Optimism (NHL)

[Tub(a)]

[Q]DeltaOne81 Wrote:


All that said, monetary reserves or not, the downright stubborness exhibited by Bettman and the owners was truly impressive, although not necessarily in a good way.[/q]

They got almost exactly what they wanted, didn't they?

[Trotsky]

[Q]Tub(a) Wrote:They got almost exactly what they wanted, didn't they?
[/q]

Well, the argument with this, if the owners' intransigence was the chief cause of losing a season, would be: penny wise, pound foolish.  The loss of good will and exposure being a major hit to the sport.

But as much as I'd like to say that, it seems like the players' unwillingness to face financial reality was the prime cause, and even though they can be forgiven for not trusting the owners, who cannot be trusted to report their profitability honestly, enough outside people told them that they ought to have listened.

[KeithK]

Whether it was worth it to lose an entire season (from a business perspective) depends on how much effect the lockout has on long term revenues for the league.  If there is a major drop off in ticket sales and advertising revenue that becomes semi-permanent then it will probably have been a bad long term decision.  If revenues return to pre-lockout levels (in constant dollars) within a reasonable amount of time then it will have been worth it.  The structural changes that this agreement puts in place certainly improve the league's financial position (on the cost side) and are likely to be permanent.

I tend to think that the owners did the right thing (again, from a business perspective) and won a major battle because of their strategy.  But we won't know for sure until a few years have passed.

[ajec1]

[Q] According to some sources, the league wants to hold off until Wednesday when the baseball All-Star Game is completed and before MLB play resumes. [/Q]
That is the greatest sentence in the whole bit. Honestly, I don't think that Joe Q. Rube is going to care anymore, or even notice for that matter if the deal is announced tomorrow. The only thing that they are hoping for is the lead off on Sportscenter (It would be hilarious if they were usurped in this spot by The Great Outdoor Games, which also begins tomorrow!). All that being said, I don't really see how anyone can "win" in this situation any longer. They lost a season, and what few quasi-interested fans they had. All that are left are the hardcore fans, which might not be the worst thing that could come out of this (i.e. no more cheering from the crowd simply for crossing into the offensive zone [cough] DALLAS [cough]).

[Tub(a)]

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?ID=130240&hubName=nhl

It's a great feeling to read an article with the headline "Deal to be Done Today"

::banana::

[Tub(a)]

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/article.jsp?content=20050713_090348_2992

Sportsnet is reporting a 6 year deal with an NHLPA backout clause after 4 years. It's sad that we will be revisiting this in such a short time :-/

[DeltaOne81]

4 to 6 years is pretty typical for a CBA, isn't it? The 2002 MLB deal is due again after next year, I believe (or this year, but I think next) and the NBA just signed a 5(?) year deal.

[Tub(a)]

[Q]DeltaOne81 Wrote:

 4 to 6 years is pretty typical for a CBA, isn't it? The 2002 MLB deal is due again after next year, I believe (or this year, but I think next) and the NBA just signed a 5(?) year deal.[/q]

Yeah, I suppose it is.

I just want the NHL to exist forever without any problems :-P

[jkahn]

Settlement announced.
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=130274

[jy3]

from that article
"[Q]jkahn Wrote:

 Settlement announced.[/q]

"Among the most significant are:

- a hard team-by-team salary cap with a payroll of range of $21 million to $39 million (in the first year), which includes all player costs (benefits, insurance etc).

- the league's total expenditure on player costs (salaries, bonuses, benefits and insurance) is not permitted to exceed 54 per cent of defined hockey-related revenue and the salary cap and payroll range will move up or down as revenues increase or decrease each year of the deal.

- a 24 per-cent salary rollback for any NHL player who has time remaining on an existing contract, keeping in mind that the players will receive none of the monies they were slated to earn in the lost season of 2004-05.

- liberalized free agency (including unrestricted status at 27 by year four of the deal), a more restrictive entry level system, totally revamped salary arbitration, improved pension benefits and a revenue-sharing plan. "

sweet, cant wait to see the devils pound the sabres

[Lauren '06]

[Q]jy3 Wrote:
sweet, cant wait to see the devils pound the sabres[/q]

"along with a potential expansion of the NHL playoffs from 16 to 20 teams. "

.... with that maybe even the Sabres can even make the playoffs this year. :-D

[CowbellGuy]

But still doubtful for the Rangers :`(

So now the playoffs will end in, what, September? A week before camp?

[Tub(a)]

The Sabres are well positioned in this new landscape. They have a target payroll of 30-35 million, and currently only have 5 or 6 players signed (including Vanek and Ryan Miller).

It will actually be very bizarre to see the Sabres and Penguins competing for high quality free agents while the Rangers and Red Wings scramble to salvage the few old people they can.

[KeithK]

The new system will take a little time to settle out as the high end teams reorganize to get under the cap and the low end possibly start grabbing some high end players.  Then again, this will probably help the Rangers in the long run, because it will prevent them from throwing so much money at high priced, underperforming veterans.

[Chris 02]

[Q]Section A Banshee Wrote:

 [Q2]jy3 Wrote:
sweet, cant wait to see the devils pound the sabres[/Q]
"along with a potential expansion of the NHL playoffs from 16 to 20 teams. "

.... with that maybe even the Sabres can even make the playoffs this year.[/q]

That can't be good.  It will lead to some teams sitting around waiting for 2 weeks while first round series are played.  Will these be shorter series?