Lockout/CBA Discussion Thread

[ImTellinTim]

Re: Potential Issues with the CBA

In positive hockey news, I got my UMD Bulldog Saturday season tickets in the mail.

[DrJones]

Re: Potential Issues with the CBA

Shows how much ESPN cares about hockey SMH.

Anywho watching the coverage today I have a BAAAAD feeling about this. The players are more than willing to sit out another full season if they have to.

The scary thing about all this though is that both sides are so far apart they're not even speaking the same language and can't/won't negotiate off of any of the proposals that have been submitted.

This could get very ugly. I wonder what TSN and SNET will do to fill the time now. After all poker isn't on nearly as much as it used to be.

I don't (and never did) expect any "serious" negotiations until November 1st or so.

[Money99]

Re: Potential Issues with the CBA

Regardless of what side you're on, the players have no leverage.
Like Bill Guerin said, it's their league and they'll take their ball and go home whenever they want.
He's spoken up saying that losing a full season in '04 was stupid. He lost $9M and a year off his career.
Jeremy Roenick estimates he lost over $10M from the games lost in both '95 and '04.

The owners have the ultimate hammer in that they've cancelled a season once before so you know they'll do it again.
The players are loathe to lose another season in their careers. The average career is 4 years, so would the majority of the NHLPA be happy with losing 25% of their earning's? I doubt it.

Fehr and the union know full well that they're going to lose. It's just a matter of losing as little as possible.
Trust me, the players will fold by December 1st. If they don't, then they're idiots.
They will not win this war. The owners are billionares who treat their teams like toys. For 95% of the teams, the money they lose is a pittance compared to what they make in the real business world.
Can the average player say the same? Will Brandon Prust make $2.5M/year working in the real world? No.

I'm on the players side, but they need to realize how much they're willing to sacrifice.
And even though I'm not a Bettman fan, he's right when he says "Is it fair that we only get 43% for running the entire league and all it's headaches?" (paraphrasing).

And like Bettman said, if they wipe out October, the players will already have lost more collectively than what the current deal the NHL is offering right now - which will be off the table come September 15th.

I don't see a group of 700 standing pat for long. Dissension will occur and by US Thanksgiving, there'll be games.
The players know the owners are more than willing to lose 1 and even 2 seasons to get their way.
The players don't have to like it, but that's reality. It's their ball, and they'll pick it up and go home whenever they want. Then guys like Steve Ott can go back to doing what he's qualified for off the ice - flipping burgers.

[cdawg44]

Re: Potential Issues with the CBA

I don't (and never did) expect any "serious" negotiations until November 1st or so.

Dr. Jones, what's the over/under on the season starting? The Winter Classic??

[bad_philanthropy]

Re: Potential Issues with the CBA

Hard to believe that the league would want to lose this year's Winter Classic with how big the scale of the event will be.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: Potential Issues with the CBA

The Winter Classic sounds like a great opening day, doesn't it? Do they even show games on NBC before that normally?

[SPTO]

Re: Potential Issues with the CBA

Dr. Jones, what's the over/under on the season starting? The Winter Classic??

Most media people in Canada have been saying the season will start with the Winter Classic.

[DrJones]

Re: Potential Issues with the CBA

Dr. Jones, what's the over/under on the season starting? The Winter Classic??

Earliest: November 23 (first NBC-televised game of the season)
Latest: January 1

If the Winter Classic doesn't happen, neither does the season.

[DrJones]

Re: Potential Issues with the CBA

Regardless of what side you're on, the players have no leverage.
Like Bill Guerin said, it's their league and they'll take their ball and go home whenever they want.
He's spoken up saying that losing a full season in '04 was stupid. He lost $9M and a year off his career.
Jeremy Roenick estimates he lost over $10M from the games lost in both '95 and '04.

The owners have the ultimate hammer in that they've cancelled a season once before so you know they'll do it again.
The players are loathe to lose another season in their careers. The average career is 4 years, so would the majority of the NHLPA be happy with losing 25% of their earning's? I doubt it.

Fehr and the union know full well that they're going to lose. It's just a matter of losing as little as possible.
Trust me, the players will fold by December 1st. If they don't, then they're idiots.
They will not win this war. The owners are billionares who treat their teams like toys. For 95% of the teams, the money they lose is a pittance compared to what they make in the real business world.
Can the average player say the same? Will Brandon Prust make $2.5M/year working in the real world? No.

I'm on the players side, but they need to realize how much they're willing to sacrifice.
And even though I'm not a Bettman fan, he's right when he says "Is it fair that we only get 43% for running the entire league and all it's headaches?" (paraphrasing).

And like Bettman said, if they wipe out October, the players will already have lost more collectively than what the current deal the NHL is offering right now - which will be off the table come September 15th.

I don't see a group of 700 standing pat for long. Dissension will occur and by US Thanksgiving, there'll be games.
The players know the owners are more than willing to lose 1 and even 2 seasons to get their way.
The players don't have to like it, but that's reality. It's their ball, and they'll pick it up and go home whenever they want. Then guys like Steve Ott can go back to doing what he's qualified for off the ice - flipping burgers.

You're most likely right, but there are a few reasons why you might not be.

1. Unlike 2004, this is a straight cash grab by the owners and the players know it. A 50/50 HRR split does NOT solve the problems of the lower revenue teams, which is the alleged reason this lockout is taking place. 5 years from now, the same 10 teams will still be losing money. So then the owners ask for a 60/40 split?

2. NBC might be contractually obligated to roll over the remaining years of their deal with the NHL, but they can't exactly be thrilled with this turn of events. I can't believe there'd be no pressure to get a deal done (or to ensure that NHL players are in Sochi).

3. The KHL didn't exist in 2004.

4. I am very familiar with the work of Donald Fehr. Loathsome though he may be, I can't accuse him of doing his job merely for the money. He's an ideologue who's undefeated at this sort of labour dispute. He's not going to roll over.

And even though I'm not a Bettman fan, he's right when he says "Is it fair that we only get 43% for running the entire league and all it's headaches?" (paraphrasing).

Perhaps Bettman should fire whoever negotiated such an unfair deal.

[SPTO]

Re: Potential Issues with the CBA

Perhaps Bettman should fire whoever negotiated such an unfair deal.

I think most hockey fans would rejoice if he fired himself

[slickdtc]

The only good outcome of a lockout. Bettman has to resign to save face or is fired or something.

That would be pretty great.

[AC]

Re: Potential Issues with the CBA

Not sure if it'll work for our American friends, but to the Canadians here...

Look what Sportsnet decided to do...

[BlueNGold]

Re: Potential Issues with the CBA

Not sure if it'll work for our American friends, but to the Canadians here...

Look what Sportsnet decided to do...

Lol. Who actually wants to watch that ****?

[AC]

Re: Potential Issues with the CBA

Lol. Who actually wants to watch that ****?

When I could be playing NHL 13? Hells naw haha. Just figured someone may be bored around here.

1:14 remaining until the inevitable...

[BlueNGold]

Re: Potential Issues with the CBA

When I could be playing NHL 13? Hells naw haha. Just figured someone may be bored around here.

1:14 remaining until the inevitable...

I just find it funny Sportsnet is that hockey-desperate that they're playing that.

Honestly I'm surprised TSN hasn't done the same. After all I wouldn't be surprised if more people tuned in to some lockout talk than watching this ****ty Bombers team play the Stamps right now.