NHL officially canceled

[Armpit_licker]

SEASON UN-CANCELLED!!!!!!!! AGREEMENT REACHED!!!!

ESPN news has just reported that the deal is signed and sealed with a cap agreed at 45 million. They just got it done tonight as opposed to tomorrow. Tryin to get link.


from tsn.ca

"Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux will reportedly take part in a meeting between the NHL and NHLPA on Saturday in New York as the two sides an attempt to reach agreement on a new labour deal. The Hockey News is reporting that the sides have already agreed in principle to a deal that includes a $45-million salary cap, and the cancelled season could be ''un-cancelled'' Saturday. Union sources, however, have denied the report."


Is this unreal. Supposedly, Mike Gartner is the de facto leader of the players union and is negotiating the deal. Roenick, Yzerman, and Iginla were the ones to put the deal together and get the ball rolling. They underminded Goodenow and he is not endorsing it. They basically overthrew Goodenow and went right to Gretzky and Lemieux, who put the deal together from the owner's side. This is insane!

 

[leafstk]

There is no deal in principle.... yet. Appears there's still a lot of work to be done, but atleast they are meeting tomorrow. Nothing surprises me at this point.

Go Here: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=115396

 

[ticklingfeet4fu]

Why should this surprise anyone? I will still be surprised if they get this season underway. But we will see. I hope they do. I really like hockey. But baseball is around the corner even if hockey isn't.

 

[BOFH666]

Re: Hockey In the USA

Look guys its ice hockey not the Red Sox vs. Yankees. Ice hockey gets lower ratings than fucking arena football for Gods sake! With this strike the NHL will be dead and I say good riddance! The only sports worth watching are football and baseball. Here in the Bronx baseball is a way of life with the Yankees being our gods and we worship them despite the ALCS meltdown last year. Now I understand that in Montreal they probably worship the Canadiens and in Toronto they love the leafs but its time to change citizens of Canada. Montreal blew it with the Expos but Toronto has a good team and great stadium, dont disappoint them citizens of Canada, baseball is your NEW way of life. If you dont like it...learn!

You know, I don't get it. I've seen posts like this (and sorry for quoting yours EE, was just a handy example, this isn't aimed at you directly) all over the net and... I don't get it.

Hockey gets low ratings? So what? You guys have a million and one TV channels over there, you can afford to carry sports that bring in a smaller audience without having to sacrifice coverage of anything more popular. It's huge in Canada and I seem to remember it being pretty damn good in the ratings there. To hang some numbers on this, the Stanley cup final last year drew 5.560 milion canadian viewers. How does that make it unviable? The 2004 six nations rugby game in the UK between Wales and England had almost the same viewing numbers yet this is televised in its entirety without advert breaks on one of only 5 national channels. With 5.5 million pairs of eyes on the screen I'm pretty sure whoever gets the rights to broadcast the NHL won't be crying into their Tim Hortons when they see the advertising revenue figures.

As for "The only sports worth watching are football and baseball", that's exactly the way a lot of Canadians (and I presume at least a couple of Americans 😉 ) feel about Hockey (excluding current feelings about the players and managment). I've tried watching both football and baseball and found them amazingly dull. Sure the spectacle keeps you interested for a while, and football has it's moments, but I personally don't want to sit my arse on a couch to watch a one hour game stretched out over three hours. It's boring, has no flow, has a lower skill level than the game that spawned it, looks ridiculous with all the padding and just comes across, to me, as a pale immitation of Rugby. Baseball is just the most boring sport on the planet to watch on TV, tied with such adrenaline pumping events as cricket and round the world yacht racing. But that's my personal opinion, and if others think differently then that's fine by me.

I hope that this backroom deal does go through and the season's uncanceled. Once it is, and the fans realise how much they missed it, then maybe they'll start speaking loudly and in one voice about what they want to see changed to avoid a repeat performance of this whole sorry mess.

 

[leafstk]

Here, here! Well said, BOFH 🙂

 

[leafstk]

Buffalo Sabres is a great example. They ran out of money mid-season. They almost had to close up shop. Why should an owner "borrow" money from his other businesses to keep hockey going? That is what is happen. There are about 6 teams that are doing great. The rest are losing money. The Islanders( remember I am a Devils fan) lost 25 million dollars last year. You need a HARD SALARY CAP. No other way around it. Buffalo and Ottawa and Pittsburgh almost had to close up shop in mid-season. But Goodenow won't examine the books. Only reason could be that he does not want to know the truth. The following teams should just be cut from the league see if you agree.Atlanta,Nashville,New York Islanders, New Jersey Devils(unfortunately),Buffalo,San Jose, Anaheim.

Actually, the Devils and the Sharks are two of the more profitable franchizes in the league! 😉 The Devils are actually a great example of how a team can be fiscally sound and STILL win Stanley Cups... nothing wrong with that team or its owner.

Another thing, two of the key players in trying to resurrect this season are none other than Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux! Both are in ownership of two teams that are at the forefront of this mess... the Penguins and the Coyotes. Pittsburgh probably in the worst position of all 30 teams. If both of these guys believe they can make a deal work in the range that has been discussed recently for their teams, what the hell is that clown in Dallas going on about? And the Ottawa Senators? What a joke.

 

[TickledToDeath]

Re: SORRY!!

Im sorry TickledtoDeath I dont mean to show you up so to speak by pointing out why your ideas wont work because you sound like a really nice guy. As to your last suggestion however....theyve been doing that for about 5 years already!

Elect. No prob bro. No insult whatsoever taken here. I was just spitting out ideas and venting all the same. Just sick and tired of these millionaires and billionaires (players and owners) friggin crying about money woes and the fans of the sport or sports if you throw in baseball as well who if not for, there would be not the term "spectator sport". I just would love to see the reaction of teams and owners alike, playing a game to empty arenas and stadiums.
Just a mere statement by the fans for the players and owners to stop their baby crying and foot stomping. It doesn't have to be a monetary impact, I know that won't happen but a sign has to be given to these weiners.

Hey, Elect. I was born in the Bronx so I don't get insulted that quickly and definitely not from a fellow man of the Bronx.

TTD

 

[ElectricEye72]

Its cool that you disagreed with me BOF666 cuz you did it with respect and I thank you for that now let me extend the same respect to you when I say this...all those teams losing money which is all but 6 is a big tell tale sign of hockey in the USA. Now I did say USA not Canada, I know hockey is life in Canada but unfortunately the USA is where the money is. Big market teams just dont do well and you get teams like the Carolina Hurricanes vs. Detroit Red Wings in the finals a few years back. Then the year after that Carolina is crying for money! The same will happen with Tampa Bay. As I said I live in New York the biggest market town there is and hockey is about as popular as a case of genital warts. Talk about unwatchable! You got 2 six foot four defensemen playing right in front of the net and blocking just about every shot! The trap as its called has ruined the game as the middle of the ice is all clogged up. Now someone said dissolve 6 teams, I disagree. That would be humililiating for a sport that everyone laughs at already! Sorry but hockey is deader than Elvis in the USA and I have no idea how it should be saved or IF it should be saved.

 

[leafstk]

I wouldn't mind the NHL going back to 21 teams, but that's just me 😉

Anyway, Electric Eye makes a good point in reference to the "Trap". The game has lost its focus on scoring and skill and has recently become more and more about defence, trap included. This is a problem, especially trying to sell the game in the US. Changes will be made if this deal gets done, but it may be too late to make a difference. Time will tell.

Canadians will continue to watch the game with passion. I find closer, lower scoring games more exciting actually. But that's just me. I agree the game needs to open up, but I would rather see a game finish 3-2 than 8-6.

 

[leafstk]

... last gasp talks have broken off unsuccessfully and the season and perhaps the sport is indeed dead

Source: http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/article.jsp?content=20050218_170817_1040

 

[milagros317]

Wretched outcome. Condolences, Leafs. 🙁

 

[giggleygirl25]

that really sucks, well if there is next season i will look forward to(hmm must be the closer one is to the canadian border the more one likes hockey?...just an observation) it...especially if management changes the uniforms and goes back to the old sabres logo with the crossed sabres😀

 

[ticklingfeet4fu]

Actually, the Devils and the Sharks are two of the more profitable franchizes in the league! 😉 The Devils are actually a great example of how a team can be fiscally sound and STILL win Stanley Cups... nothing wrong with that team or its owner.

Another thing, two of the key players in trying to resurrect this season are none other than Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux! Both are in ownership of two teams that are at the forefront of this mess... the Penguins and the Coyotes. Pittsburgh probably in the worst position of all 30 teams. If both of these guys believe they can make a deal work in the range that has been discussed recently for their teams, what the hell is that clown in Dallas going on about? And the Ottawa Senators? What a joke.

Yhe reason I said my Beloved Devils is because they don't draw anyone to the Meadowlands night in and night out. But they are a great example of a team that is responible financially and wins regularly.

 

[leafstk]

that really sucks, well if there is next season i will look forward to(hmm must be the closer one is to the canadian border the more one likes hockey?...just an observation) it...especially if management changes the uniforms and goes back to the old sabres logo with the crossed sabres😀

I love those vintage Sabre uniforms! 😀 I also love the HSBC arena, I've been to many Sabre/Leafs games there 🙂

Thanks, Mils. Its really gonna hurt come spring time... no playoff hockey 🙁

All I can say is, if two of the greatest players to ever lace em' up (Gretzky and Lemieux) can't help these two sides bridge the gap, then I don't know how it will ever get done. The only way I see hockey being played next year is if the NHL declares an impasse and imposes a CBA of their own liking. This would clear the way for replacement players (eg. AHL, OHLers) and what ever NHLPA members decide to cross the line. Effectively, this would turn the lockout into a strike... argh, I can't even type this crap 🙁 In other words, it appears to be a hopeless situation 🙁

 

[ticklingfeet4fu]

I believe the NHL Owners will try to break the union right here. I think the union is weak and is ripe for the picking.

 

[leafstk]

I believe the NHL Owners will try to break the union right here. I think the union is weak and is ripe for the picking.

Its apparent now that that was their goal from day one.

 

[Armpit_licker]

It looks as if I jumped the gun on this one.... I heard the season was back on and I jumped for joy.. I apologize if I got anyone's hopes up. Fuck them.