haroldsnepsts

I appreciate all the updates you have, but it'd be great if you would include a snippet of the article too.

Where exactly did I say these loopholes would be left open? I wasn't talking about where things will end up, but how the league chose to start the process. My point was that the majority of what the owners are demanding have little to do with the adjustments that need to be made to the CBA. I feel like most knowledgable hockey fans could come up with a workable solution for a new CBA in a couple days. Instead, the NHL wants to redefine what constitutes hockey related revenue while also notching down player salaries to what effectively could mean a 20% rollback like the last lockout. That's in spite of the league making record revenues. Add to that wanting to eliminate any arbitration, making players wait a decade before they're UFA's, and lengthening entry level contracts to 5 years. All of those are moves to delay as long as possible having to pay players fair market value for their services, so it's not exactly a stretch to see it as a money grab. With an effective cap in place, you shouldn't need such punitive lengths on all the other elements of contracts too. So you're going by what Fehr hasn't said, as opposed to what Bettman has? And it's not just a gravy train for the players, in spite of what the owners claim, they actually make make money off it as well. The league's initial proposal was hardly bargaining in good faith. Those demands were a ridiculous starting point for negotiations. how about you actually discuss my points instead of labeling me an "NHLPA" fan? I guess it's easier to just tell me what I think so you can dismiss the argument you invented for me. This should be a relatively painless CBA negotiation but it looks like it could get ugly. I'm going on face value in that I'm basing my opinion on what I've seen and read so far. Bettman has led in again with his hostile and divisive tone. The owners initial offer was a joke. What are you basing your opinions on? The point you're missing or choosing to ignore is that the NHL is always in a position of greater strength. They are the ones locking players out. They are the ones with the stronger voice in the media. We go to NHL games, not NHLPA games. The NHL has the bully pulpit. The NHL tried to change the makeup of the divisions and conferences of the league without bothering to consult with any of the people who would actually be playing the games. Why? Because as Bettman pointed out, they weren't required to. It's this kind of open disdain Bettman has for the players union that sets a divisive tone before negotiations even began. It was the warning shot. The league isn't required contractually to discuss realignment with the players, but it's not hard to see why it would've been a good idea to include the guys whose lives and careers would be most effected by the changes. As I've said many times before, ultimately Bettman is supposed to be a steward of the NHL, not just a shill for current ownership. He is responsible for the overall health of the game, and a collection of owners do not always have that as a priority. His job also requires diplomacy, which is his biggest public failing. Unless the NHLPA makes some absolutely insane request they refuse to back off of then yes, if we have another work stoppage, ultimately I do hold Bettman more responsible more than anyone else. That's not to say he's the only one to blame, but he is the one in the best position to prevent it. Unfortunately, lockout seems to be his go-to move.

Bettman has never renegotiated a CBA without a lockout so when he threatens to lock players out again, it's hard not to fear the worst.

Right. One aspect of the deal asks for limits on contracts, which is why I said MOST of their proposal doesn't address the loopholes. Most of it is a money grab. The restrictions on rookie contracts, getting rid of arbitration, extending the length before a player can become a UFA. Even with contract length, you've got GM's signing 13 year deals as they're negotiating to knock it to 5 years in the CBA. That's somehow the players fault? The NHLPA has offered to start the season and continue negotiations. That's not bargaining in good faith? What evidence has the NHLPA shown that they're not? Now take a look at what Bettman has said in the media combined with the NHL's idiotic initial proposal. That's not good faith. Their offer is the equivalent of leaving a few pennies for a waiter so he knows it's an "F you!" and not that you just forgot to tip. Like I said, obviously there's two sides to the negotiation. But with what we've heard so far, the owners and Bettman are BY FAR the ones pushing this to a lockout. How much hockey will we have to lose to try once again to keep these owners from screwing up their own franchises? Ilitch must be so frustrated having to be lumped in with these fools. He took a franchise at its lowest point and resurrected it, and now unfortunately is in an era of hockey were they keep punishing his franchise more and more in order to help support the poorly run ones. The problem will be solved by owners figuring out how to run a successful business, not by constantly going back to take more money from the players. And to be clear, I wasn't predicting Bettman would be fired. I was saying he should be. I understand that he reports to the owners so of course many will approve of him lining their pockets, even when it hurts the game. The only hope for him getting fired is if he screws this sport so badly that enough owners that actually care about hockey outvote those willing to run it into the ground to make more money in the short term.

Great post. Not many people are talking about how they want to redefine what constitutes hockey related revenue. So like you said, the owners are changing the definition so more money goes in their pockets while at the same time asking for a much bigger percentage of what's left. And the other demands are so idiotic it's hard to believe they wanted to do anything other than piss off the NHLPA. Yes it's a negotiation, but when your bid is that outlandish you may just offend the other side and sour the deal. This is a massive money grab by the owners as they apparently are intent on breaking the union again.

I don't put much stock in Corsi stats. I can understand the desire for statistical analysis, but there's just so many variables changing second to second. Hockey's not baseball (thank god).

The thing is, in spite of the league making record revenues the owners want a huge reduction in salary by the players. Their biggest requests have little to do with remedying these massive contract lengths and cap hits. Most of their demands are just a money grab. They don't address any of the loopholes. If there's a third lockout, Bettman should absolutely 100% lose his job. Yes it takes two to tango, but all three stoppages have been lockouts by management, not strikes. And this should be the easiest one to settle of all of them. Bettman has zero diplomacy skills and sets a hostile tone from the get go.

"Mule" is the nickname given to Franzen by Yzerman, back when Franzen used his size effectively and worked hard. And as I've said multiple times now, it's not really about goals. That's not my beef. Like you say, a lot of goal scorers are streaky. It's the games where he seems way too happy to skate back to the bench after a halfhearted shift. I'm not saying franzen has always been lazy. I'm comparing his recent play with his performance and efforts from previous seasons.

Ryan isn't lazy. I can't speak as confidently about the other guys, but I've seen more than my fair share of Ducks games and Ryan doesn't mail it in like Mule does at times. On the Ducks the equivalent in terms of inconsistent effort would be Getzlaf.

The thing with Franzen is that his elite playoff performance is based on three playoffs. He's had 4 very mortal playoff runs. So the big question for the coming years is which Franzen will the Wings get?

Of course I'm focusing on what he can do better. Isn't that the point? It's not like I'm asking him to be more talented. I don't fault Helm for his lack of finishing skills. It is what it is. But work ethic or "compete level" is something attainable to every player no matter their talent level. I mentioned Zetterberg to try and make clear it's not about the goal scoring, it's about effort. Even when Zetterberg isn't scoring he's working hard and has value. When Franzen isn't scoring, he's not doing much other than carving up the ice surface. I could pick plenty of lower paid players on the team that work a lot harder than Mule does. And I don't understand why the difference in cap hit makes a lack of consistent effort and failure to use his size okay. Because Holland circumvented the cap and structured a good deal, it's okay that Franzen half-asses it sometimes? Isn't that why people were ripping on Semin (even before he signed for $7 mill)? Plus Franzen was paid $5.25 million last season. His cap hit is lower because of his ridiculously long contract. It's not really apples to apples to compare his cap hit to other goal scorers in the league with shorter term contracts. If we want to play the contract game, Toews was paid $6 million last season, scored the same number of goals as Franzen in 18 fewer games, had one more point, and is also the #1 PK forward on his team. So for $750k more, wouldn't you like a guy who busted his ass every night and is the leading PK guy on the team? Im not saying the Wings should get Toews or a trade or anything like that. Just trying to make the point that lack of effort shouldn't be acceptable no matter what you're paid, and Franzen is a bargain because of his cap hit and contract structure. But that shouldn't excuse his play. The difference is that Mule started as a two way player. It's not like it's outside his skillset or is something he's never done. And on that list of players you mention, most have put up a helluva lot more goals than Franzen does. Normally I think people are exaggerating when they talk about a player coasting after getting a long term contract, but Franzen reinforces the stereotype. He's won a Cup, he's got guaranteed money through 2020. He seems content and it shows on the ice.

It's been stated several times what Franzen's critics would like from him. Sure 40-50 goals would be great, but I'd settle for a more consistent effort on the ice. When Zetterberg isn't scoring you can still see how hard he's working out there. Trying to get his shots, backchecking, carrying the puck in the high traffic areas. At his worst Franzen is content to float around, not using his considerable size, and just wing the puck at the net from low-percentage areas.

Sarcasm aside, Sammy's PPG being the same or near anyone on that list is not the same as Sammy being equal to that player. Unless you're honestly saying the given the choice between Sammy and Mike Richards (I'm guessing you meant Mike), it's a wash? Or Sammy and the 22 year old Sam Gagner (I'm also assuming that's who you meant and not Simon Gagne who was out most of the season with a concussion) I could go down the whole list but I think you get my point.

That's the total value of the contract, not per year. He'll be making $1.25 mill a year, which is less than Tootoo.

Howard has been more than steady. And Kronwall was much better than Stuart last season. Stuart was a loss, but he wasn't the same defenseman we saw in 2008 and 2009. Maybe his personal situation was catching up with him. The good news is now the Wings (hopefully) have a steady backup who can give Howard some breaks throughout the season. Last year he got run into the ground until his injuries started because they needed the wins and couldn't count on anyone else in net.

You forgot Sammy. Unless you were blocking out that signing?

Solid is probably understating it. I didn't mean he was middle of the pack. Like I said in another post, he's very good. He just hasn't been elite (yet).

That looks like the vote totals for the bloggers on that site voting for the Vezina. This source doesn't have him getting a vote at all. http://sports.yahoo....04507--nhl.html Either way are you saying that getting one vote is being in the conversation for the Vezina? One vote or not, Jimmy was in no way a part of the Vezina conversation at the end of the season with names like Lunqvist, Quick, Smith, Rinne, and Halak.

Howard was tied for 10th in SV% last season. I don't think GAA is a a very good stat for goaltenders. I guess it's semantics really. I think he's very good, just not elite. And being a frontrunner for the Vezina early in the season isn't the same as being a Vezina candidate. By the end of the season Jimmy wasn't in the conversation at all.

I wouldn't call Howard elite but like Osgood I think he is a great value goaltender. He provides solid goaltending at a decent contract so the Wings can spend money elsewhere. Without Lidstrom and the blueline in its current state, it'll be interesting to see if that strategy is as effective.

Last warning people. Just because it's not directed right at the person doesn't mean it's not a personal attack. No more discussions of trolling, who's a troll, who's acting like a troll. Talk hockey or expect suspensions/bans. And as I've said ad nauseum, discuss the content of the post, not the person making it.

Agreed. It's not some personal vendetta against Holland. If the Flames are going to trade away their top d-man they're going to want big value back. The only real thing that knocks down his trade value a bit is his ridiculous contract. And with what free agents are getting, it suddenly looks less ridiculous than it was.

nah, there's a few of us.

Here's the direct link to Kukla's Korner where Malik pretty much dismantles the rumor. http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/tmr/comments/red_wings_overnight_report_grumpily_debunking_the_filppula-yandle_rumor/