905 replies to this topic

[F.Michael]

what i dont understand is why the ENTIRE realignment got thrown away. For negiotiating leverage? I just want hockey and a realignment that works for everybody.

It was the "1st shot" fired by the NHLPA...We really shouldn't be too surprised that it happened.

[haroldsnepsts]

what i dont understand is why the ENTIRE realignment got thrown away. For negiotiating leverage? I just want hockey and a realignment that works for everybody.

I don't think it got thrown away, did it?

Last I heard the NHLPA just wanted more time than the short deadline the NHL set, since they had zero involvement in the realignment process and wanted time to look it over and discuss it.

To me that was Bettman's first posturing move to make the union look bad. As he smugly pointed out, the NHL isn't required to involve the players union. But requirement or not, think of the message that sends. Your players are who people come to see. Their lives will be most affected by realignment. Not involving them is just poor management of the league's talent.

[cupcrazy]

cupcrazy I dig the cichlid avatar.

Thanks, I love cichlids not only because there beautiful, but also because there a very intelligent fish.

[cusimano_brothers]

Aborting of realignment: 12/03/2012.
This:

"Don Fehr obviously being somewhat new to the job is going through a bit of a learning curve and wants to make sure he understands what his constituents want. And so, we're patient. I'm not concerned about the time frame."

: 28/01/2012

Uncle Gary planted the "seed" a long time before the players were wrongfully accused, when they failed to agree to an obviously flawed change in a system; one that should have dealt with at the bargaining table..

[cusimano_brothers]

From http://www.thestar.c...or-contract-war:

The posturing is beginning and the prospect of an NHL lockout is looming.
More than 50 NHL players — team reps and alternates — are expected to descend upon Chicago for three days starting Monday to sort out the union’s issues and positions in advance of collective bargaining, set to start “imminently” according to both sides.
...

...
“It’s a whole lot different than last time,” Bettman said.
...

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros]

I'm not sure the NHL could survive another lockout.

[Greatness=PavelDatsyuk]

I'm not sure the NHL could survive another lockout.

Thats why I think they will iron out a new agreement. It will most likely come down to the wire, but I'm hoping both sides realize how much damage a lockout would do and how much more they would lose from a lockout instead of just giving some ground in negotiations.

[StormJH1]

It's funny how devastating the 04-05 lockout was, yet people seem to assume that the CBA will inevitably be resolved this time around. In a way, I understand it, since the league has been surprisingly profitable since then. Then again, the NFL is much more successful, yet they nearly lost games and have a terrible labor situation right now. You wonder if player safety/concussions could be a wildcard in this dispute, also.

Aborting of realignment: 12/03/2012.
This:

: 28/01/2012

Uncle Gary planted the "seed" a long time before the players were wrongfully accused, when they failed to agree to an obviously flawed change in a system; one that should have dealt with at the bargaining table..

I was so pissed that the players scrapped that plan for leverage. No plan is perfect, but I thought that could've been a huge improvement for the league.

[cusimano_brothers]

The League would survive another lockout.
The players would survive another lockout.
Some of the owners would not.
The NHLPA membership must be proactive in their approach to this.

[cupcrazy]

The League would survive another lockout.
The players would survive another lockout.
Some of the owners would not.
The NHLPA membership must be proactive in their approach to this.

I also think it's possible a few teams may not survive another lockout.

[cusimano_brothers]

The aborting of realignment was something that Uncle Gary knew should have been dealt with at negotiations and he was hoping it would sneak past. Somehow, the NHLPA was labelled as "villains" for turning it down, most vocally by the League and, in particular, Bill Daly, not the least of which was:

"We believe the union acted unreasonably in violation of the league's rights. We intend to evaluate all of our available legal options and to pursue adequate remedies, as appropriate."

No follow up yet on that.

[Hatethedrake!]

The aborting of realignment was something that Uncle Gary knew should have been dealt with at negotiations and he was hoping it would sneak past. Somehow, the NHLPA was labelled as "villains" for turning it down, most vocally by the League and, in particular, Bill Daly, not the least of which was:

No follow up yet on that.

Translation...We believed the NHLPA were still a bunch of clownmonkeys and were therefore dumb enough to not be aware that we were trying to screw them over. Now that we know that they are no longer clownmonkeys which can be fooled easily, we will now have to actually negotiate in good faith. Dammit, I hate it when a plan does not come together. Time to bring in the A TEAM now.

[cusimano_brothers]

From Toronto Star :

“I think everybody has to be involved,” Ovechkin said Monday. “It’s the future for everybody. . . . It’s our lives.”

I am pleasantly surprised to read this. And, he's right.

[Hatethedrake!]

From Toronto Star :



I am pleasantly surprised to read this. And, he's right.

Ovie just doesn't want to go a year without collecting his 9.5 mil a year salary.

[Nightfall]

Ovie just doesn't want to go a year without collecting his 9.5 mil a year salary.

I think its more like the NHL doesn't want to hold up $3.3 billion dollars of revenue. They have grown from $2.1 billion to $3.3 billion since the lockout. Thats incredible growth. Owners and players have to come to a decision on the CBA before the season starts to keep things rolling.

[vladdy16]

Shockingly enough, ESPN has an article (on hockey!) quoting Fehr as saying the NHLPA expects negotiations to begin soon and that the players won't be bulldozed this time, as they felt they made plenty of concessions last time. (paraphrasing) There are some interesting tidbits of info in here, or so I thought.
ESPN article here.

Strap yourselves in, folks; it's going to be a bumpy ride.

[cusimano_brothers]

From Sportsnet:

NHL players may have a small leg up on league owners heading into the negotiation of a new collective bargaining agreement.
While team officials are under a gag order with talks set to begin as soon as this week, players are free to speak publicly about the negotiations.

The owners have the four-legged "manure spreader" of Uncle Gary and Big Bill.
I can think of a couple of owners who won't like this.

[Hatethedrake!]

...and now Deep Thoughts by Gary Bettman...I once negotiated a CBA with the NHLPA and thought OH BOY THIS IS ONE HECK OF A DEAL, HOW COULD THE PLAYERS ACCEPT THIS? Then I found out that it was a bad deal and that all the General Managers were bumbling idiots.

[F.Michael]

Shockingly enough, ESPN has an article (on hockey!) quoting Fehr as saying the NHLPA expects negotiations to begin soon and that the players won't be bulldozed this time, as they felt they made plenty of concessions last time. (paraphrasing) There are some interesting tidbits of info in here, or so I thought.
ESPN article here.

Strap yourselves in, folks; it's going to be a bumpy ride.

I said it before, and I'll say it again...Expect another shortened season, or a lock-out.

[cusimano_brothers]

Uncle Gary will be working on his "Official Lockout Press Release" this weekend.