Created by Eric Mellin
As you well may know, the NHL has cancelled the first two weeks of the regular season due to the NHL and NHLPA’s lack of progress in the CBA negotiations. As of now, the games are cancelled until October 24th, and, although the NHL said not to assume this, it looks that they could cancel more of the season in two week segments. The cancelled games will cost the players an average of about $180,000 each while the cost the owners face is around $114 million, on top of the $100 million from the preseason. The two sides have met a few times in the past week and a half, but have not progressed in the revenue talks. The NHLPA is reportedly working on a new proposal that will come down to the 50/50 mark that the league is looking for, which leaves some optimism that the season can be salvaged. Until then, however, the NHL and NHLPA continue to blow hot air into each others faces, and the faces of the fans.
Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly:
“The game deserves better, the fans deserve better and the people who derive income from their connection to the NHL deserve better. We remain committed to doing everything in our power to forge an agreement that is fair to the players, fair to the teams and good for our fans.”
NHLPA Director, Donald Fehr:
“If the owners truly cared about the game and the fans, they would lift the lockout and allow the season to begin on time while negotiations continue. A lockout should be the last resort in bargaining, not the strategy of first resort. For nearly 20 years, the owners have elected to lock-out the players in an effort to secure massive concessions.”
If the owners and Gary Bettman really wanted to cherish the traditions of the game and keep the fans, they would lift the lockout and play the season while they continue to find even ground on the new CBA – there’s no law that says they can’t do that. The owners aren’t losing over $200M in revenue from the pre-season cancellation and the first two weeks of regular season – they just aren’t earning any more money.
If the players were so animiate about getting a deal done and playing for the fans, why did over 100 players, including many top-shelf stars, jump ship and sign contracts overseas? I will say though, the players are losing money by not having a paycheck, but it’s the 3rd and 4th line guys who are really getting hit by this. I doubt Crosby has anything to cry about while he shoots a commercial.
As a fan, I’m starting to get a little frustrated here.
Courtesy: Chris Young/Associated Press
82 regular season games have now been shelved, barring a miracle. That’s an entire season for the Columbus Blue Jackets. I want my hockey back, damnit. Get your butts to the table, pound it out round-the-clock until you reach something – that’s what you’re supposed to be doing. As a paying customer, I want a product that offers me the satisfaction I pay for, not something that only runs when it feels like it – it’s not Comcast.
In other news, the Hershey Bears have started training camp with Adam Oates as co-Coach. Nice that the Caps have found a little loop-hole in this whole mess so that Oates can have contact with some of his players. They have released 12 players so far to the ECHL’s Reading Royals including goaltenders Philipp Grubauer and Sergey Kostenko. I’m a little bummed that Grubauer is being sent down already. Obviously his career is being stunted by the lockout as Braden Holtby is back in Hershey, but I really believe that those two are the future of the Caps goaltending and they should battle it out on the farm until the NHL returns and Holtby is brought back up.
Whatever the case, I’m going to have to get some Bears tickets and go to some games this year. While the NHL festers in its self-inflicted wound, the AHL is going to have to be the go-to place for some puck.
Thanks for reading.
