Faxes from Uncle Dale

Recent Posts

  • Can’t Talk, Coming Down

    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.

    (more…)

  • Morning Links 10/17

    Morning Links 10/17

    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)

  • NHL Offer Update

    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.

  • Yeah, I Had A Movement This Morning Too

    Yeah, I Had A Movement This Morning Too

    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.

    (more…)

  • Morning links 10/16

    Happy Birthday Mom!

    More expansion in Canada!!(Twitter)

    One Month: (BU)

    Atleast they are on speaking terms: (TSN)

    More games to be erased:(TSUN)

    Edzo, Mo and Lou:(CSN) (USA)

    Focus Groups tell us what? (SN) (DS)

  • Destroying The Myths

    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.

    (more…)

  • The Committed Indian's Piggies Weekly

    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/

  • The Committed Indian’s Piggies Weekly

    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/

  • Morning Links 10/15

    Morning Links 10/15

    Hogs loss recaps: (Saturday) (Sunday)

    Mark McNeil gets profiled: (BTN)

    Something about that second photo makes the whole story uncomfortable for me: (PD)

    They’re going to talk some more, but I can’t pretend its encouraging anymore: (PHT)

    Duncs gets it: (CSNChi)

    Friedman thinks both sides need to shut up, and then we need to stay away: (CBC)

  • Sunday Piggies vs. Wolves Thread

    If you thought last night’s action was just too blistering that the Hi Def made your brain and eyes hurt, well then you’re in luck. Today’s matinee in Rosemont can be found on U-Too, or Channel 248 for local Comcast victims. Not sure if local DirecTV/Dish patrons get that on their lineup, or if they do where it is.The only hope is that it doesn’t go into a shootout again and cut into Green Acres reruns, assuming the roof doesn’t get ripped off the arena by the tornadoes in the area first.