Toews is embarrassed:(FN)
Time’s up:(TSN)
Both will leave legacies:(SN)
A players perspective:(REDDIT)
They’re not panicking:(OS)
Hope in Columbus:(SI)
Ed. note: This appeared in yesterday’s Piggies Weekly.
Hockey fans, particularly those of the NHL, have endured a lot over the years. Franchise relocation more frequently than the other major sports, dismissive to flat out derisive treatment by the vast majority of the sporting public, and most notably three work stoppages in less than 20 years. It is those injustices, both perceived and real, that have steeled the resolve of fans across the continent and around the world, even heading into what was viewed by all as yet another unavoidable labor dispute. But for all that grizzled determination and resignation to the fate, few could have imagined the absolute fucking stupidity surrounding this latest impasse.
~The night is darkest before the dawn~
The League thinks the framework is on the table:(SN)
Should we reflect on the game? (GnM)
Fehr explains the players side:(SUN)
Blackhawk Up’s # 1 (BU)
No optimism from SCH (SCH)
Five Mikita dates to remember:(BH)
Rogers is currently intransit to cover this story: (PD)
A look at the Wolves trip to Vancouver (VP)
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.
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.
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)
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.
Am told league offer also will allow teams to go over salary cap in Year 1 – up to $70 M max – as part of transition rules
— Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) October 16, 2012
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.
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.
