NHL Union Head: Season May Be Cancelled

[MrRant 0]

TORONTO -- With the Stanley Cup finals now securely in the rear-view mirror, the question still remains: Will NHL games be played next season?

 

NHL Players' Association head Bob Goodenow says the answer very easily could be no.

 

Goodenow, in Toronto for the NHLPA meetings, said the players remain firmly against a salary cap.

 

Management and the union have been at odds for the past 18 months over the issue of a cap. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and his negotiating team want a hard cap, while the union wants no part of it. Neither side is backing down as of yet.

 

Is a high-stakes game of "chicken" on the horizon?

 

"A salary cap is not going to be part of the plan going forward," Goodenow told Toronto newspapers for Friday editions. "That means there won't be a start of the season and there may not be a season [at all] next year. We are not going to do a cap and we are not going to do a percentage of revenues. The owners set the scale of salaries for the players and that is the marketplace. It has always been that way for the past 75 years or so and that is the way we are going to go forward with it."

 

There are no meetings planned between the NHL and players.

 

"I'm optimistic we'll be able to get something done ... I'm an optimistic person," union president Trevor Linden told reporters. "I can't speak for the owners, but we're going to work hard as a union to try to avoid a lockout. We're going to try to get something done."

 

Avalanche star Joe Sakic doesn't expect to have to attend an Avs training camp at the end of the World Cup of Hockey in September.

 

"To me it just looks like Bettman doesn't want to start unless he gets everything he wants," Sakic told reporters. "So I don't expect hockey. We all hope [a new collective bargaining agreement] gets done, but to be realistic, I don't see it happening right now."

 

If the season does not start on time, players certainly have other options. They can play in Europe, or they can play in the newly formed World Hockey Association. The WHA announced Wednesday that its eight franchises will begin play Oct. 29.

 

The Lightning's Martin St. Louis, who was awarded the Hart Trophy as the league's MVP on Thursday night, said it would be silly for him not to at least consider playing in the WHA.

 

"Sitting at home or making $5 million, it would be very tempting," St. Louis told The Globe and Mail of Toronto. "Obviously, I have to know where we were at as far as the NHL situation. But to be honest, I really haven't thought about that."

 

WHA teams will have a $15 million salary cap, but a player such as St. Louis could make as much as $5 million as a team's top player.

 

Initially, the WHA said that if a player signs a contract, he would have to play the entire season with his WHA club. But on Wednesday, a WHA official said the league will likely change the bylaw to stipulate two players per team would have the option of returning to the NHL if labor problems are resolved during the season.

 

The new WHA will have franchises in Quebec City, Hamilton, Toronto, Halifax, Detroit, Dallas, Orlando, and Jacksonville, Fla.

[Red Baron 0]

if Phili/Detroit/Colorado/New Jersey/New York/Toronto/Dallas won the stanley cup, it would have been a different answer.

[Red Baron 0]

In other hockey news.

 

Hasek is rumoured to Ottawa.

 

...um...why?

[The Czech Republic 0]

NOT HASEK! NO! He'll decide he doesn't like it and midway through his 15th or so game, his knee will magically fold up. I thought Ray Emery was the next big thing in net for the Sens.

 

But anyway, yeah fuck the NHLPA. Your contracts are exorbitant and you don't warrant them, outside of a very very select few. They really crossed the Rubicon with all the big-money contracts a few years ago and now they're paying for it.

 

I wish the WHA well. I'm glad that Quebec has a team again...here's hoping they go with good ol' powder blue and the fleur-de-lis, despite the fact that the Nordiques name and logo probably isn't in reach. However, I don't know if those are the best eight cities to put teams in. Detroit may be Hockeytown, but I'm worried they'll shit on a team that doesn't have a red sweater with a winged wheel on the front. Toronto is the same, as a city so dedicated to the Maple Leafs probably won't jump to a second team. With Jacksonville and Orlando, now every major city in the state undeservingly has a major-league team...great. But Hamilton and Halifax are deserving cities and I wish their teams the best as they compete in markets that the NHL screwed over in favor of Nashville or Atlanta. If we're lucky, the WHA will get a second wave of expansion and pick up Hartford, Winnipeg, and other cities they missed.

[The Czech Republic 0]

Oh by the way, here are some fightin' words from the WHA's history page:

 

"...most of the teams had unusual uniform colors and styles. Yet while considered gaudy by many at the time, hideously coloured and designed uniforms are now commonplace in the NHL."

 

"It was the WHA that came up with the idea of putting electronic chips into the pucks so they would show up and streak on TV. It was an awful idea in the 70’s and, ironically, an awful idea in the 90’s when FOX and the NHL tried it out."

[Guest jpclemmons]

this is what happens when you an idiot running the NHL. and why isn't there a WHL team in Winnepeg?

[The Czech Republic 0]

this is what happens when you an idiot running the NHL. and why isn't there a WHL team in Winnepeg?

Very good question. I heard Winnipeg just opened up a new downtown arena...maybe by next year they'll have a team. I hope the same goes for Hartford, as the city still owns the rights to all things Whaler.

[MrRant 0]

I hope the same goes for Hartford, as the city still owns the rights to all things Whaler.

I read that as:

 

"I hope the same goes for Hartford, as the city still owns the rights to all things Wanker."

[tbondrage99 0]

At least there will be some hockey to watch next year, without the NHL.

 

Heres to wishing the WHA does much much better then the XFL.

[The Czech Republic 0]

I hope the same goes for Hartford, as the city still owns the rights to all things Whaler.

I read that as:

 

"I hope the same goes for Hartford, as the city still owns the rights to all things Wanker."

Well the Whalers were wankers when it came to playing any good.

[Guest MikeSC]

So, the players OPPOSE a salary cap in the NHL --- and to prove their case, they're willing to play in a league WITH A SALARY CAP?

 

Well, anything that kills off hockey is cool.

-=Mike

[Lightning Flik 0]

So, the players OPPOSE a salary cap in the NHL --- and to prove their case, they're willing to play in a league WITH A SALARY CAP?

 

Well, anything that kills off hockey is cool.

-=Mike

I didn't get this either. These players who join the WHA are going to accept a salary cap and will play with that there.

 

What's really interesting is some marque players are seriously considering it. Like Martin St. Louis was asked about it and he said he was seriously considering playing in the WHA this coming year.

 

So I'm thinking this version of the WHA will probably steal away some very talented people off of the NHL and maybe even provide a better hockey game.

[Guest Seven Sins]

So, the players OPPOSE a salary cap in the NHL --- and to prove their case, they're willing to play in a league WITH A SALARY CAP?

 

Well, anything that kills off hockey is cool.

-=Mike

that's fucked up to play in a league with a salary cap when you oppose it. But i agree with this guy about hockey being killed off. Hockey is basically the worst sport out there and that's coming from a world with Golf and Nascar.

[Red Baron 0]

fuck the WHA.

 

its going to kill hockey completly, and it won't have a strong fan base, thus almost worthless

[Guest Rrrsh]

So, the players OPPOSE a salary cap in the NHL --- and to prove their case, they're willing to play in a league WITH A SALARY CAP?

 

Well, anything that kills off hockey is cool.

          -=Mike

that's fucked up to play in a league with a salary cap when you oppose it. But i agree with this guy about hockey being killed off. Hockey is basically the worst sport out there and that's coming from a world with Golf and Nascar.

Hockey is the best sport out there, its just very poorly run.

 

The worst sport in Nascar and the worst league is the NBA.

[tbondrage99 0]

Hockey is the best sport out there, its just very poorly run.

I agree about 300%

[razazteca 0]

NHL should shorten its season so that it does get overshadowed by the NBA Playoffs. The general public would rather jump on the Lakers bandwagon than say follow any big market hockey team.

[Guest Rrrsh]

NHL should shorten its season so that it does get overshadowed by the NBA Playoffs.  The general public would rather jump on the Lakers bandwagon than say follow any big market hockey team.

I agree, they should cut it down to 70 games.

 

Plus they should start 2 or 3 weeks earlier.

[Kahran Ramsus 0]

The Stanley Cup shouldn't be decided when it is 30 degrees out (Celcius). The big problem with the NHL (as opposed to say Olympic Hockey, which is much better) is that they emphasize goons and fighting over scoring. Clean hockey is good hockey.

[The Czech Republic 0]

NHL should shorten its season so that it does get overshadowed by the NBA Playoffs.  The general public would rather jump on the Lakers bandwagon than say follow any big market hockey team.

I agree, they should cut it down to 70 games.

 

Plus they should start 2 or 3 weeks earlier.

Cut down to 70? Geez, they were playing 84 games a year for while...they should start on October 1st and then get your schedule in from there. It worked before.

[Guest Rrrsh]

NHL should shorten its season so that it does get overshadowed by the NBA Playoffs.  The general public would rather jump on the Lakers bandwagon than say follow any big market hockey team.

I agree, they should cut it down to 70 games.

 

Plus they should start 2 or 3 weeks earlier.

Cut down to 70? Geez, they were playing 84 games a year for while...they should start on October 1st and then get your schedule in from there. It worked before.

Every year, injuries increase. By the time the Cup rolls around, half the team is hurt. Start on October 1st, have 70 games and make sure you NEVER play back-to-back games on the road. It will limit the injuries and the fatigue, which means a better playoffs.

[Guest Rrrsh]

The Stanley Cup shouldn't be decided when it is 30 degrees out (Celcius). The big problem with the NHL (as opposed to say Olympic Hockey, which is much better) is that they emphasize goons and fighting over scoring. Clean hockey is good hockey.

I TOTALLY agree. I love agressive, hard nose hockey with hits and physical contact. But goons and fighst get way to much attention.

[The Czech Republic 0]

I do enjoy a good fight from time to time, as do I enjoy a tight battle between good goaltenders. But above all I'd like to see some awesome scoring.

[nl5xsk1 0]

So many different thoughts after reading this thread ...

 

a) What? There's going to be a labor dispute? Why is this the first that I've heard of this; why hasn't this gotten more press before now? (man, is sarcasm a great thing.)

 

b) Bad news, Mike & Sins ... I doubt that this will 'kill off' hockey for good. It'll do huge damage to the sport, and there will undoubtedly be teams that don't make it through the lockout (Pittsburgh, for example) but there will always be fans in Montreal, Toronto, Boston & Detroit. Throw in some of the other die-hard cities (Colorado, Edmonton, Philly, St Louis, etc) there will be enough for there to be some sort of league.

 

c) Hockey doesn't get overshadowed by the NBA playoffs, it gets overshadowed by everything (NBA playoffs, MBL regular season, NASCAR, golf, tennis, etc) I'd like to see them shorten the season by a dozen games or so, but not to avoid the NBA.

 

d) You can't eliminate fighting, if you look at the leagues where fighting is banned (particular in Europe) the amount of stickwork is through the roof, because there's no repurcussions for doing it. There's been more dangerous hits, slashes, spears, etc. in the 10-15 years since the fighting rules were tightened then there were in the decades before. Let the players police themselves, and it's a better game. I do agree with Rrrsh, though, that the fighters get way too much attention, but that's the media's fault: they'd rather show a brawl or Bertuzzi-gate than show Luongo or Brodeur stand on their heads and make great saves, or Iginla or Kovalchuk score an amazing goal.

[treble 0]

if Phili/Detroit/Colorado/New Jersey/New York/Toronto/Dallas won the stanley cup, it would have been a different answer.

Of course, since all the teams you listed (minus Philly and Toronto) had won every Cup from 1994 until last year. I don't get what you were going for here, Jesus himself could have come down and led a team to the Cup and it wouldn't have changed a thing with regards to the labour situation, I don't know why you seem to think that Tampa winning is the worst thing to ever happen to the sport.

[Guest Vitamin X]

So, the players OPPOSE a salary cap in the NHL --- and to prove their case, they're willing to play in a league WITH A SALARY CAP?

 

Well, anything that kills off hockey is cool.

          -=Mike

that's fucked up to play in a league with a salary cap when you oppose it. But i agree with this guy about hockey being killed off. Hockey is basically the worst sport out there and that's coming from a world with Golf and Nascar.

Hockey is the best sport out there, its just very poorly run.

 

The worst sport in Nascar and the worst league is the NBA.

I disagree, there can't possibly be any worse league than Major League Baseball. If you want to talk about a sport that needs a salary cap, there's your number one example.

 

NHL should shorten its season so that it does get overshadowed by the NBA Playoffs. The general public would rather jump on the Lakers bandwagon than say follow any big market hockey team.

 

After this season there will be no Laker bandwagon anymore. Say hello to the upcoming Piston and Timberwolf bandwagons, and of course San Antonio.

[Guest MikeSC]

b) Bad news, Mike & Sins ... I doubt that this will 'kill off' hockey for good.  It'll do huge damage to the sport, and there will undoubtedly be teams that don't make it through the lockout (Pittsburgh, for example) but there will always be fans in Montreal, Toronto, Boston & Detroit.  Throw in some of the other die-hard cities (Colorado, Edmonton, Philly, St Louis, etc) there will be enough for there to be some sort of league.

The NHL's problems are deep. Baseball was in MUCH better shape --- and they were hurt rather badly by the strike. This is the NHL's second in a few years, the players are paid FAR MORE than their worth, and nobody seems to be making much money.

 

The NHL might well not survive this.

-=Mike

[Dr. Tom 0]

I disagree, there can't possibly be any worse league than Major League Baseball. If you want to talk about a sport that needs a salary cap, there's your number one example.

I couldn't disagree more. If anything, the last few years have shown that MLB does NOT need a salary cap. The Marlins didn't spend their way to a World Series win, nor did the Angels. Recent years have shown that deft team-building is what wins, not money. The Oakland A's are competitive every year with a small-market payroll because they draft and develop players well, and if they need to trade or sign a free agent to plug a hole, they get players that fit into their team concept.

 

The free-spending stardard is obviously the Yankees, but they haven't won a World Series in a few years now. Sure, you'll have a good team when you can buy All-Stars, but it doesn't mean you're going to go all the way. Look at the team now: two of their starters, both at least 35, are hurt, they've had some other injury problems, and their defense is still nothing to write home about. If the Red Sox didn't havw worse injury problems, I don't think the Yankees would be in first place right now.

 

As for what hockey can do, I think shortening the regular season to 72 games would be a great start. I doubt the owners would ever do it, since fewer games = less TV revenue, but it's not like networks pay thru the nose to televise the NHL to begin with. I'd also get rid of the insitgator minor and let the players swing on each other with fists instead of sticks.

[nl5xsk1 0]

The NHL might well not survive this.

-=Mike

Mike you and I will need to agree to disagree today (although this really has nothing to do with our wizzing match in CE/HD) ... how can you say that the NHL will not survive? Maybe it won't survive as it's presently known, but it'll take more than a prolonged lockout to put an end to franchises such as the Red Wings, Maple Leafs, Canadiens, Bruins, Flyers, etc. Maybe a team like the Panthers will cease to exist, or the Penguins, or the Mighty Ducks, but the NHL existed long before those teams came about, and would continue to exist even if some of the new-school teams folded.

[Guest FrigidSoul]

This doesn't just go for hockey, but for all pro-athletes that complain about finances.

 

 

You get paid millions to play a damn game. If you don't want to do it then I'm sure there are thousands of other people who would be willing to do so. I mean sure, the owners would be nowhere without the players...but players are alot easier to replace than owners.