NHL - Post Lock-Out

[sharkshooter]

How to make the fans come back?

Have Bettman (or the home team owner if Bettman is elsewhere) play goal in the shootouts - without pads.

[leafman]

I think both sides are equally to blame for what happened and the only losers were the fans (which neither side cared about). I also think the only way to prove a point is if nobody were to go to games or watch on tv, but people won't do it.

[Chambokl]

Just to let you know... of the 15000 season tickets that the habs sell every year only 8 have been cancelled...

Would love to see Bettman in net....

[Leftymoose]

I think the best way to prove a point to the the players and NHL is to avoid buying NHL merchandise for the rest of this season. I can never stop watching hockey on tv but I would buy very few tickets for games even before the lockout. I think some fans will stop going to the games after this for sure.

[nokids]

I was watching P.T.I. and Tony said they should have a lockout every year. Start the season in January, play 50 games, then playoffs.

I agree with him.

[BC MIST]

Are the true losers not the bars, restaurants, souvenir shops, ushers, etc. whose income was reduced or evaporated during the lockout? The fans have not lost a dime, the players and owners, who make millions, really have really lost very little, if anything, so it's only the little guy, as usual, who has hurt by what happened.

[habsfan]

Are the true losers not the bars, restaurants, souvenir shops, ushers, etc. whose income was reduced or evaporated during the lockout? The fans have not lost a dime, the players and owners, who make millions, really have really lost very little, if anything, so it's only the little guy, as usual, who has hurt by what happened.

great post- any fan that feels they've lost something as a great deal of entitlement, not cool.

[jeffc]

great post- any fan that feels they've lost something as a great deal of entitlement, not cool.

Fans (short for of fanatic) have a lot invested emotionally in there teams. Some fans live and die with their teams fate. While it may not be financial investment it is emotional. Yes, many others have more of a financial investment and it these guys that are hurt from that perspective.

[nokids]

[sharkshooter]

I think both sides are equally to blame for what happened ...

I agree, to a certain extent - so how about the NHLPA head share goal-keeping duties?

I feel for the in-arena staff and local bars and restaurants. Even some of the players, who I think were held somewhat hostage by the NHLPA, but the biggest blame has to be with the owners.

Was the biggest issue not related to length and generousity of contracts? And, who granted the players those contracts? Was it not the owners who now want out of the terms they cannot afford (or at least the terms they want everyone else to think they cannot afford)?

It there is an issue with pay, the owners should just have refused to sign long expensive contracts - make the players come to the table with lower expectations.

[habsfan]

Fans (short for of fanatic) have a lot invested emotionally in there teams. Some fans live and die with their teams fate. While it may not be financial investment it is emotional. Yes, many others have more of a financial investment and it these guys that are hurt from that perspective.

come look at my bedroom and tell me how much of a fanatic I am, dude have you seen any of the post on tsn and hfboards, you would of thought it was the end of the world.... I can understand a young kid being disapointed, but grown adults, please....

[Chambokl]

I agree with you 100%.... stupid lock-out so the owner can protect themselves against their own stupidity!!!

I agree, to a certain extent - so how about the NHLPA head share goal-keeping duties?

I feel for the in-arena staff and local bars and restaurants. Even some of the players, who I think were held somewhat hostage by the NHLPA, but the biggest blame has to be with the owners.

Was the biggest issue not related to length and generousity of contracts? And, who granted the players those contracts? Was it not the owners who now want out of the terms they cannot afford (or at least the terms they want everyone else to think they cannot afford)?

It there is an issue with pay, the owners should just have refused to sign long expensive contracts - make the players come to the table with lower expectations.

[Coreythebody]

I agree with you 100%.... stupid lock-out so the owner can protect themselves against their own stupidity!!!

Problem is, owners can't pass on signing a great player, because if they do, their competition will sign that player... and they all can't get together and say "how 'bout we all agree not to grant any player a contract over X dollars or X years", because if they do, it's called collusion and is illegal, however if it is agreeed upon in a collective bargaining agreement with the players, it is legal...

And really, every player is overpaid...grossly... Sure they are the elite of their profession and they are (mostly) great entertainers, but when the AVERAGE player makes more per year than the President of the USA, PM of Canada, PM of Britain, President of France and the Chancellor of Germany COMBINED (if you combine their salaries, it roughly equates to about $1.9M ish) something has got to give. Unfortunately, that something is us, the fans, who will pay more at the ticket box, or in the store or wherever.

[jeffc]

come look at my bedroom and tell me how much of a fanatic I am, dude have you seen any of the post on tsn and hfboards, you would of thought it was the end of the world.... I can understand a young kid being disapointed, but grown adults, please....

well, for some it's more than just a hobbie. A lot of fans in every sport invest a lot emotionally into their teams. Yes some take it too far but that is where the passion comes from. When these fans are at the games, etc. it makes for a great event. If you've ever been to an NFL, College Football, European Soccer game it gets taken to the extreme all the time.

[Chambokl]

Yes, but Corey, you have a salary cap to keep the competitive balance. That should be it... but no the owner start cheating by giving 12 years deal knowing that they would only play for 8 year and somehow they don't get penalized.... that has nothing to do with the players and in the contract between the NHL and NHLPA....

Contracts have to be approved by the league.... If Bettman had any balls he should had said NO to Minnesota, Vancouver, Philly, etc... You have to restructure your contract or it will not be approved....

[Coreythebody]

Yes, but Corey, you have a salary cap to keep the competitive balance. That should be it... but no the owner start cheating by giving 12 years deal knowing that they would only play for 8 year and somehow they don't get penalized.... that has nothing to do with the players and in the contract between the NHL and NHLPA....

Contracts have to be approved by the league.... If Bettman had any balls he should had said NO to Minnesota, Vancouver, Philly, etc... You have to restructure your contract or it will not be approved....

You're 100% correct, which is one of the main reasons for the lockout, the owners knew the problem existed, and it was "the hill they would die on" and had to be fixed, which by preliminary observation, seems to have been accomplished.

[golfisforfun]

Are the true losers not the bars, restaurants, souvenir shops, ushers, etc. whose income was reduced or evaporated during the lockout? The fans have not lost a dime, the players and owners, who make millions, really have really lost very little, if anything, so it's only the little guy, as usual, who has hurt by what happened.

Why does everyone continue to say the owners make millions!!! The fact is, none of these owners became rich BECAUSE they own an NHL team. They are thrilled if they can just break even. For some reason a lot of fans seem to think the owners are supposed to run a hockey team just for our enjoyment which is ridiculous!!!

[Chambokl]

Why does everyone continue to say the owners make millions!!! The fact is, none of these owners became rich BECAUSE they own an NHL team. They are thrilled if they can just break even. For some reason a lot of fans seem to think the owners run a hockey team just for THEIR enjoyment!!!

Fix it for you.... They sit in the luxury box.... eat caviar, drink wine.... and cheer for their teams....Some will show up on the field after the game and hug their players....Ask Mark Cuban why he owns the Maverick!

[golfisforfun]

I don't understand your point... What's wrong with owners trying to make some money?

Fix it for you.... They sit in the luxury box.... eat caviar, drink wine.... and cheer for their teams....Some will show up on the field after the game and hug their players....Ask Mark Cuban why he owns the Maverick!

[sharkshooter]

Fix it for you.... They sit in the luxury box.... eat caviar, drink wine.... and cheer for their teams....Some will show up on the field after the game and hug their players....Ask Mark Cuban why he owns the Maverick!

and write off the losses on their taxes. I'm not sure they care whether they break even or not. If they did, they wouldn't buy a sports franchise. At most, they are interested in capital appreciation rather than operating profits. At least, that is my opinion.