vladdy16

Whatever side of the fence they're on, I know many, many fans that aren't all that interested in watching this year. This is going to cost them much more than they're aware of. We may be the greatest fans on earth, but we're not suckers.

There is absolutely no excuse for driving drunk these days. Call a freakin' cab.

Nobody loses a team that is self-sufficient. The Wings didn't make money for decades; they're still here. I've been a hockey fan probably longer than you've been alive. I don't care if the game grows. It was better before it didn't They should have stopped with the 1970 expansion. The league started in 1926. Revenue sharing didn't occur until over-expansion and teams couldn't generate revenue. That's 79 years of good hockey and growth even without Sidney Crosby; I fail to see how revenue sharing is built in. And no, I'm not in the Cali area anymore, but if I were, I'd still hold the same opinion. And just because "everyone else does it," doesn't mean it's the good or right thing to do.

It's not elitist - it's realist. They can put an NHL team anywhere they want as long as they can support themselves, not go into bankruptcy, get bought by the NHL, and not get revenue sharing. I have no respect for any team that takes revenue sharing. If you want a team, pay for it yourself. I support the Wings, not the Coyotes, Panthers, Preds, etc.

Nope. In fact, I would encourage it. I'll send a lighter to the winner as well.

Screw that. That was the song and dance we got in 2005. We'll get it again in another 5 years or so when the CBA that they finally commit to expires. Part of me wants to go back to the 80s. We sucked, but there was no lockout looming. Ever. Another part of me wants to travel back in time and give Gary's parents a condom. This game was HUGE for me. HUGE. Locking all of us out and losing the WC is just too much.

I think they're MORE interested in cancelling this season and having it next. If they continue with it this year, they run the risk of unhappy fans boycotting and not making as much money. If they wait until next season, most will be forgiven and forgotten by then.

Fehr - 1 Bettman - 3 AND the players offered to start the season WITHOUT a CBA; owners said no. The preponderance of fault lies with the owners on this one.

I feel bad. I sold Matt my two seats on top of his for a chance to get better ones on StubHub, so he's really stuck. I won't be going now. IF it's on and IF I watch it (and it's Wings/Leafs, so no matter how pissed I am, there's a pretty good chance) I'll watch it from the warmth and comfort of my sister's couch with her big screen HD TV.

Add SF to the list of rioting cities*. And it's only Detroit that's ever mentioned.... *Rioting is hyperbole here, but it's said in the same spirit that is reported about Detroit.

I believe he wants to play, but I also believe that money was the motivating force. He didn't get that bonus unencumbered by the pesky detail of actually suiting up by accident.

I'd rather be swept up in idealism than mired in inertia. I'm not rallying the troops - everyone is free to do what they will. This is my chosen route. And I'm not asking for perfection, as evidenced by the Dead Wing era, which was a major portion of my life. I'm not going to put up with a lockout every 5 years; it's ridiculous. No other business would put up with that. Do schools close for an entire year? Do movies stop filming for an entire year? And the Wings, and Mr. Ilitch in particular, are a decided minority as far as overall ownership goes. And I'm not going to let my 1"x1" picture in a mural at the Joe wipe out all the crap I've had to take. Yes, skating at the Joe would be cool, but I'm cautious about whether it's genuine concern or merely preemptive. For every dollar I spend, whatever amount, let's say 20 cents of that goes to revenue sharing. I'm not putting good money after bad for now. Whether the game is better or not is debatable. I could not possibly care less if the game becomes more recognizable or not. I will not enumerate the reasons for that so as not to go completely off topic. Yes, I'm mad, and I have every right to be and to make that displeasure known. It takes away the sting if I tell the NHL how mad I am as I'm dialing up Ticketmaster.

Which is exactly why we should be making our voices heard, not just blindly suck up whatever crumbs they choose to leave for us. The last lockout was for "the long-term good of game." Expansion was also for the long-term good of the game. Those have both worked out really well, haven't they? Another lockout 7 years later and teams that are siphoning off revenue from other teams, one of which is now owned by the NHL itself because it can't begin to support itself. Please explain to me how these things are helping. You can say revenue is up, but so is the price of tickets, merchandise and concessions; kind of hard not to generate more revenue when you're charging 8.50 for a beer and 20 bucks for a 6-piece pizza. We're not getting our money's worth, and it will stay that way until we change it.

I must disagree. I have been a Wings fan since Gordie was still good. I wear Wings gear 365 days a year. I eat Little Caesars, especially when new contracts are signed (see Pavel and Hank) to help pay those contracts. I attend games every chance I can afford them. My family had season tickets since 1982. The Wings/Leafs Winter Classic is the game of a lifetime for me. I have poured most of my disposable income into this team. I think I can safely call myself a true fan. This lockout has, shall we say, dampened my enthusiasm. If a deal IS done this year, as much as it pains me, I will not attend the Winter Classic. I have begun purchasing non-Wings related winter clothing. Some who know me see this as a sign of the apocalypse. I don't know that I will even watch any games, but I won't rule out the possibility. That not watching is even a consideration for me would have been inconceivable 3 months ago. 3 lockouts has taken its toll. Being a fan of hockey has not come cheap; why am I going to hand over thousands of dollars to a sport that doesn't give a s*** whether I attend or not, outside of the profit pool? If, as a fan, I can't have a CBA with the NHL guaranteeing me they won't cancel out the sport I've spent a lifetime loving and supporting, then for now, I'm not giving them a dime. I need a new computer anyway. Not buying Wings sweatshirts should cover that.

Whatever CBA they come up with this time around, we're just going to be right back here in 5 years. Unless the fans hit them where it hurts, they won't start negotiating until the 11th hour again. These bastards forced me to check in on BASEBALL. Not sure how long it's going to take me to forgive them for that.

Oh, poor Bud, to pass away during a lockout. 95 is awesome though. WTG! You'll be sorely missed. Every time he said "One minute left in the period," I'd look up and yell "Thanks, Bud!" Another hockey family member to mourn. God Bless, Bud.

It's time for the women to get involved! Sure can't hurt.....

Pavel Lysenkov‏@plysenkov Pavel Datsyuk has signed the contract with CSKA. #detroit

FollowingJakub KindlVerified‏@JKindl4 Looks like deal is done for now going to play in Pardubice pic.twitter.com/yJVIp5TC

The last lockout wasn't even a blip on my radar once the next season began. Things will be much, much different this time around. My financial contribution to hockey will be inversely proportional to how long the lockout lasts - the longer they are locked out, the less I spend after hockey starts again. If they've killed the Winter Classic this year, I cannot be held responsible for my actions. Maybe we should start a bail fund now....

It's down to Phoenix or Vancouver, so that's not going to happen. Dear Shane: Just sign a freakin' contract already. No need to take a page out of Phoenix's book and drag it out interminably. Frankly my dear, we just don't give a damn. Sincerely, Almost every single NHL fan

Agreed. I think this is a perfect signing. Even if Abby doesn't live up to his original potential, he will be at least an upgraded Draper. Me likey.

Quoted for posterity. Just in case. He has his payday AND no no-trade clause. If he's there more than 3 years, I'll be shocked, provided someone will take on that albatross of a contract under the terms of whatever the new CBA turns out to be.