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Post by Yar on Jan 15, 2005 14:22:24 GMT -5
bob goodenow has told the players to take all contract offers as he does not expect there to be a season this year or next year. this sucks that there wont be any good hockey around for so long but its great for us ;D tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=111325
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Post by Yar on Jan 15, 2005 14:24:05 GMT -5
Report: NHLPA promotes Euro option
TSN.ca Staff
1/15/2005
Not that there has been any reason for optimism, but locked out NHL players are being told to expect that the current lockout has no end in sight.
According to a report in the Toronto Sun, NHLPA Executive Director Bob Goodenow has advised players not to count on NHL hockey this season or next.
The paper goes on on to say that Goodenow has, through an audio message on the association's website, told players that they should take any contracts that might be available in Europe either now or for next season. NHL players have been locked out since September 14, and negotiations have been contentious to say the least. That is, when they've actually negotiated, and that hasn't happened since December 14, when each side rejected the other's proposals.
Over 300 NHLers are currently playing throughout Europe.
The Sun expects the NHL to make an offer next week, but obviously expectations are not high that it will lead to a resolution.
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Post by The Unknown Poster on Jan 15, 2005 14:25:11 GMT -5
Hmmmm, so if the NHL does try to declare an Impasse, how will Goodenow insist that the NHLPA negotiated in good faith when he tells his players in January to sign contracts with other leagues for next season?
If the NHL is working on a new plan, I can imagine Goodenow is making the players more likely to accept it. These players look at the NHL offer of an average salary of 1.8 million and must be shaking their heads wondering why they haven't taken it.
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Post by dreamcatcher on Jan 17, 2005 11:41:01 GMT -5
Absolutely. Yet I can't help but get this feeling that the NHLPA is not operating above board here, in terms of dealing with players in an appropriate manner. When you hear players dropping hints about playing NOW, crossing the line, that they would accept a cap, or the most famous to date...I just wanna play hockey...then....you hear them the next day referring to their comments being taken out of context, or it was misprinted, or it could be interpretted differently, it becomes apparent that there is something going on in the background in regards to the NHLPA.
What, exactly that is...I can't really comment on. I can say, that reference in the Media, and on forums such as this inferring that the PA be compared to "Mafia-like" behavior is an interesting comparison, but not really accurate.
What they HAVE done is silenced the players each time they make these comments successfully. Part of this, I believe, is the threat of no lockout pay, and part of this is the threat of large fines or some form of litigation. They haven't come out with this, however, because to show so much dissention, would also show a lack of unity. One thing Bob really wants everyone to BELIEVE...is that the PA is very much united in all this.
Why they are so dead set against the cap, which really has a very slim difference in overall player salary, is beyond me. It seems that despite resistance to the idea of a cap, the NHL will get its way in the long run, and ultimately the damage will be great indeed.
Although Canadians by and large do not care what the perception of our league is throughout the sun belt states, and the other states in North America which are not traditional Hockey hotbeds, (other than the standard cities such as New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago etc) The perception of Hockey in many other areas is already bush league. It is entirely possible, that after all is said and done, that a $35-$40 million dollar salary cap will be way way too much, and because of the damage to hockeys image beyond Canada, we could lose valuable National T.V contracts, and butts in seats of arenas doomed to fold or relocate.
Ultimately? A Prediction?
We could be looking at a league with not 30 teams, but 26 Teams, with 4 out and out folded, and players dispersed among the remaining clubs. As well, of these 26 clubs, you would've had at LEAST two teams relocated to Canadian cities. My guess would be Winnipeg, and Hamilton. Hamilton, with the Buffalo Sabres. This would be the only way Toronto or Ottawa would accept Hamilton having a team.
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Post by jamiebez on Jan 17, 2005 14:21:40 GMT -5
We could be looking at a league with not 30 teams, but 26 Teams, with 4 out and out folded, and players dispersed among the remaining clubs. As well, of these 26 clubs, you would've had at LEAST two teams relocated to Canadian cities. My guess would be Winnipeg, and Hamilton. Hamilton, with the Buffalo Sabres. This would be the only way Toronto or Ottawa would accept Hamilton having a team. Just to chime in (again) on the Hamilton issue... I really don't think they can support a team, even with a $30M cap - the city's econony is just not strong enough. Besides, Copps wouldn't be capable of drawing enough revenue. It's a lot like the old Arena in terms of amenities/suites and it's owned by the city of Hamilton. The biggest thing people claim will help Hamilton is that they'll draw fans from Toronto that can't afford Leafs tix. I don't think this will happen: the truth is TO is not a very good hockey town (yes, I said it). It's a great Leafs town, but no other hockey ventures there have been successful there because people ONLY care about the Leafs. Their biggest plus is that they have a lot of wealthy businessmen who are from there (Ron Joyce, Bob Young, etc), so an ownership group would be strong. With a cap, an owner and some improvements to Copps, who knows, but I'd say it would be an uphill battle.
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Post by dreamcatcher on Jan 18, 2005 11:31:27 GMT -5
Thanks for your input Jamie
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Post by PitbulI on Jan 18, 2005 15:41:12 GMT -5
Yes, Hamilton can not support a team. That's why they were denied so many times for a franchise in the past. Besides, the owner for the Buffalo Sabres wants the team to stay in Buffalo I believe.
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Doolox
Rookie Member
Posts: 28
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Post by Doolox on Jan 20, 2005 15:04:15 GMT -5
The only way Hamilton gets a team is when Buffalo moves there or Buffalo moves away. I go to Buffalo to watch the Sens all the time, they rely VERY heavily on Canadian support. They have many games a year where they sell tickets at par.
No Hamilton team until Buffalo takes a hike.
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Post by jetblood on Feb 13, 2005 17:19:41 GMT -5
lol and all this talk about hoe Goodenow loves the game of hockey, what a joke. he's more of a cancer to the game then anything else.
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