I am not worried at all. Because I can do absolutely nothing about it.
The only issue I take a side with is the players issue about suspentions for illegal or improper hits.
I think there needs to be some clarification and uniformity with penalties! I am not defending the players or the illegal hits at all.
JR1
Tue, 08/14/2012 - 1:50pm
Players...
Players should not have to see current contracts rolled back or take huge hits in revenue sharing because the owners (and their GM's) cannot control themselves in the offseason... They throw these massive contracts around like nothing beginning of July and then cry poor later on when CBA negotiations begin??? What a joke!
Fans should lock the NHL out if one game is missed this season.....
DAL
Tue, 08/14/2012 - 5:52pm
Personally, it's hard to side with either one really. Players have valid points with the constant variations in suspensions regarding similar hits. There needs to be a solid line drawn so every player knows when its crossed they are going to suffer. As for the owners, with all these big contracts being dealt out to keep key players either on a particular team or headed to a particular team had gone way overboard. The issue is though, the fan base WANTS the CUP in their house and just like (sorry but its the easiest example) the Yankmees, large amounts of money have to be paid out to try to put together that winning team. With the economy the way its is currently even decent NHL have to eventually start seeing an attendance drop if they don't play competatively. Everything has to start some where and if I were in fact forced to choose a side I would have to say the Owners just because like in any sport, the pay-out for these contracts have just bloomed to unreasonable amounts. They players and especially their agents need to realize at some point they have to come back down to earth. This goes for all sports too, not just the NHL. (coughbaseballcough)
Burgee60
Tue, 08/14/2012 - 10:42pm
Neither side.
They both need slapped in the head if they are not going to play.
I'm sure Phil Chifley will agree with me.
JR1
Tue, 08/14/2012 - 11:17pm
So its the players and their agents responsibility to keep the owners and GM's in check when it comes to the amounts of contracts ???
GM: I want to sign your player to a 10 year, 100 million dollar contract....
Agent/Player: Whoa, whoa, WHOA....slow your roll buddy, thats just way too much scratch for what we do..... Go back, rework the deal and come back to us for no more than 5 years at 3.5 per season and then we'll talk........btw, dont even try and slip a no trade clause in there.....
I'm thinking that will happen when monkeys fly out of a lower posterior region of the body.....lol
Alan
Wed, 08/15/2012 - 9:31am
I guess I don't care which side wins as long as they don't destroy the game at its highest level. It did give me pause when I learned that Donald Fehr was named the Head of the Players Union. He is tough ( as any baseball fan would know). I'm not sure that the NHL has the strength or the bank to survive a long work stoppage. If it was not for the NBC Sports Network, ( and even that contract is a weak one for the NHL), there would be very little TV money coming into the league. I'm not sure how the NHL would survive another slowdown.
There have been a lot of questionable decisions coming from the Gary Bettman led league in the last few years. I don't really have any confidence in his leadership and this may be a critical time.for a league with weak leadership.
Everyone had outstanding comments on this issue. Even Burgee ( a.k.a Burgee60, Philip Chifley, Philip Alan Chifley). ( Kind of interesting he chose a name with "Alan" in it.)
Mike From Toronto
Wed, 08/15/2012 - 9:31am
Labor strife is never easy. But it appears the players have done a very reasonable and responsible job of stating their case for this contract.
They have already made concessions that I believe will put the NHL in a very difficult position going forward. The league will be seen as the bad guys this time around if an agreement is not reached. So I think the players have already won the "PR" part of this round.
I was of the opinion the owners are arrogant enough to sit out a good portion of this year. With the players first proposal I see this getting settled much sooner.
I would attribute this to the leadership of Donald Fehr. He must be a good one because he has brought a previously undisciplined union into line with a very mature approach.
Good luck owners.
Mike From Toronto
Wed, 08/15/2012 - 10:02am
Alan, I hadn't read your post before I sent mine. I do agree with you on Mr. Bettman. And to clarify, I am pleasantly surprised by the NHLPA's starting point. Even more so in the face of Mr. Fehr's reputation as you suggest.
On another note, spent some time with Chaulker this past weekend. He is very keen on the team as far as the up to date signings go. Plus he looks to be in great shape. As you get older you have to take a running start. LOL.
Alan
Wed, 08/15/2012 - 1:02pm
Hi Mike, It's very good to hear from you. Yea, we must've hit the "post comment" button at the same time.
For the sake of so many involved, I hope that both management and union can negotiate in a fair and balanced manner.
Thanks for letting us know what Chaulk thinks about the team so far. I am excited with the signings so far. Without being able to protect anyone, I think the Franke's have done a great job. Some here have worried that the amount of CHL signees, and the lack of ECHL experienced players, will make for a repeat of the 10-11 season. Not me. I think the Komets have been proactive and tried to bring the best of the CHL players along with a very striong group of K's on board. Look, I know that no one has a cystal ball in front of them so know one will no for sure until the games begin, but I feel real good about the way the team is shaping up. Having someone like Colin Chaulk to verify that fact is not only gratifying but assuring as well.
I am real curious about the announcements to come. Need more defensemen and I hope DeAngelis is one of them. ( Not real confident in that happening, though). Would have loved to see Vaskivuo on this team once again on a line with Chaulker and Auger. I hope the K's can go into this season healthy and am impressed that Chaulk is getting ready.
I hope everything is going well with you and your family, Mike. Always good hearing from you.
Alan
Wed, 08/15/2012 - 1:17pm
Kind of interesting timing. Just after my post to Mike where I mentioned some fans hesitation to the teams" CHL signings, I go to the ECHL website and see that Matt Robinson (Wichita), and Mike Ullrich ( Tulsa), have signed with Alaska and South Carolina respectively. Not everyone is scared to sign CHL players or think of them as inferior.
KometKrazy
Wed, 08/15/2012 - 9:03pm
Haven't heard of any signings from "sources" lately. Been quit for about a week or more. Wonder if the Komets have any announcements coming this week. Anybody hear anything?
Comments
I am not worried at all. Because I can do absolutely nothing about it.
The only issue I take a side with is the players issue about suspentions for illegal or improper hits.
I think there needs to be some clarification and uniformity with penalties! I am not defending the players or the illegal hits at all.
Players...
Players should not have to see current contracts rolled back or take huge hits in revenue sharing because the owners (and their GM's) cannot control themselves in the offseason... They throw these massive contracts around like nothing beginning of July and then cry poor later on when CBA negotiations begin??? What a joke!
Fans should lock the NHL out if one game is missed this season.....
Personally, it's hard to side with either one really. Players have valid points with the constant variations in suspensions regarding similar hits. There needs to be a solid line drawn so every player knows when its crossed they are going to suffer. As for the owners, with all these big contracts being dealt out to keep key players either on a particular team or headed to a particular team had gone way overboard. The issue is though, the fan base WANTS the CUP in their house and just like (sorry but its the easiest example) the Yankmees, large amounts of money have to be paid out to try to put together that winning team. With the economy the way its is currently even decent NHL have to eventually start seeing an attendance drop if they don't play competatively. Everything has to start some where and if I were in fact forced to choose a side I would have to say the Owners just because like in any sport, the pay-out for these contracts have just bloomed to unreasonable amounts. They players and especially their agents need to realize at some point they have to come back down to earth. This goes for all sports too, not just the NHL. (coughbaseballcough)
Neither side.
They both need slapped in the head if they are not going to play.
I'm sure Phil Chifley will agree with me.
So its the players and their agents responsibility to keep the owners and GM's in check when it comes to the amounts of contracts ???
GM: I want to sign your player to a 10 year, 100 million dollar contract....
Agent/Player: Whoa, whoa, WHOA....slow your roll buddy, thats just way too much scratch for what we do..... Go back, rework the deal and come back to us for no more than 5 years at 3.5 per season and then we'll talk........btw, dont even try and slip a no trade clause in there.....
I'm thinking that will happen when monkeys fly out of a lower posterior region of the body.....lol
I guess I don't care which side wins as long as they don't destroy the game at its highest level. It did give me pause when I learned that Donald Fehr was named the Head of the Players Union. He is tough ( as any baseball fan would know). I'm not sure that the NHL has the strength or the bank to survive a long work stoppage. If it was not for the NBC Sports Network, ( and even that contract is a weak one for the NHL), there would be very little TV money coming into the league. I'm not sure how the NHL would survive another slowdown.
There have been a lot of questionable decisions coming from the Gary Bettman led league in the last few years. I don't really have any confidence in his leadership and this may be a critical time.for a league with weak leadership.
Everyone had outstanding comments on this issue. Even Burgee ( a.k.a Burgee60, Philip Chifley, Philip Alan Chifley). ( Kind of interesting he chose a name with "Alan" in it.)
Labor strife is never easy. But it appears the players have done a very reasonable and responsible job of stating their case for this contract.
They have already made concessions that I believe will put the NHL in a very difficult position going forward. The league will be seen as the bad guys this time around if an agreement is not reached. So I think the players have already won the "PR" part of this round.
I was of the opinion the owners are arrogant enough to sit out a good portion of this year. With the players first proposal I see this getting settled much sooner.
I would attribute this to the leadership of Donald Fehr. He must be a good one because he has brought a previously undisciplined union into line with a very mature approach.
Good luck owners.
Alan, I hadn't read your post before I sent mine. I do agree with you on Mr. Bettman. And to clarify, I am pleasantly surprised by the NHLPA's starting point. Even more so in the face of Mr. Fehr's reputation as you suggest.
On another note, spent some time with Chaulker this past weekend. He is very keen on the team as far as the up to date signings go. Plus he looks to be in great shape. As you get older you have to take a running start. LOL.
Hi Mike, It's very good to hear from you. Yea, we must've hit the "post comment" button at the same time.
For the sake of so many involved, I hope that both management and union can negotiate in a fair and balanced manner.
Thanks for letting us know what Chaulk thinks about the team so far. I am excited with the signings so far. Without being able to protect anyone, I think the Franke's have done a great job. Some here have worried that the amount of CHL signees, and the lack of ECHL experienced players, will make for a repeat of the 10-11 season. Not me. I think the Komets have been proactive and tried to bring the best of the CHL players along with a very striong group of K's on board. Look, I know that no one has a cystal ball in front of them so know one will no for sure until the games begin, but I feel real good about the way the team is shaping up. Having someone like Colin Chaulk to verify that fact is not only gratifying but assuring as well.
I am real curious about the announcements to come. Need more defensemen and I hope DeAngelis is one of them. ( Not real confident in that happening, though). Would have loved to see Vaskivuo on this team once again on a line with Chaulker and Auger. I hope the K's can go into this season healthy and am impressed that Chaulk is getting ready.
I hope everything is going well with you and your family, Mike. Always good hearing from you.
Kind of interesting timing. Just after my post to Mike where I mentioned some fans hesitation to the teams" CHL signings, I go to the ECHL website and see that Matt Robinson (Wichita), and Mike Ullrich ( Tulsa), have signed with Alaska and South Carolina respectively. Not everyone is scared to sign CHL players or think of them as inferior.
Haven't heard of any signings from "sources" lately. Been quit for about a week or more. Wonder if the Komets have any announcements coming this week. Anybody hear anything?