we need more owners like Pegula, Illitch, and less douchebags like Jacobs, Leonsis, Samueli...

I think so too Bettman might very well be the most hated commissioner in all of sports, if he finally gets the boot I think a guy like Gretzky could do wonders.

I love the way Fehr is doing this, he is keeping all the players informed and giving them exactly the data they need. Reading the comments on some of the more well known sites makes me think, some people can't even be bothered to read more than a headline "oh wow 50:50 split" and then they stop reading to me that is funny and really showing their "attention-spawn". If am Fehr my counter would be, ok 50:50 BUT HRR is defined the same way, all other things are staying the same too and no contract lenght cap.

Well being 3 behind these two is still an incredible large accomplishment if you ask me. In terms of overall awarness to he has been more complete than both all time greats. And I'd rank the perfect human easily above Bourque Sent from my BlackBerry

Taking away security from players is never a good thing! Couldn't care less about the NBA this is hockey we are talking here. Sent from my BlackBerry

Better Wing Y Better Player Perfect human you aren't getting that title without bringing it every night over two decades. That said I am so spoiled and honored because these two defined the rise of the Wings and are were the type of Cs every GM and coach is dreaming off. Sent from my BlackBerry

First off, re-read my posting. Second it is like Fehr said an excellent *starting point* but some tweaks need to be made. I always thought even 7 years till UFA is too high, so no way the players should agree to 8. Also I for gods sake don't care what other leagues are doing. If you have to ask why such a low salary cap is bad I don't know what to tell you... I want to see superteams so the higher the better Sent from my BlackBerry

People are making an incredible mistake here: 50/50 = - 7 % for the players PLUS ELC up from 3 to 4 years UFA up from 7 to 8 years contract lenght capped at 5 years salary cap down by 10 million Point 1 - 4 are things the NHL will have to change and it would be utterly stupid for the NHLPA to accept anything, without getting a hold of it first.

Exactly he needs to go no matter the outcome.

Yay a start point and a good one at that. I am sure Fehr will offer an untouched UFA; ELC, status and a higher contract cap 5 years is just ridiculous. Like I always said both sides need to move a little, lets say if the PA is giving back 5 % or more the league has to be flexible in terms of contracts, if both things are happening I am certain we will see hockey in 2013. There is no way they are going to play all 82 games by now.

The NHL is so laughable using Boogard to display their case is one disgraceful act. I can"k believe they are willing to go there. Also they can eff off with their stupid PR spin there are NO excuses for 3 in 3. I really think this is the midget trying to save his job. Sent from my BlackBerry