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Morning Links 12/5

By Joe DeTolve 1114 0

Constructive Day but could this be Entrapment? (Chicago Tribune) (Spector’s Hockey)

Saving the Hockey World like James Bond:(Sportsnet)

Merchants near NHL rinks are losing money like The Great Train Robbery: (TSN)

Will an angry owner speak out, Never say Never..again:(Toronto Sun)

Players are paying for mistakes like a team in the Valley of the Rising Sun:(Sportsnet)

Adventures in Team Travel like going to The Rock: (Backhand Shelf)

From Russia with Love?? An unlikely Gordie Howe Hattrick:(CJAD)

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Fiscal Cliff

By Sam Fels 1297 0

You’ll hear a lot about cliffs and brinks and the abyss in the coming days and weeks, both with the federal government and with the NHL. I won’t get into the federal budget fiscal cliff, and that might actually be messier than the NHL and with even bigger idiots. But we can stick with what we kind of know.

As we sit here and await whatever bouquet of flowers and candies the NHLPA cooks up in its offer tomorrow, you’ve already heard and will hear a lot about these contract issues. The union has made a big stink about how much they won’t budge on them just as the owners have. You have to wonder if it’s worth it. That’s if they can get to them, which they’d have to agree on revenue splits to do. No guarantees there.

I’m not sure some of it should really be that big of a deal.

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Morning Links 11/20

By Ken Oda 1142 0

Possible upgrades to the Bears’ o-line?

PHT brings the blah-blah-blah from the from The Usual Suspects: Daly Fehr

Perhaps the negotiations will be calmed by A Few Good Men: SN

To me the NHL saying they haven’t received a full proposal sounds like a Cop Out: ESPN

I can’t imagine losing the Columbus ASG is much of a Deterrence: PD

Emery has a new mask, I just hope we get to see it in action before Our Time is Up: CSN

Former Hawk Spacek says his career has reached the End of Days: PHT

Pirri is Coming of Age: Blackhawks

You probably can’t bet on this in a Casino: Twitter

Ken Campbell argues that it may be time to start with a Clean Slate: THN

Spector tells the NHL its time to do That Thing You Do: Sporting News

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Monday Night Silliness Thread

By Sam Fels 1172 0

We haven’t opened a thread in a while. Though to be fair there hasn’t been a lot for you to open a discussion on.

But tonight, it feels like there’s some stuff. First, you have what is shaping up to be a pretty awful football game. Two backup QBs against two very stout defenses, all with John Gruden yelling at you as he slobbers over himself about every player while he’s quite possibly stark naked in the booth. The absurdity of it is delicious.

Second, you have the resumption of “meetings” in New York between The Children and The Thumb Dicks. If common sense could crack the door and get on either negotiating committee, there might have been a chance for progress. Because the margin of victory either can achieve now is really quite miniscule from where they are now, and the answers are pretty much staring them in the face.

But are you counting on that? Yeah, me neither. All their dastardly tricks and antics have pretty much fallen flat, at least on the owners side. But that probably won’t stop them from trying and forcing themselves to the brink of the abyss. If they haven’t run right over that like an escalator to nowhere.

Discuss all the goings-on right here.

Everything Else

Your NHL-less Weekend Viewing Guide

By Sam Fels 1214 0

Before we go through all the stuff you probably don’t want to watch anyway, I feel like I should warn you that at some point today it’s likely you’re going to get bad news about the CBA negotiations. The leaks are increasing, more reports of no progress, and it’s starting to feel like this was all part of the show instead of actual work. For a second there it felt like everyone became interested in saving a season with integrity — after all, 70-75 games really would not have been much of a loss and in fact may even be better than the slog that 82 can feel like. Now it just feels like they’ll do just enough just in time just toss out something, regardless if it is a true farce of a season or not. It’s games, it’s a schedule, and that’s all they care. Whether you do or not, I leave to you.

Anyway, how to fill the time if you are either uninterested or unable to fill the time with constructive activities.