16 replies to this topic

[Dark Knight]

Not much is new in this article other than the league's calling for a mtg of the Board of Governors on March 1. The PA will get together some time this coming month also and see what they have to say.

Anyway, read it for yourselves.

LINK

[Baltic Gal]

A new wrinkle on this whole mess:

According to a source close to the negotiations, that's when hardline, small-market owners seized the agenda. Sources say they forced the league's negotiators to take a hard stance, much the way NHLPA executive director Bob Goodenow was forced by his constituents to smile and accept a salary cap he found unpalatable.

Toronto Star

Well if that's true that just a handfull of teams prevented a deal, then that Governors Meeting should be fun.

[Veca]

A new wrinkle on this whole mess:

According to a source close to the negotiations, that's when hardline, small-market owners seized the agenda. Sources say they forced the league's negotiators to take a hard stance, much the way NHLPA executive director Bob Goodenow was forced by his constituents to smile and accept a salary cap he found unpalatable.

Toronto Star

Well if that's true that just a handfull of teams prevented a deal, then that Governors Meeting should be fun.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I love fun....

[Just Duckie]

Helene Eliot's article in today's Times said there were eight owners who blocked increasing the salary cap above $42.5M. Sixteen teams were willing to negotiate that number, but the eight against was enough to block any further negotiations. That plus the fact that the NHL took a hard stance against making any concessions they had made in their last offer, created a deeper wedge between the NHL and the NHLPA.

Bettman and the NHL had the upper hand and they overplayed their hand. They had Goodenow on the outs with the players (for good reason), but after Saturday, they almost make Goodenow justifiied in telling the players to be distrustful of the owners.

It's all so disgusting. Even if the owners were right about the losses they were incurring, they just look plain greedy now by shutting down the negotiations and trying to break the union in this way.

[Veca]

I heard someplace else about Bettman and his "eight". Just shows you that it never is ALL the owners just as it's not ALL the players.
They get their little "gang" and run things. It's as if they don't want to get any deal done and may get their way, but in the long run, they just may be sorry they did all this crap. I hope the owners that were willing to negotioate work hard and can get rid of Bettman. He is NOT working for all the teams, just his little group and they are too stupid to know what is good for them.

One of Bettmans buds just happens to be Peter Karmanos of the Canes. You know him, that's the guy who out of the blue gave Ozolinsh 5.5 million dollars when he got traded to his club. Talk about stupid!! He is still paying a part of Ozolinsh salary. (Well, not this year I guess)

[Baltic Gal]

Here's the story that Just Duckie talked about:

Tampa Bay — which topped 10,000 season tickets after winning the Stanley Cup last spring — wanted to play. So did Montreal, Toronto, Minnesota, Detroit and the New York Rangers. Eight other clubs didn't, exactly enough to prevent Bettman from being overruled.

"The process has been hijacked by a group of eight billionaire owners who don't care one iota about the good of the game of hockey," a source said Sunday. "Sixteen teams want to play. Those eight have hijacked the NHL."

------->LA Times<--------

I heard that the eight teams were: Florida, Nashville, Chicago, Boston, Washington, Edmonton, Carolina and Atlanta.

Like I said before, that Governors Meeting should be fun.

[Just Duckie]

Here's the story that Just Duckie talked about:

Tampa Bay — which topped 10,000 season tickets after winning the Stanley Cup last spring — wanted to play. So did Montreal, Toronto, Minnesota, Detroit and the New York Rangers. Eight other clubs didn't, exactly enough to prevent Bettman from being overruled.

"The process has been hijacked by a group of eight billionaire owners who don't care one iota about the good of the game of hockey," a source said Sunday. "Sixteen teams want to play. Those eight have hijacked the NHL."

------->LA Times<--------

I heard that the eight teams were: Florida, Nashville, Chicago, Boston, Washington, Edmonton, Carolina and Atlanta.

Like I said before, that Governors Meeting should be fun.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm glad Disney (I hope) wasn't one of the gang of eight. Hey, if the NHL starts a lists of potential teams to be contracted, they could look at these eight for a start. I don't care if Chicago and Boston are part of the original six, their owners are the cheapest, bloodsuckers in the NHL.

[DropThePuck]

Don't forget that Edmonton's Lowe was the one who screwed Murray in the Comrie deal.

[Francaise]

Yeah, the loser teams with losing businesses that should fold. Funny, if you open a little coffee shop, say next to Starbucks, and you lose money, the government doesn't force Starbucks to be even steven with the little shop. Hence, if your business loses, maybe you should close up shop. Okay, not the greatest analogy, but you get the picture.

not that I am against a sal cap, but perhaps the number was always a tad low.

[Veca]

Yeah, the loser teams with losing businesses that should fold.  Funny, if you open a little coffee shop, say next to Starbucks, and you lose money, the government doesn't force Starbucks to be even steven with the little shop.  Hence, if your business loses, maybe you should close up shop.  Okay, not the greatest analogy, but you get the picture.

not that I am against a sal cap, but perhaps the number was always a tad low.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

From what is coming out now, there were like 13 teams that seemed to agree with you Francaise!!!

[DropThePuck]

NHL's Board of Governors meet Tuesday in New York, and NHLPA gathers player agents in Toronto. <link>

The players are regrouping as well. They'll have a dinner meeting Monday night in Toronto before a full-day gathering on Tuesday.

[Veca]

NHL's Board of Governors meet Tuesday in New York, and NHLPA gathers player agents in Toronto. <link>

The players are regrouping as well. They'll have a dinner meeting Monday night in Toronto before a full-day gathering on Tuesday.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Can we the fans demand that they all take an IQ test??? Have a drug test to make sure they are not operating impaired???? We all know something is not right with those guys!!

[Dark Knight]

  Can we the fans demand that they all take an IQ test??? Have a drug test to make sure they are not operating impaired???? We all know something is not right with those guys!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Most sensible thing said around here in the last few weeks regarding this issue.

[JasonAKADfan8]

It's pretty obvious they need some sort of IQ test...well said Veca!!!

[Francaise]

Yes Veca, I like the IQ test. I spoke with my rep at the Pond. Most of all the guys are gone there now. But he said the cap is still a good thing. Well, anyway, don't laugh, butI decided to kep my money with the team. It is at least erning interest......

[Veca]

Yes Veca,  I like the IQ test.  I spoke with my rep at the Pond.  Most of all the guys are gone there now.  But he said the cap is still a good thing.  Well, anyway, don't laugh,    butI decided to kep my money with the team.  It is at least erning interest......

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No reason not to Francaise, you are earning interest and now helping a new owner!!! You may be very happy you did it later!!

[Francaise]

Well, I figured I don't need the money, it would just go into my savings, and that is NOT earning a nickel!