Everything Else

Can’t Talk, Coming Down

By Sam Fels 1251 0

Obviously, there was going to be a bit of a come down from yesterday’s optimism, if you were one of those that chose to have it. The players union was never going to respond with, “Sounds great! Where’s my pen? Let’s go get a beer!” What we saw yesterday, after all the commentary, was at least a basis for what can be intense negotiations over the next week. And an agreement is only going to come after some marathon and pressured negotiating. Between the networks starting to exert their force and players starting to bark on various media outlets, combined with what really isn’t that huge of a difference between the sides now, I still think we’ll see those negotiations get started tomorrow and we’ll end with a deal. Maybe that’s just me wanting my job back, but it’s what I think.

Anyway, let’s look at some of the disputes that the players union apparently has over the latest proposal.

Everything Else

NHL Offer Update

By Sam Fels 1421 0

A couple things have come out in the intervening hours about the offer from the owners. Just wanted to get those out.

Let’s get to the big one here. According to Pierre LeBrun, who generally doesn’t miss on this kind of thing, the proposal contains a clause in Year 1 that teams can exceed the cap up to $70 million. This is breathtakingly huge. That means there wouldn’t have to be extra amnesties/buyouts, and players don’t have to worry about being axed from their teams ruthlessly.

Let’s do some math here. If 50% is a 57.7 cap for this upcoming year, and revenues grow by 4% for next year, the cap for next year would be around $60 million. While that will mean teams are going to have to cull some talent to get under the new number, they’ll have two years to do so instead of one and it’s not quite as bad as it would have been. So make of that what you will.

There’s more…

I didn’t mention the 5-year limit in my previous post. That will not delight players, but a term-limit was always going to be on the cards. One would think that can probably be negotiated up to a six or seven year limit. That shouldn’t be a deal-breaker.

The allowance for the first year is the big story here. While there have been some poo-pooing this offer today, that part of the offer is a major catering to the players. They don’t have to worry about losing anything off this year’s salary, which has been their complaint all along.

Everything Else

Yeah, I Had A Movement This Morning Too

By Sam Fels 1246 0

Whether you’re at work or staring at your pants angrily at home this afternoon like I am, your Twitter feed blew up with the news that the NHL came up with a new proposal for the NHLPA this morning. Before we get into it and what it could mean and what it might not mean and a bunch of other things, we have to say there are a lot of things we don’t know about it and there could be all sort of snakes and scorpions in the inner-workings of it. So take it easy there, Champ.

Ok, let’s delve into what we do know about it.

Everything Else

Destroying The Myths

By Sam Fels 1203 0

Now that our Winter of Discontent is in full swing, the bitterness and anger only seems to be rising from everyone. Both owners, players, and especially fans seem like they could boil over at any moment. Maybe that’s what this whole thing needs. Only then does it feel like something will be at risk. But there’s a couple themes from both sides that they keep putting out there that just don’t add up.

Everything Else

The Committed Indian’s Piggies Weekly

By Sam Fels 1223 0

With the lockout dragging on and on, and showing no sign of stopping any time soon like a bad marriage between two passive-aggressive mutes, I have decided to up the content of our game program, The Committed Indian.

From here until the lockout ends, I’ll be doing a weekly Icehogs update, usually coming out on Tuesdays. If you’re already signed up for a full-season or lockout-filler subscription, you’re good. You’ll be getting these anyway.

If you haven’t, because we’re in the first week of no NHL hockey and we’re all feeling a little depressed, for this week a full season subscription will be on sale for just $50. That gets you all the filler issues — Icehogs and Bears game programs — plus every issue of the real thing when these assholes feel like playing hockey again. We’ll call it “Our Winter Of Discontent Sale.”

And if that’s a bit much for you, you can get all the Filler issues for as long as they run for just $10. Not a bad deal. Just hit the button on the top right of the site there, and roll up for this Magical Mystery Tour.  Or you can use this link right here: http://77.104.162.54/~faxesfro/get-issues-of-the-committed-indian/

Everything Else

Have You Seen The Little Piggies?

By Sam Fels 1512 0

I hadn’t been to a Wolves game since their inaugural season in 1994 on Hanson Brothers night, which was two lockouts ago. I hadn’t been to the Horizon at all since Adam Jones, Justin Chancellor, and Danny Carey were polishing off the last notes to “Lateralus.” So to say I was in for a new experience of sorts would be right on the mark last night.

I hadn’t seen the new re-model of the interior of the Horizon, and I have to say I’m a fan. It feels cozier than it did, the sight-lines for hockey are better than they were, and it just feels like a more-modern arena, whereas the old layout felt dated probably from the moment the place opened. The constantly turning concourse could have used some work, but there’s only so much you can do. And the search for a beer other than Coors is mind-numbing. If Killion ever makes the trip there he’s probably going to have a seizure.

Anyway, other thoughts on my night watching the Hogs and Wolves:

Everything Else

Your Weekend Viewing Guide

By Sam Fels 1218 0

It’s now officially our first NHL-less weekend. I won’t be navigating the fucking Red Carpet Ceremony trying to peddle Indians while suburban people look at me weird and the Ice Crew takes pictures on my spot. Oh how I’ll miss that. Anywho, what’s out there as alternates?

Everything Else

Here I Sit, Broken Hearted

By Sam Fels 1413 0

Today I was supposed to be starting the first real Committed Indian of the year, wrapping up work just in time to take in Flyers-Bruins before watching the Kings raise a banner instead of watching Joe Saunders try and wheeze and stumble his way through the Yankees lineup. Or the Steelers and Titans, which I don’t think anyone outside of Pennsyltucky really cares about, and that includes Tennessee.

But I’m not, obviously.

Everything Else

Lockout Insurance – Frozen Piggies

By Sam Fels 1754 0

Well, we come to it. Your other AHL option in the “area”, but the one that will probably interest you most. There are many benefits to the Hogs, and one crucial drawback. But we’ll focus on them here.

Venue: The Metro Center, or I guess now it’s called the BMO Harris Bank Center. Which only makes me want to call it the BM Center, and I think that’s pretty apt because it’s in Rockford. But anyway, people who have been there (namely Chris Block) say it’s a pretty cool place to see a game because it’s small. That makes the atmosphere a little more tense and the sightlines great. So there’s that. It’ll be a much more intimate setting than the airplane hangar the UC can feel like at times.