Everything Else

Nobody's Right If Everybody's Wrong

By 1023 0

I’m sure after I post this some detail will come out that completely flips it on it’s head. Such is the way. I’m also going to try and keep emotion out of this, as hard as it may be, to try and clearly see what the problems are.

Both McClure and myself have not called on the players to somewhat acquiesce to what the owners want because we think they are wrong. Anyone would be pissed off if your boss came to you and told you they wanted to take back part of your salary simply because they wanted to. It’s certainly not fair or what you’d expect any decent person to do.

We call on them to do that because of what reality says will happen. A lockout is not enacted by people who have any intention of breaking. It’s not a suggestion. You don’t put someone on the rack and then stop when they tell you it hurts and apologize. You have a result in mind, and you squeeze and inflict pain until you get it. And they’re going to get most of what they want. That’s how this works. The players seem to think they can win this. They can’t. And they’re still chasing a win, not a deal. Until they do the latter, we’re going to be in this Winter of Our Discontent.

Everything Else

Nobody’s Right If Everybody’s Wrong

By Sam Fels 1257 0

I’m sure after I post this some detail will come out that completely flips it on it’s head. Such is the way. I’m also going to try and keep emotion out of this, as hard as it may be, to try and clearly see what the problems are.

Both McClure and myself have not called on the players to somewhat acquiesce to what the owners want because we think they are wrong. Anyone would be pissed off if your boss came to you and told you they wanted to take back part of your salary simply because they wanted to. It’s certainly not fair or what you’d expect any decent person to do.

We call on them to do that because of what reality says will happen. A lockout is not enacted by people who have any intention of breaking. It’s not a suggestion. You don’t put someone on the rack and then stop when they tell you it hurts and apologize. You have a result in mind, and you squeeze and inflict pain until you get it. And they’re going to get most of what they want. That’s how this works. The players seem to think they can win this. They can’t. And they’re still chasing a win, not a deal. Until they do the latter, we’re going to be in this Winter of Our Discontent.

Everything Else

Hey Kids, Rock N’ Roll

By Sam Fels 1204 0

While we wait for what increasingly feels like we’ll be messages of doom after this meeting is over, let’s talk about what’s going on with the kids in the system these days.

As he cements his status as the Hawks leading prospect, at least the one outside of Illinois, Phillip Danault had a ho-hum weak with only five assists. That saw him drop to the seventh-leading scorer in the Q, so he’s gone back to being a total bum, obviously. As we say every week, keep in mind that the scoring rate in the Q can get a little silly. But still, 20 points in 12 games (9 goals) is worth noting.

However, his teammate in goal Brandon Whitney was having some issues with whiplash, as he conceded nine goals in two starts. Whitney’s save-percentage has dipped below .900 and his GAA is at 3.35. Elsewhere in the Q, Dillon Fournier got his season fully underway with four points in four games. He’s also a +8 in just six games overall.

Everything Else

Hey Kids, Rock N' Roll

By 1132 0

While we wait for what increasingly feels like we’ll be messages of doom after this meeting is over, let’s talk about what’s going on with the kids in the system these days.

As he cements his status as the Hawks leading prospect, at least the one outside of Illinois, Phillip Danault had a ho-hum weak with only five assists. That saw him drop to the seventh-leading scorer in the Q, so he’s gone back to being a total bum, obviously. As we say every week, keep in mind that the scoring rate in the Q can get a little silly. But still, 20 points in 12 games (9 goals) is worth noting.

However, his teammate in goal Brandon Whitney was having some issues with whiplash, as he conceded nine goals in two starts. Whitney’s save-percentage has dipped below .900 and his GAA is at 3.35. Elsewhere in the Q, Dillon Fournier got his season fully underway with four points in four games. He’s also a +8 in just six games overall.

Everything Else

Can't Talk, Coming Down

By 1028 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

Can’t Talk, Coming Down

By Sam Fels 1238 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

Morning Links 10/17

By Ken Oda 1287 0

Wysh breaks down the latest offer: (PD)

Some reaction: (TSN) (ESPN) (SI)

They’ll meet again Thursday: (PHT)

Montador tells Myers ein minuten bitte: (CSNChi)

You must be Jokerit, Teuvo is out a month: (CSNChi)

Speaking of prospects Hockey’s Future ranks the top 50: (HF)

Not so fast Nords fans (PHT)

Car!…. Game On! (PD)

Members of the 2010 team back together; I assume Jesse will need new pants (TRIB)

It doesn’t matter what the sport, watching a Green Bay team get scored on is fun: (BTN)

Everything Else

NHL Offer Update

By Sam Fels 1400 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 1223 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.