HockeyCentral Discusses John Scott

((HT: Sportsnet))

Here's the first salvo in the John Scott shenanigans...

Brad Fay, Doug Maclean, and FOSG Billy Jaffe try to figure out where the league and the NHLPA "should" go next...

The only question is now: Does Scott get the book thrown at him...???

NHL Appears Ready To Realign

((nhl.com))

Hey hockey fan.

It appears the days of bizarre conference alignments may be over. Either that or your favorite team may be cutting their travel costs.

The NHL got their players association to sign off on a realignment proposal (no easy feat). That proposal would allow Columbus and Detroit to move to the Eastern Conference and Winnipeg (former ATL Thrashers) to move to the west.

The move would create a 16-team East and 14 team West, but wouldn't change the NHL Playoff system which allows roughly half its teams a playoff berth.

It still pending review by the league's Board of Governors and a final OK in 2014. 

Read more from NHL.com RIGHT HERE

The move makes sense logistically. And really, getting either side of the fence to agree on anything when it comes to hockey is quite the accomplishment. It made no sense to have the teams aligned as they currently are.

We still think the NHL Playoff system is stupid, but that is our opinion. Allowing 16 of your 30 teams in kind of defeats the purpose.

But on the flipside, the Stanley Cup Playoffs are truly one of the greatest spectacles in Sport. They often provide the best storylines and almost always the most action.

To Build Or Not To Build... The New GTA Centre Moves On... NHL Expands To 32 To Do It...???

((HT: Sportsnet))

The idea is there... to build another arena in the Greater Toronto area...
This time in the suburb of Markham where the former boss of Bauer Hockey is looking to make another opportunity for pro hockey in the Golden Horsehoe...

Last night, in Markham, the city council was having a contentious meeting as to whether or not to proceed with funding, building, and otherwise get things moving to build the thing.

Former NHLPA big-wig Paul Kelly spoke to the group and asked to build it- almost guaranteeing the tenant...
((HT: Adam Desloges))


Kelly made the rounds this morning with anyone willing to listen to his pied-piperness on the subject- including FOSG Jim Lang on the Fan590:

"I just [explained] to the council and to the citizens that you really don’t get many opportunities to at least have a shot at landing an NHL franchise. These windows come, and while they’re there you’ve got to take advantage of them. And frankly, this is Markham’s time. If they ever hope to land a second team in the Greater Toronto Area, this is the best opportunity they will have.”

Kelly's hook depends on the idea of expanding to 32 teams, but at the same time, there are so many franchises in flux that the concept of being a relocation site would be an easy play.

The vote to keep the idea alive passed by a 7-6 margin. That means the C$325-million project moves ahead, with Markham taxpayers on the hook for half the cost of the complex.

CTV News caught up with FOSG Howard Bloom to discuss a second franchise.

CBC's Monica Platek collected a lot of opinions on the idea as the night went through...

So, We Are Close To Playing Hockey...

Looks like a 48-50 game sprint, which should be really cool... and the HQ also hopes all playoff series are Best-of-7's...

We're glad all the daily and office employees get some paychecks this season, and we know the players and owners still won't learn from their example...

Here are the glossed-over details...

The cap stays where it is this season with a slightly lower floor (US$4M less). The longest length of a new player contract is 8 years. If it's a free agency shift, it's seven. There's new look for revenue sharing, a three-step process for discipline, and no realignment this season.

So, the HQ decided to take a tour as to local responses...

Buffalo...
((HT: WIVB-TV))

Tentative deal made to end NHL lockout

The Kontinental Hockey League was a safe out for NHL'ers who wanted to play while the discussions were ongoing over here. Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin (Metallurg Magnitogorsk), Washington's Alex Ovechkin (Dynamo Moscow) and New Jersey's Ilya Kovalchuk (SKA St. Petersburg) were among the top-five in the KHL's scoring leaders. CSNWashington caught up with Jason Chimera- who wants to get back to work... Bruins teammates Patrice Bergeron and Tyler Seguin and Ottawa's Jason Spezza all chose to play in Switzerland, but decided to return to Canada after the Spengler Cup. Boston and Philadelphia led NHL teams with 11 players each who played in Europe, while Ottawa and the New York Islanders had 10 and Montreal had eight. In Philadelphia, fans are ready to get back to wearing their orange and black... ((HT: WPVI-TV)) Most NHL players signed contracts that gave them an out to come back here to North America if and/or when the lockout ended. Some played for, basically, tips and a heavy insurance policy. Montreal's Tomas Plekanec as an example, earns US$5 million a year, and played in the Czech Republic for the salary the equivalent of five cents on the dollar... Brave dude... The HockeyCentral guys reflect on Gary Bettman's legacy... The HQ would like to know what positives can come out of his tenure...

So, Are We Close To Playing Hockey Or Not...???

((HT: Sportsnet.ca))

That's the question...

Here's the double-stack discussion...

What say you, faithful reader...???

DEVELOPING: NHL Offers New Proposal As Clock Ticks

((HT: Sportsnet.ca))

The National Hockey League is in, what "Puck Daddy" is calling, Day 104 of Stupid...

And he's right...

But, during a traditional time of not doing anything, someone did something...

The NHL has presented a new proposal to the Players' Association.

The league's offer, apparently, calls for player contract limits of six years- boosting the max length by all of one year...

Teams can also, in the new idea, buy out one guy on their roster outright- which is similar to the move in the NBA for really overpriced contracts for players who are either old, underperform, or both... but it still would count against the revenue share...

There are no plans for the two sides to meet, and it's been two weeks since both sides sat down at the same table to break bread (or each other's skulls).

Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun is saying that "sources" are wanting to open camp on January 12th, but Michael Grange, through his Twitter sayeth quote:

It is really hard to take seriously that the latest proposal from #NHL as 'movement' -- two sides have been inches apart for months

The guys from Sportsnet and "Hockey Central" discuss the drop-dead date for the season and the lack of urgency from both sides in the whole deal...

Here's Daren, Mayday, and Nick...
Bill Daly gave out this statement early this afternoon: "In light of media reports this morning, I can confirm that we delivered to the Union a new, comprehensive proposal for a successor CBA late yesterday afternoon. We are not prepared to discuss the details of our proposal at this time. We are hopeful that once the Union's staff and negotiating committee have had an opportunity to thoroughly review and consider our new proposal, they will share it with the players. We want to be back on the ice as soon as possible."

No NHL Agreement: Now What...??? Probably, Not Much...

((HT: Sportsnet))

Not that it's a shock or anything...

But the NHLPA put out three alternate proposals to the one that the league and the league owners released- detailing their idea of a 50-50 proposal to the players.

And the owners didn't like any of the three...

So, now what...???

Well, first, the league has cancelled any idea of regular season games through November 1st.

Sportsnet's Christine Simpson and Michael Grange discuss...
The Phoenix Coyotes' Paul Bissonette reacted on his Twitter: For you confused fans. Players will take a 50/50 split. The players will agree to that if owners honor all existing contracts. It's simple. Apparently, it's not that simple... Kyle Okposo lays it out this way: We ask for 50/50 split and to honor existing contracts and Gary says we aren't in the same ball park yet they claim in their proposal a 50/50 split and no rollback

NHL Lockout News: League hires PR Consultant and offers to settle

Gary Bettman

Hey Sports Fan...did you know the NHL was locking out their players? And the season was supposed to have already started--yet it hasn't?

Well, for those just picking their jaws up off the floor after that statement, we have news to report on the lockout front.

That news...for what it is worth, is that the league is making what is being considered by many a fair offer to the players: Split revenue 50/50.

Amazingly, this revelation apparently comes just one day after reports surfaced that Gary Bettman and the owners have been using a PR company and focus groups to shape their message that the lockout is necessary.

For those un-initiated, the league is claiming their owners are losing money hand-over-fist because of a revenue split that has been 57% for the players, 43% to the owners. And by coincidence, this year, that revenue is increasing due to a much more profitable TV deal with NBC Sports.

Thus far, the NHLPA, and it's chief, Donald Fehr (yes, the former baseball union guy) have yet to respond to the proposal.

Surprisingly...the league actually leaked the proposal after Bettman has said repeatedly, they won't negotiate in the press. Though we are pretty sure the PR company had something to do with that.

If they listen to the focus groups, we are betting the lockout will end sooner...rather than later. The part the league won't take the blame for is an ownership who despite claims of poverty, keeps foisting larger and larger contracts on its players. And for their part, the players haven't refused them.

The league still says they hope to resolve things and start playing November 2nd. Somehow, with that deadline only just over two weeks away, we don't believe that will happen. We do believe that contrary to reports the league is looking to force the players to cave in (they won't) by making a dramatic move to cancel games....that won't happen either.

So Mr. Hockey fan...stay tuned.

Here is an oldie...but goodie just for you:

NHL Cancels entire preseason: Nobody noticed

Gary Bettman

Hey, did you hear the one about the National Hockey League and their lockout of the players? No? Well, you are part of a rather large majority of people.

The league, in a brief, tersely worded statement announced they are canceling all preseason games. They actually had some games scheduled leading up to what would have been the start of the 2012 season, just over two weeks from today.

The NHLPA and the league are scheduled to meet on Friday and talk through the weekend, but according to most reports they are just on small issues rather than the elephant in the room, how to split their newly acquired--and possibly soon to be lost revenue.

As big a deal that most made about the NFL Locking out their officials and how big an impact that had on football, in the long run it didn't kill football.

This strike may kill professional hockey.

The powers that be here seem to think that a majority of the sporting public will stick with them and support their decision to equalize revenue sharing.

They would be wrong.

Yeah, sure, there will be the odd hockey fan in Detroit or New York or Philadelphia who will be emotional about this and come back the minute they say the lockout is over. But they will not be in the majority. NBC is sticking with their partners for now, but how long before they need to plan alternate programming. Programming that will probably do as well as the low rated NHL.

No, Gary Bettman needs to come to his senses, even if his ego won't let him. You've managed to alienate just about everyone who came back to the game, which just recovered from it's last labor issue 7-years ago.

But he won't.

The players need to realize what is at stake here too, but they are too busy chasing contracts in the KHL and in Europe.

So good luck hockey fan. Enjoy missing your sport, a sport that somehow seems to marginalize itself every time it comes close to being relevant again.

Boogaard Family Suing NHLPA

((HT: TMZ via Howard Bloom))

It appears the family of former NHL enforcer Derek Boogaard is suing the NHLPA because the family thinks the player's association didn't act fast enough in getting the remainder of his contract paid off.

Boogaard, who died from an overdose of pain medication and alcohol last May, had US$4.8-million left on his deal with the New York Rangers.

Since the family feels the National Hockey League is responsible for fostering an environment of having athletes prescribed to pain medication and sleeping pills, they went after the league. But since the NHLPA, apparently, didn't file the grievance in time the Boogaard's are adding US$5-million to the lawsuit.

From the TMZ story:

"In the lawsuit, Derek's parents claim he was addicted to prescription pills at the time of his death ... partly because he had been prescribed "a multitude of narcotics and sleeping pills by both the team doctors, physicians, trainers, and dentists of the New York Rangers and the Minnesota Wild.

"Because Derek's parents believe the NHL teams are partly responsible for their son's death, they turned to the NHL PA which promised to help them file a grievance to get the Rangers to pay out the rest of Derek's multi-million dollar 4-year contract with the team.

"But, according to the lawsuit, the NHL PA failed to file the grievance by the required deadline, so the Boogaards were unable to collect ... and now the Boogaards are PISSED."

The HQ has always wanted to considered the word "pissed" part of the journalistic vernacular...

And, then, of course the Player's Association came out with their statement on the matter... surprising no one with its generic nature...


"We are saddened to read reports that the parents of the late Derek Boogaard have filed a lawsuit against the NHLPA.  We have not been served with or seen a copy of the complaint, but we are confident that there is no meritorious claim that can be made against the NHLPA in regard to Derek's tragic death. It is not appropriate to comment further at this time."

Here's the Tribute Ceremony at the Xcel Center from last year...
((HT: FSNorth.youtube))

 

More when we know more...

Tell Me If You've Heard This One Before: NHL Goes Lockout

Call it what you want...

Lockout, work stoppage...

Hockey fan gets to see it all again... after midnight was cleared, the National Hockey League decided to lock out their players in an attempt to reinforce their power over the players.

Here was the response from the NHLPA...


The main idea has to do with the last version of the collective bargaining agreement where the players picked up 57-percent of the revenues. The league and the owners want, obviously, for things to get closer to 50-50.

Yeah, that'll happen soon...

But it could happen sooner than you might think. Since the players start missing paychecks in late October, the rank-and-file are the ones who will complain more than the stars will over time. The average salary is almost 1.5-million and that applies more to the 3rd, 4th, and 5th line guys along with the backup goalies.

Will they want to miss paychecks...???

Doubtful...

In the interim, we're already seeing the egress to the KHL as both Evgeny Malkin and Sergei Gonchar have signed deals with Mettalurg Magnitogorsk.

The "SportsCentral" panel discusses further...
((HT: Sportsnet.ca))