Post by dreamcatcher on Feb 21, 2005 11:28:59 GMT -5
whew***the debacle known as the the NHL and NHLPA last minute save to preserve the season is over. Thank God for that. Although I firmly believe that we could have still acquired a team with a $45 or $46 million dollar salary cap, (provided there was no bottom for spending) I am much happier today, that it is all over. I hate rumors (we all do!) but rumor has it, (and usually people I speak with are pretty decent at acquiring info), that the NHL wouldn't budge from $42, AND as we already know, many owners were very angry with Bettman for going to $42 anyway. I agree.
He should've stuck to his apparent philosophy from day #1 and that is, that a number that high, doesn't work for his failing Southern franchises, and smaller Canadian cities. It's bad enough, that there are only 6 Canadian cities and 24 U.S Franchises. I can think of 4 additional Canadian Markets that should have teams.
It doesn't matter that with a high end at $42, and no bottom, that we could compete, or other small markets could compete. As far as I am concerned, all that would facilitate, is the same old....just on a smaller scale. If it boiled down to bidding over a player, the club that could afford the $42 million dollar cap, would win out over Winnipeg or Edmonton especially if we both hovered around a team salary of $20 million.
I think were much better off, with the NHL losing more ground in the eyes of U.S fans, losing T.V contracts and sources of revenue, shrinking the pie considerably, THEN the league and the players sitting down forced to negotiate a much SMALLER cap, at around $30 million, with NO bottom.
THAT, ladies and gentlemen, will put Winnipeg in an absolutely no lose win win scenario.
He should've stuck to his apparent philosophy from day #1 and that is, that a number that high, doesn't work for his failing Southern franchises, and smaller Canadian cities. It's bad enough, that there are only 6 Canadian cities and 24 U.S Franchises. I can think of 4 additional Canadian Markets that should have teams.
It doesn't matter that with a high end at $42, and no bottom, that we could compete, or other small markets could compete. As far as I am concerned, all that would facilitate, is the same old....just on a smaller scale. If it boiled down to bidding over a player, the club that could afford the $42 million dollar cap, would win out over Winnipeg or Edmonton especially if we both hovered around a team salary of $20 million.
I think were much better off, with the NHL losing more ground in the eyes of U.S fans, losing T.V contracts and sources of revenue, shrinking the pie considerably, THEN the league and the players sitting down forced to negotiate a much SMALLER cap, at around $30 million, with NO bottom.
THAT, ladies and gentlemen, will put Winnipeg in an absolutely no lose win win scenario.