Is the NHLPA's resolve starting to crumble?

[Wulfran]

Ever since the lockout began, there have been players suggesting that the league is right or at least partially justified in wanting a salary cap. Most of the players, after they make their initial statements seem ot come up with "I've been misquoted" or "that didn't come out like I intended" type statements within a couple days. In the last couple days more of the "low income" players have been making those types of comments and it does make me wonder.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?ID ... ubName=nhl Montreal Canadiens winger Pierre Dagenais and Ottawa Senators defenceman Brian Pothier are cited in this story. Not exactly household names.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?ID ... ubName=nhl Mike Commodore of Calgary a couple days ago. Again not a household name but an important piece of Calgary's playoff run last spring.

http://www.tsn.ca/columnists/bob_mckenzie.asp Bob Mckenzie summarized this and I have say I share some of his questions.

Consider the fact that there are over 1,100 players under NHL contracts. The vast majority of those players - 900 plus - make less than the average annual salary of $1.8 million US.

When you talk about wealth in the NHL, it's not spread very widely. One hundred and eighty two players make between $1.8 million to $5.99 million US. There are 30 players making at least $6 million a year.

Is the NHLPA ignoring these 900+ members and catering to the top 200? Are they doing so at their own peril? Could there be and what happens if there is a revolt in the NHLPA? Do they turf Goodenow?

I still feel that some irresponsible owners/GMs created the mess but the players profited from it and don't want to do anything to fix it... and it is harder and harder to sympathize with the players as my hockey withdrawal gets worse.

[Kilmoll the Sexy]

Bob Mckenzie summarized this and I have say I share some of his questions.

I have seen Strange Brew at least 50 times and I don't ever recall Bob saying that.

[Winnow]

This is a no brainer.

Hockey isn't even close to being popular enough to warrant the money the players get. Unlike Football, Basketball and Baseball, it's not a big deal if the NHL crumbles.

The Stanley Cup goes to the best team in the world...not the best team in the NHL. The NHL will be losing the Stanley Cup this year to one of the Euro Leagues.

The players in the NHL better wise up fast or they will be looking for work in a Canadian or European league. An average salary of 1.8 million is ridiculous. They should be getting about 100K on average for the value the NHL brings to Americans.

The NHL players have zero bargaining power in this one and the owners do risk losing the league altogether but they can't afford to run the league unless the greedy players wise up anyway.

[masteen]

As fucking boring as hockey has become, I won't be too sad if the NHL folds. That said, even the greediest fucks in the PA should see the writing on the wall. A team with few superstars won the Cup. The fans loved it. If they replace you big money fucks with scrubs, do you think we will care?

I can't even name the top 5 scorers in the league last season. I can barely name 5 players in the LEAGUE.

I think what baseball, basketball, and hockey all need to accept is that the NFL is (and is going to be for the foreseeable future) the 800 lbs. gorilla of American sport.

[Pherr the Dorf]

As fucking boring as hockey has become, I won't be too sad if the NHL folds. That said, even the greediest fucks in the PA should see the writing on the wall. A team with few superstars won the Cup. The fans loved it. If they replace you big money fucks with scrubs, do you think we will care?

I can't even name the top 5 scorers in the league last season. I can barely name 5 players in the LEAGUE.

I think what baseball, basketball, and hockey all need to accept is that the NFL is (and is going to be for the foreseeable future) the 800 lbs. gorilla of American sport.

Name the top 5 in basketball without using google
Edit to add
ohhh and football is going the way of the NBA... the game is far less excitingnow then it was in the dynasty days. The hard cap is causing parody, parody is making the game boring.

[Adelrune Argenti]

The hard cap is causing parody, parody is making the game boring.

That is funny when you actually mean parody and not parity.

[Crav]

The hard cap is causing parody, parody is making the game boring.

Actually the reason the NFL is getting boring is all the stupid rules against celebrating and all the pansy rules to protect quaterbacks. I mean yea it keeps the quaterbacks from missing games, but man I think by the rules you can only hit them in like the midsection.

Overall the NFL is the best of the three big leagues because the cap makes teams really develop talent and not just go out and buy a great team or just pay taxes for going over the cap.

[Fat]

I would argue the excessive celebrations were cheapening the purity of the game, but if you believe that TO dancing with pompoms adds a lot to the sport I suppose its a valid opinion.

I'm not sure what to think about the "pansy" rules to protect quarterbacks. Have you ever played football? Getting hit by a 300 lbs lineman running a 4.7 doesn't just endanger their career, but perhaps their life. It's not gladiator arena.

-Alfan

[Lynks]

I'm with the owners all the way on this one. People say that owners are the reason the salaries are so high, but that just ins't true, I blame it mostly on greedy players. Just last year, Gaborik sat out for half a season so he can get paid more.

Hopefully, there are quite a few players that have publically said they would be replacement players for the NHL. Good for them. Of course, if this happens, I expect Roenick and the other goon squads to share their hatred for those players. But to that, I tell them, FUCK YOU!

[masteen]

Name the top 5 in basketball without using google
Edit to add
ohhh and football is going the way of the NBA... the game is far less excitingnow then it was in the dynasty days. The hard cap is causing parody, parody is making the game boring.

I prolly couldn't even name 5 basketball players PERIOD. I'm not an NBA fan. I do however like hockey, which is my point: I like the game, but haven't watched regularly in years.

Football is better today than ever. PARITY is something that keeps the game interesting FOR ALL THE FANS, not just NY fans. A dynasty is only fun if your team is winning. You must also remember that there was no free agency back then. A player basically played for the team that drafted them unless traded.

The rules are there to pretect QBs because they handle the ball ON EVERY FUCKING SNAP. Teams were starting to target the QBs in an effort to take them out of the game, and something had to be done.

[Kargyle]

The ever increasing salary problem in professional sports lies with the fans. I constantly hear people bitch that atheletes are all over paid, but they inevitably still watch the game of tv, buy merchandise, or go to the games. If you want to send a message to the owners, the league, and the players that you are tired of their greed, stop giving them your money. It is really that simple. People are greedy, you can't really blame the players or the owners for trying to get more for themselves.