So, I am a big hockey fan. To some of you that may not be a surprise (since I'm from Canada... not everyone is a hockey fan [shocking I know] except during the Olympics... then don't mess with us. ) but I digress...

So far the NHL's 2012-2013 season has been a no-go due to the ongoing lockout. So I thought I should start this thread to discuss developments of the negotiations, and the seasons should it actually happen. Currently, we are only days away from the entire season being cancelled. The league's commissioner, Garry Bettman (sometimes un-affectionately called Garry Buttman) has stated there needs to be a 48 game season to be a profitable year, which means games need to start January 18, with training camps beginning January 11th. Basically, they have 1 week left to sign a new CBA.

So, feel free to discuss the negotiations, your frustrations, etc. with the current predicament.
Let's just say I am very unimpressed.


Not-so-fun fact: The NHL is the only North American sports league to have ever cancelled an entire season, and that was in 2004-2005 for the same reason, a lockout.

I don't expect a season this year In fact I said that way back in October.

But what I find interesting is that I heard that when Donald Fehr (NHLPA Head) was with the MLB, the MLB went through a bunch of labor disputes and strikes, when they fired Fehr and he went to head up the NHLPA the MLB stopped having thier labor disputes.

Unfortunately the NHL doesn't negotiate well, in fact I've seen better negotiations from a boyfriend and girlfriend who had recently broken up. The NHL takes more the "He said she said" approach.

Until then, I'm content watching College hockey on TV, and Major Junior hockey when NHL Network shows it. I've also embraced the AHL, ECHL and CHL (Central Hockey League), and have been listening to a lot of broadcasts, especially the AHL and CHL. Actually I'm taking a trip in March to go watch the CHL's Missouri Mavericks play two games over a weekend. They are located 3 hours away in Kansas City.

Yea, once the cancelled the first round of games to me that was the signal the season will probably be lost. The statement that sticks with me the most through all of this is "Millionaires fighting billionaires" - sure not all players make massive amounts of $$, but the league minimum is certainly nothing to sneeze at. So some sympathy is lost there.

You'd think they'd get over themselves, the fans are getting angry and if you get us too angry, well, there go your customers. It's interesting note there about Donald Fehr... I did not know that about the MLB. Certainly may explain the current situation. Though I do beleive Bettman is partly to blame... something about him irks me. (Keep the Coyotes in Phoenix... really?)

Because of the lockout I haven't been following hockey that much, thought on occasion I follow the Hamilton Bulldogs (the AHL affiliate to the Canadiens). Though I'd still really like to see the season return...

Slightly off topic, how has Halak been doing in St. Louis? A few seasons ago when the Habs didn't implode, and even parts of last season, Eller was doing some great things for the Canadiens.

Ugh this lockout is completely pointless... A fight between billionaires and millionaires, while people who depend on the hockey season (restaurant owners, ticket sellers, merchandising) lose their jobs and have to struggle the most in this season.

What they should do is to continue the negotiations in a slum, not in some fancy hotel like the posh Times Square Hotel... They'll get the point that not everyone has the privilege of having that much money.

After watching a portion of TSN's Sportscentre during the World Junior Semifinal, I heard something about pensions. Pensions... Really? With that considerable sum of money I think they could spend in anyway they like when they retire. Some unfortunate people could not even afford their pensions through the Canada Pension Plan.

If you know how much these players earn:
Zack Parise (Minnesota Wild) - $12 million - $11.8 million CAD
- 200 times bigger than my family's annual budget
- Enough to buy 4,951,515 Mang Inasal meals (Unlimited Rice too)
- Could buy a $1 million dollar home 12 times
- Could buy 20+ Ferraris


"NHL & NHLPA, I think you've had enough."

111222333444 wrote:
- 200 times bigger than my family's annual budget

...and that is basically why I have no compassion for them. Sure, not all players make that, but even $500,000 a year is nothing to sneeze at. Sure, there are some real concerns, but after a while just look at the bigger picture, such as the restaurant owners and merchandisers. This cartoon from Aislin (Montreal Gazette) describes the situation for retailers perfectly:



It's honestly frustrating. Just play the game, heck extent the previous contract for salvage this season and continue negotiating. Everyone is getting hurt.
Maybe the solution is to get rid of Fehr and Bettman...

simLink wrote:Slightly off topic, how has Halak been doing in St. Louis? A few seasons ago when the Habs didn't implode, and even parts of last season, Eller was doing some great things for the Canadiens.

He has been doing ok, although I'd say Elliot is by far our best goalie! Halak seems to struggle in pressure situations more, odd considering he went to the conference finals with Montreal. For example in shootouts and OT Halak is able to do the job, but I feel more comfortable with Elliot in those situations. Also last year, Halak started the playoffs against the Sharks, and we lost the first game in OT with him, and in Game 2 he got injured, after that Elliot went the rest of the way and we went on a roll until the series with the Kings.

But Halak is still a lot better than our goalies from previous seasons. Blues goaltending is actually one of our stronger positions, with Halak and Elliot at the top... we have Jake Allen and Mike Mckenna in Peoria (AHL), traded Ben Bishop to Ottawa, we also have goaltending prospects Jordan Binnington (OHL) and a goalie playing for Sweden right now in the World Juniors I forget his name though.

Heh, nice. Him not handling pressure situations is indeed odd considering our playoff run with him. But look at Price, he was awful that season and the season following Halak being traded he played amazingly, and quite a few games were won only because of him. So I guess our GM made the right choice. (Side note: I was definitely not a fan of Gainey letting Koivu go... he was my favourite player. That has since become Pacioretty, Georges or Gionta.)

It's too bad the Habs and Blues only play once a season... it'd make for an interesting time in chat if they played eachother more often.

Yeah But we would just shut you out like last time

Well the Portland Winterhawks are in the WHL with a bunch of other teams from west Canada and the US, so we don't have a lockout... we're rocking a 32-5

Sucks for all of you in the big cities

LOL K50

Wishing that the Jets didn't come at the wrong time

What's this? The lockout might actually be over??!!
http://sports.nationalpost.com/2013/01/06/nhl-lockout-is-over-after-16-hour-negotiating-session/

They have to dot the i's and cross the t's, but GAME ON!

I have mixed feelings about this. While I'm happy to have the NHL back, this will either be a 50 or 48 game season. Which is not the shortest season ever, back in the early 90s there was a 45 game season. But still the legitamacy is in question now, especially since the Blues look like a eastern conference team, with games against the Penguins, Islanders, Jets, Sabres, Lightning, Bruins. I think half of our remaining games is an eastern conference opponent (although last year we were undefeated against eastern teams )

It will be interesting to see what happens with the players who had signed overseas, and how the AHL and ECHL teams are stripped after this year. Also will Edmonton call up Yakupov right away or allow him to finish the year in Sarnia?

In short as happy as I am to have the Blues back, I almost would have liked them to just cancell the season completely and restart next year. And to be honest, I don't even want the Blues to win the Cup this year, I'd rather wait until next year and do it in a full season.

Yea, the remaining scheduled games have been my question as well. It will be a very odd season, but honestly I am just happy hockey is back. I've been going through withdrawal. Will it be the best season ever? No. But they will play, which was what I was hoping for.

Honestly, when I saw they reached an agreement I almost spilled my coffee everywhere... I couldn't believe it. I had to check the NHL site and 2 newspapers to make sure.

simLink wrote:Honestly, when I saw they reached an agreement I almost spilled my coffee everywhere... I couldn't believe it. I had to check the NHL site and 2 newspapers to make sure.

I know, I saw it on Yahoo and was like "Holy ****!" and started to check every news website I could think of.... and like I'm so happy I just realized while talking with this girl, I asked her out to a Blues game and I didn't even realize I did, until when we about to leave she said, so I'll see you for that game in a few weeks.

[quote="mayorm"]

simLink wrote:
I know, I saw it on Yahoo and was like "Holy ****!" and started to check every news website I could think of.... and like I'm so happy I just realized while talking with this girl, I asked her out to a Blues game and I didn't even realize I did, until when we about to leave she said, so I'll see you for that game in a few weeks.

Well, that's one way of getting a date. Must take mad skills to ask someone out and not realize it.

LOL NHL is back

now when Donald Fehr and Gary Bettman visited the game, let's all boo at them

That sounds like a wonderful idea. They totally suck.

I just hope none of the Blues players sustain a serious injury that would keep them out for next year.

Also to be honest, I don't want the Blues to even win the Stanley Cup this year, I'd rather win it with a full 82 game season than with a locked out half season

I'll just stick this here... In all seriousness, the work stoppages are getting old. I'll still watch it, but not many others do, anywhere in the country, as you can see

I can't possibly imagine why...
And Bettman wants to keep the Coyotes in Phoenix... lol.

Fun fact: I had someone in Florida ask me if I lived in an igloo.

LOL Fail

I think Minnesota is excited because of their 2 New stars Suter and Parise...

'Peggers, not so much

I'd keep the Coyotes in Phoenix, have you seen where they play? It's like in the middle of the Times Square of the Sonoran Desert

LOL K50

I kind of like Phoenix to move somewhere else (before 2010 we want Phoenix to move back to Winnipeg but then The Thrashers need to move so they moved it there) and not literally in the middle of nowhere

Well Seattle is building a new NHL/NBA ready arena. Also Quebec is building a new arena that will be complete in 2015, it would work well if the Coyotes went to Quebec City, that way Winnipeg can move to the Western Conference

mayorm wrote:Well Seattle is building a new NHL/NBA ready arena. Also Quebec is building a new arena that will be complete in 2015, it would work well if the Coyotes went to Quebec City, that way Winnipeg can move to the Western Conference

This was the scenario I was playing out. There is also a city north of Toronto (Markham, Ontario) which is building an NHL-sized arena. There is also of course Hamilton, Ontario (Jim Balsille's attempt to purchase the Coyotes, anyone?) Of course both those moves would likely be blocked by MLSE.