Thoughts on the Lockout

[foster]

I feel the lockout is headed for a year long shutdown. After that, who knows. The power switches to the owners at that point.

I'm disgusted with the lack of interest on both sides to getting a deal done. For over a year we've only had "He said, She said" rhetoric and there have been no negotiations, just posturing by both sides.

Who gets screwed in all of this? The fans and the civil servants working for the teams.

I feel for the employees who will be laid off by the teams during the lockout. They're not fighting to keep millions, just $20-$50k per year jobs with partial health insurance. Without the janitors, tickets sellers, parking attendants, there are not millions for players to make and owners to accumulate.

Where is the war chest for the average employee?

As a fan, I look at the players acting like they are above the game and not a part of it. The owners have a right to a fair return on their investments, they have an obligation to pay their employees (players, etc) a fair wage.

The deal is there, both sides just need to sit down at the table and hammer it out. At this point there is no incentive for that to happen, so the only losers are the fans and those who will lose their jobs because of the overinflated egos of the owners and players.

[bduff54]

i think i am with the owners on this one, the players got very rich off the last agreement and the future NHLers will still be making 1 million plus on average.

[ckg68]

Folks,there is one and only one way to get back at the owners AND players. It's financial.

Don't go to their games(when they do come back)...don't buy ANY of their gear or souvenirs(jerseys,pucks,etc.)...don't watch the games(yes,I know...almost no one does these days in the States...:) ). Our pocketbooks are the only weapon we have. If enough people make this type of statement,they'll listen.

Carl...

[Snarf]

I can't say I agree with either sides. The owners got themselves in this mess, and now the expect the players to bail them out. But on the other side of the coin, the players have to realize that system needs fixing and they have to pitch in.

I did not think I would miss hockey that much, but I am wrong. Yesterday I was checking out the Amerks, Hamilton Bulldogs and OHL's schedules, to see which games I could attend.

[itslonganditsgood]

Folks,there is one and only one way to get back at the owners AND players. It's financial.

Don't go to their games(when they do come back)...don't buy ANY of their gear or souvenirs(jerseys,pucks,etc.)...don't watch the games(yes,I know...almost no one does these days in the States...:) ). Our pocketbooks are the only weapon we have. If enough people make this type of statement,they'll listen.

Carl...

I agree with what you are saying, but don't you think that the trend to stay away from the NHL started a few years ago? The league has priced out the average fan, I don't care what price cut the Sabres had. I used to know a lot of people that had season tickets, now I know one. Doesn't the NHLPA get the money for the jerseys with players names and such sold? I think hockey fans had about enough with hockey and then this. It does not look good for the NHL.

I am with the owners on this too. The salaries of the players are way out of line. I don't care if it was the owners stupidity that put them into the situations they are in. If they need to make up ways to stop themselves from being stupid, then that is the way it has to be.

[thegame]

The business of the NHL hasn't been going well for years now, and they can't fall back on TV money because they don't get much at all. The current system must change, I favor some kind of hard cap, but I don't see the players ever agreeing. Half of NHLers aren't even from North America and I could see them returning in numbers to Euro leagues over the next months if this isn't resolved. I don't see it as a foregone conclusion that the NHL will ever return in the form we remember it. This game is teedering on the brink of disaster in this country. I am greatly concerned.

[sabrebraves]

the thing that aggravates me is that without the fans, the nhl wouldnt even exist....players would never obtain stardom, and never make even close to the money they are now. A lockout hurts the fans more than anybody. Hockey is an ENTERTAINMENT business, and i think the players need to stop being selfish. Ok, so the players might only make 1 million instead of two...give me a break if a million dollars is that hard to live on what does everyone else live on? Hopefully the owners and players can come to an agreement soon.

[ckg68]

Which is why I'm saying if(and when)the lockout ends,we the people must teach them a lesson:We're paying YOU your salaries,and we can withhold it from you just as easily.(To go Donald Trump on you:"You're fired.") We have many other entertainment options(movies,theater,music,other pro sports(NBA,pro lacrosse,Arena Football,indoor soccer,etc-depending on market))that we can spend our money on rather than you. (Toronto,more than likely,would be an exception;there are a lot of Leafs season ticket holders who don't want to give up their tix in case next year's team gets to sip from the Cup.)

Carl...

[Mouldsie]

Puck the Flayers

[The REAL Sabres]

The business of the NHL hasn't been going well for years now,
It's funny you say that.

I don't know how many people agree, but, I think the business of the NHL has been going downhill since the previous lockout. Kind of ironic in a way. What does that translate to...??

[Napalm]

It's funny you say that.

I don't know how many people agree, but, I think the business of the NHL has been going downhill since the previous lockout. Kind of ironic in a way. What does that translate to...??
Lord Stanley's cup should purposely have a blank area for this years fiasco.

[LALAFONTAINE]

The original Stanley Cup could be awarded to another team in another league entirely:
http://www.colbycosh.com/#cdts
http://www.colbycosh.com/#ints