NHL... is it back?

[DeadOhioSky]

so whats goin on with the NHL now... will we have a season?

[Keith Moon]

- :no: ...not until next year.

[dionysusolympus]

we need the XHL...!!! :what:

[MAGO]

Giuliani is going to start his own league....some players are backing him up...

[EtchedInCold]

so whats goin on with the NHL now... will we have a season?
allegedly they're making "small progress"

but that could just mean "same time tomorrow?"
"yep."
"deal."

[bleuMadonna]

They need to shit or get off the pot already. I'm tired of this *small progress* bullshit. Settle it already!

[EtchedInCold]

why are they even talking about the minor rule changes and shit like that? that should just come after they settle the thing that CANCELLED A WHOLE FUCKING SEASON!!!!!

[bleuMadonna]

Thank you. They can iron out that crap later. They need to address the REAL issue, which is mainly the hard cap.

[jazz]

the only nhl season in existence is the one in my xbox. :hmm:

[EtchedInCold]

Report: NHL Players Agree To Salary Cap
Deal Could End Lockout

POSTED: 1:57 am EDT June 9, 2005

TORONTO -- The National Hockey League and NHL Players' Association have reportedly agreed to a salary-cap system, giving hope that the league's lengthy lockout could be nearing an end.

The Toronto Globe and Mail, citing sources close to the owners and players, revealed Wednesday that the opposing sides have worked out a cap formula that would be based on team-by team revenues.

The implementation of a salary cap has always been a polarizing issue for the two sides and is thought to be the main reason the owners and players couldn't reach an agreement before the 2004-05 season was cancelled.

However, the sources also revealed that this new development does not necessarily mean a new collective bargaining agreement is imminent. The sides would still have to come to terms on other issues such as free agency and salary arbitration.

The report stated that in the initial year of the proposed six-year plan, the salary cap would stand at around $36 million for the richest teams and about $22 million for the lowest.

[Trizzak]

This gets followed closely by Sportsnet.ca

These are things I can nearly guarantee, because these are the things they've been discussing for some time.

Most of the meetings that took place before this week were about what the owners consider revenue. This is important to the players because they want to know how much money their salaries will be linked too. They have now come to agreements on that.

Free Agency age is likely to drop to 30 (instead of 31) this year, and could potentially drop to 29 then 28 after a couple years. I don't like that, 30 is a good number. 28 seems a bit young.

No news on arbitration, but this is probably where the players will demand the same (or a better) deal to offset their agreement to a salary cap.

[jazz]

:monkey:

[Trizzak]

Also, expect quite a few rule changes when the game starts again. Bettman said the game will be drastically different when it returns. Goalie equipment will be smaller. Clutching and grabbing will be strictly enforced. Shootouts could decide a tiebreaker.

[jazz]

shootouts? nooooo, but that's too exciting!

[bleuMadonna]

Also, expect quite a few rule changes when the game starts again. Bettman said the game will be drastically different when it returns. Goalie equipment will be smaller. Clutching and grabbing will be strictly enforced. Shootouts could decide a tiebreaker.
Ugh, I don't like the shoot-out deal, and they better not try any stupid ideas like dumping the red line.

[Agent]

hopefully it doesn't come back.

for a while i didn't know the season was cancelled.

hockey belongs in canada.

fuck canada.

[Tzarina]

This gets followed closely by Sportsnet.ca

These are things I can nearly guarantee, because these are the things they've been discussing for some time.

Most of the meetings that took place before this week were about what the owners consider revenue. This is important to the players because they want to know how much money their salaries will be linked too. They have now come to agreements on that.

Free Agency age is likely to drop to 30 (instead of 31) this year, and could potentially drop to 29 then 28 after a couple years. I don't like that, 30 is a good number. 28 seems a bit young.

No news on arbitration, but this is probably where the players will demand the same (or a better) deal to offset their agreement to a salary cap.
K, in other words there's a good chance of no season next year which would spell out the end of the NHL... :cry:

[Capt]

... and they better not try any stupid ideas like dumping the red line.
my league ditched the redline this year and it does make for less stoppages of play

but, speaking strickly as a defenseman, i really didn't like the rule change because it meant that i had to constantly be looking for cherry pickers behind me when the puck was deep in their end

the trick is to count how many people are in front of you, if you don't see 5 start skating backwards

[jazz]

i think they shouldn't touch the rules except for the shoot-out.

[Tzarina]

i think they shouldn't touch the rules except for the shoot-out.
i'm tired of rule changes... hockey was fine the way it was...

BUT whatever will actually make hockey happen... then i'm all good with it...

they should have bumper stickers that say "Make hockey happen..."

[Trizzak]

K, in other words there's a good chance of no season next year which would spell out the end of the NHL... :cry:
Hardly. They both realize there needs to be a season. Bettman lost a huge tv deal just a week ago, and advertisers are starting to pull out.


The only thing that's really gonna cause some headaches is the draft. Who gets the #1 pick after no season? (And need I mention that the #1 pick will be Sidney Crosby?) Teams like the Leafs and the Avalanche want an equal shot at landing him, while teams like New York and Washington want a weighted lottery in their favour (because they suck.)

[The Judas Cow]

Gotta love the Avs, they showed what can happen when you take the suck out of a bunch of Canadians

[Trizzak]

Gotta love the Avs, they showed what can happen when you take the suck out of a bunch of Canadians
Ha! Fuck off.

Just one new arena. One. And that was the Nordiques with the Stanley Cup. :shame:

[Capt]

edmonton needs to have a second dynasty

[Trizzak]

The basic structure of the salary cap -- linked league-wide to revenues with an upper and lower limit on team payrolls -- is mostly ironed out.

TORONTO (CP) -- The NHL and NHL Players' Association continued to plug away at a new deal with another small group session Monday, making slow and steady progress towards finally ending the ninth-month lockout.

While the economic framework is largely in place -- based on a salary cap -- there remains enough work to drag this out another two weeks or so, according to sources.

The basic structure of the salary cap -- linked league-wide to revenues with an upper and lower limit on team payrolls -- is mostly ironed out. The two sides have made headway in the areas of free agency, qualifying offers, salary arbitration, entry-level contracts, drug testing, rule changes and Olympic participation.

On the Olympic issue, the union appears to have scored a victory, with the league leaning towards participation in the Turin Games next February, although that is not signed, sealed and delivered just yet.

The two sides are narrowing in on a collective bargaining agreement that the league believes will bring competitive balance, narrowing the gap between the have and have-nots.

The tedious process of agreeing on the language of the document still awaits and that's no small task. The NHL announced a deal 10 years ago, in a hurry to salvage the 1994-95 season, and was later dismayed at how some parts of the agreement ended up sounding different then what it believed was first agreed to.

All the I's will be dotted and T's crossed this time around before a news conference is called.

Expect an entry draft to be held at the first opportune time after that.

When the deal is finally announced, a new world awaits everyone in the industry. For starters, there aren't that many players under contract for the 2005-06 season. Counting players who were on NHL rosters for at least 90 days in 2003-04, 288 players will be under contract July 1, and that's counting some fringe names.

NHL GMs will have their work cut out for them, not only learning a new system but also needing to quickly stock their rosters. The Boston Bruins and New York Islanders have the fewest players under contract for next season -- five apiece -- while the Washington Capitals have only six and the Carolina Hurricanes seven.

"We only have seven guys under contract but we also have some very young core players to re-sign who are restricted free agents," Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford said Monday from Raleigh. "After our run to the final (in 2002), we've been through a period of kind of re-tooling our team. So we've been planning for the new system, whatever that new system is."

At the other end of the spectrum, the Phoenix Coyotes already have 21 players signed for next season, while the Columbus Blue Jackets have 20.

Given that the union's offer of a 24 per cent salary rollback remains a key part of the new deal, the NHL will return without any skaters over the $10-million US range. The league's highest-paid player, Jaromir Jagr of the New York Rangers, will see his salary adjusted from $11 million to $8.36 million.

Keith Tkachuk of the St. Louis Blues, Alexei Yashin of the New York Islanders and Nicklas Lidstrom of the Detroit Red Wings go from $10 million to $7.6 million while Toronto Maple Leafs captain Mats Sundin falls from $9 million to $6.84 million.

Some big-name restricted free agents need new deals, the likes of Jarome Iginla in Calgary, Dany Heatley and Ilya Kovalchuk in Atlanta, Jose Theodore in Montreal, Joe Thornton in Boston, Rick Nash in Columbus, Milan Hejduk in Colorado, Pavel Datsyuk in Detroit, Ryan Smyth in Edmonton, Roberto Luongo in Florida, Patrik Elias in New Jersey, Marian Hossa and Martin Havlat in Ottawa, Simon Gagne in Philadelphia, Patrick Marleau in San Jose, Dan Boyle, Martin St. Louis and Vincent Lecavalier in Tampa and Mattias Ohlund and Brendan Morrison in Vancouver.

Unrestricted free-agent stars will include the likes of Peter Forsberg, Nikolai Khabibulin, Markus Naslund, Alexei Kovalev, Sergei Gonchar, Mike Modano, Scott Niedermayer and Brian Leetch.

In no man's land right now are Saku Koivu, Chris Pronger, Miroslav Satan and any other 30-year-old free agent. If unrestricted free agency drops from 31 to 30 in the new agreement -- something that is being discussed -- then those players become available to the highest bidder, albeit in a new world where the market has been re-adjusted by 24 per cent and with teams only having so much money to spend under the cap.

Either way, it's going to be a crazy few weeks after the deal is announced, with GMs and player agents getting very little sleep because of their workload.

"We've had enough sleep, we don't need to sleep," Rutherford said. "No one's going to worry about all the work we have to do."

But first thing's first, says agent J.P. Barry of IMG. They need to learn the deal before the action picks up.

"If and when an agreement is concluded this summer, I expect it will take a few weeks for people to familiarize themselves with the document before they can move forward," Barry said Monday from Calgary.

Source: Sportsnet http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/article.jsp;jsessionid=LHCAJMDJFAJA?content=200506 13_171155_4792

[Tzarina]

Hardly. They both realize there needs to be a season. Bettman lost a huge tv deal just a week ago, and advertisers are starting to pull out.


The only thing that's really gonna cause some headaches is the draft. Who gets the #1 pick after no season? (And need I mention that the #1 pick will be Sidney Crosby?) Teams like the Leafs and the Avalanche want an equal shot at landing him, while teams like New York and Washington want a weighted lottery in their favour (because they suck.)
fuck it, I say all new players are free agents, fuck the draft this way, there is NO fair way to do it with no season, and the lower teams recieved their one and two picks last year. Let everyone get an agent, and fucking try out ala old school hockey...
:dammit:

oh yea, and televise it cause it'd be too interesting to miss... :lol: --"You make Lemeiuex bleed, you get the job"
:lmao:

[jazz]

just git 'er done already.

[EtchedInCold]

Amen, Father Jazz.

[jazz]

as long as they're making all these changes, is there any hope that they'll get rid of bettman? i mean, new start, right?

[EtchedInCold]

fingers crossed. but i think that'll only happen if the Union ditches their rep, too.

[Heath]

Pretty soon we'll gave a hockey lockout and NBA lockout going on at the same time. Wonderful.

[EtchedInCold]

July 1st looms.

[Trizzak]

fuck it, I say all new players are free agents, fuck the draft this way, there is NO fair way to do it with no season, and the lower teams recieved their one and two picks last year. Let everyone get an agent, and fucking try out ala old school hockey...
:dammit:
Not a good way to do it. First of all, every GM will be after Crosby. And he will be offered too much money. And he will sign with the Canadiens, because they are his favourite team. So one player will take up about 1/4 of the Canadiens cap, fucking them up for years to come. Also, this is quite the deep draft for talent. Other players will demand more than the rookie maximum, and things will effectively be out of whack. The draft is necessary. I have no problem with a lottery draft. Everyone gets a ball and the first ball out gets the first pick, last ball gets the last pick, then switch them up for the second round so the team that got the first pick for the first round gets the 30th for the 2nd round.

[Trizzak]

as long as they're making all these changes, is there any hope that they'll get rid of bettman? i mean, new start, right?
Bob Goodenow is as good as gone.

Bettman...well...he's accomplished exactly what he was supposed to. Get a CBA with linked salaries to revenues. If he gets a pretty good tv deal, and is successful in implementing the rule changes designed to improve the game...then he's probably not going anywhere for awhile.

[Tzarina]

Not a good way to do it. First of all, every GM will be after Crosby. And he will be offered too much money. And he will sign with the Canadiens, because they are his favourite team. So one player will take up about 1/4 of the Canadiens cap, fucking them up for years to come. Also, this is quite the deep draft for talent. Other players will demand more than the rookie maximum, and things will effectively be out of whack. The draft is necessary. I have no problem with a lottery draft. Everyone gets a ball and the first ball out gets the first pick, last ball gets the last pick, then switch them up for the second round so the team that got the first pick for the first round gets the 30th for the 2nd round.
:sigh: twas a joke...

[Trizzak]

:sigh: twas a joke...
Half of your post made sense, so I took it seriously.

[Tzarina]

Half of your post made sense, so I took it seriously.
well it was one of those things that started on the far side of serious, but then i just exagerrated everything into a joke... cause i would love to hold team tryouts where the one to make claude lemew (joke also) bleed first wins... sounds fun to me :shrug:

but there has to be some kind of system, or it's all about money again and who will pay the highest bidder, so to speak


i just want there to be hockey, all this :bs: sucks...

[Trizzak]

Didn't Claude Lemieux retire?

(Also, if you're just gonna say "Lemieux" I'm gonna assume it's Mario, not Claude.)

There will be hockey this year. I put a "Trizzak guaranteed" stamp on that.

[Tzarina]

i hate him playing or not...

and :cross:

[Trizzak]

TORONTO (CP) -- The NHL and NHL Players' Association wrapped up 12 hours of talks and will resume negotiations later this week.

The two sides met in small groups from noon EDT to 7:30 p.m. EDT Monday and from 9 a.m. EDT to 1:30 p.m. EDT Tuesday in Toronto.

They've set aside Wednesday for internal discussion before resuming the process either Thursday or Friday.

The economic framework is largely in place, based on a salary cap, but more work remains to be done. A deal could be struck within the next two to three weeks.

Source: Sportsnet

[Trizzak]

New goalie equipment restrictions will be in place when NHL hockey resumes.

1) Pad width will be reduced from 12 inches to 11 and cannot exceed 38 inches in length. The boot of the pad, which covers the toe of the skate is to be no less than seven inches and will be included in the pads maximum length.

2) Chest and arm protectors are to be clear of any raised ridges on the sides and front of chest, while the protection point of the elbow pad shall not exceed seven inches.

Shoulder caps will be contoured to the individual's shoulder and will not be more than one inch thick beyond the contour.

3) If a goaltender assumes a "crouch" position and the chest protector pushes above the contour of the shoulder, his equipment will be considered illegal and change will be enforced.

4) The glove will consist of a perimeter no more than 45 inches, with the length from cuff to web no more than 18 inches. The blocker cannot extend beyond eight inches in with and 15 inches in length.

5) The pants a goaltender wears will also be streamlined, eliminating the need for average size players to dress in a XXL pant. A maximum width of 10 inches across the front of the leg and thigh has been established.

While some goalies would use larger pants to reduce their five-hole, any added protection for the knee or thigh will be closely monitored and will not exceed 10 inches under the new rules.

Finally goalies like J.S Giguere will need to show they have talent, rather than pad themselves like the Michelin Man.

[bleuMadonna]

Finally goalies like J.S Giguere will need to show they have talent, rather than pad themselves like the Michelin Man.

:lmao:

[Keith Moon]

- This just in:

- The St. Louis Blues are for sale...:sigh: :crying:...and there's even a slight chance that they might move. :faint: :crying2:

[EtchedInCold]

but remember when Ottawa was supposed to move?

[dionysusolympus]

- This just in:

- The St. Louis Blues are for sale...:sigh: :crying:...and there's even a slight chance that they might move. :faint: :crying2:

I've heard Mexico needs a new hockey team... :magodio:

[EtchedInCold]

what needs to happen is for a Eastern Conference team to move West, and leave an opening for the Red Wings to switch over. I hate their west coast trips, when games don't even start until 10...

[MAGO]

I've heard Mexico needs a new hockey team... :magodio:


i can see it now......the Chalupas from Guadalajara :nanner6:

[Keith Moon]

but remember when Ottawa was supposed to move?


- :no:

[Keith Moon]

I've heard Mexico needs a new hockey team... :magodio:

- :no:

[Keith Moon]

i can see it now......the Chalupas from Guadalajara :nanner6:

- and :no: again.

[EtchedInCold]

the Senators were rumored to be moving to Washington or Oregon...

[Keith Moon]

the Senators were rumored to be moving to Washington or Oregon...


- What year was that?

[dionysusolympus]

- What year was that?

1942...when Columbus sailed the ocean blue... :what:

[Keith Moon]

1942...when Columbus sailed the ocean blue... :what:


- :punking:

[Trizzak]

- This just in:

- The St. Louis Blues are for sale...:sigh: :crying:...and there's even a slight chance that they might move. :faint: :crying2:
Not likely. The current owners (Walmart owners?) have hired Game Plan LLC, the company who found buyers for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Boston Celtics, to look for potential buyers, but are stressing that the Blues stay in St Louis.

When the new CBA is in place, someone will buy.

[Trizzak]

Also of note, the hearing for the Free Stanley movement is soon. If they win, we could see a tournament held to award the cup to the winner, most likely not an NHL team.

[Trizzak]

Probably more rumour than fact, but look for a deal to be announced July 1st.



Or more accurately... Canada Day

[Keith Moon]

Not likely. The current owners (Walmart owners?) have hired Game Plan LLC, the company who found buyers for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Boston Celtics, to look for potential buyers, but are stressing that the Blues stay in St Louis.

When the new CBA is in place, someone will buy.


- I hope that you are right, trizz...


- :trizzles: + hockey = reliable information...:up:

[Trizzak]

I try my best

[Keith Moon]

I try my best


- :five:...though, what's this CBA that you talk of?

[Trizzak]

Collective Bargaining Agreement.

It's why there is a lockout.

[PatrickBateman]

Bring back the Whalers!

[Trizzak]

Bring back the Whalers!
I agree

[Trizzak]

Bring back the Whalers!
Also, teams like Nashville and Columbus should move to Quebec and Winnipeg.

At least the fans would show up in Quebec and Winnipeg

[Trizzak]

No real source on this one, just something I hear being thrown around...

Apparently there will be a one time "buyout" option in this CBA where players can have there contracts bought out by the GM without the money being used under the cap system.

So overpaid guys like Owen Nolan could be bought out by the Leafs and become free agents, and that would free up more room for the Leafs with the cap in place.

Anyone have any overpaid players on your favourite teams you'd like to see gone?

[Trizzak]

and because I can... 4 posts in a row.

[DeadOhioSky]

ny overpaid players on your favourite teams you'd like to see gone?

two words: Alexei Yashin.

[Trizzak]

Sometimes I just love reading sportsnet. For those that don't want to do the reading, just read the last paragraph, brought to you by Jeremy Roenick.

Just when you thought the NHL labour negotiations could not get more turbulent, Jeremy Roenick decided it was time to speak up.

Roenick, speaking at Mario Lemieux's charity golf tournament in Pittsburgh, PA, redefined the term candid with his curse-filled tirade regarding everything from the lockout to the nature of the game.

The Flyers' forward started the formal press conference by referencing his disappointment in the way things transpired.

"They coulda listened to the players who had an idea of where this was going, myself, Robert Esche, Jarome Iginla and Chris Pronger ... but in February I didn't think the deal stood up."

As the lockout approaches its tenth month, Roenick was clear the deal likely to be signed in the upcoming weeks will be much less than what was offered back in February.

"If we (the NHLPA) woulda signed that deal in February, in terms of what we're getting now, we woulda looked like heroes. Right now we look like a bunch of idiots."

Roenick later added, "The deal in February beats the **** out of the deal we're gonna sign in July."

At least JR is referencing a July deal, but it also opened the verbal floodgates.

"It's unfortunate we had to go through a whole year to realize the bull**** that was going on ... we've hurt our league, we've hurt the reputation of our league and the integrity of our league by sticking up for something that might not have been the right thing to do," said Roenick.

Switching to the diplomat, Roenick furthered his comments by stating it is no longer about who won and lost, but it is now about making the game fan friendly. Roenick described how the NHLPA will ultimately give up more as a union "than any other in national sports" when a deal is reached, and that alone should bring the fans back.

"Now is the time we have to make it fun for the fans, we have deteriorated the game to an unfriendly position," said Roenick, who offered up his own solutions, "We might have won in '94, the owners will win in 2005, now let's make the fans win."

Generally opposed to the shrinking of goaltenders equipment, the Flyers' veteran believes fan-exciting changes must be implemented.

"No more ties, take the red line out ... institute an illegal defence maybe, but the number one change should be penalty shots at the end of the game, with the goals scored not going to stats, but to the win and loss column."

In typical JR fashion, it was his parting words which will act as sound bytes for weeks to come, and possibly be fodder for setting the union back in public opinion.

"If people are going to sit and chastise pro athletes for being cocky, for being suck asses, they need to look at one thing and that's the deal we're going to be signing in about three weeks. Pro athletes are not cocky. Pro athletes care about the game. Everybody out there who calls us spoiled because we play a game ... they can kiss my ass."

He's an asshole, but god damn you love to hate him.

[jazz]

Also, teams like Nashville and Columbus should move to Quebec and Winnipeg.

At least the fans would show up in Quebec and Winnipeg

i agree. as long as they don't touch my panthers. :insecure:

[bleuMadonna]

JR is the shit. He cracks me up!

[EtchedInCold]

so can we depend on a CBA in 3 weeks?
and is this backdated at all?

[Trizzak]

I don't know what you mean by backdated.

The players are agreeing to a salary cap, it will probably be around 36 mill per team with a dollar for dollar luxury tax for a player if a team goes over it (Let's say the Panthers sign Glen Murray for 4 million dollars after they're over the 36 mill cap. They then pay an additional 4 million to the NHL, which goes to the poorer teams. Glen Murray then costs 8 million for the Panthers)

Rumours say it will all be announced July 1st, Canada Day. However, that rumour sounds like a huge pile of horseshit.

Also of note, the players will be in Turin for the Olympics. The NHL agreed to let them go, despite it shortening the season again.

[bleuMadonna]

I don't like the Olympics thing. :mad:

[Trizzak]

At least it allows more people to see the quality of NHL players, and maybe help reverse the worldwide damage done from this lockout

[EtchedInCold]

I don't know what you mean by backdated.

The players are agreeing to a salary cap, it will probably be around 36 mill per team with a dollar for dollar luxury tax for a player if a team goes over it (Let's say the Panthers sign Glen Murray for 4 million dollars after they're over the 36 mill cap. They then pay an additional 4 million to the NHL, which goes to the poorer teams. Glen Murray then costs 8 million for the Panthers)

Rumours say it will all be announced July 1st, Canada Day. However, that rumour sounds like a huge pile of horseshit.

Also of note, the players will be in Turin for the Olympics. The NHL agreed to let them go, despite it shortening the season again.
was that from yesterday or earlier in the week?

[Trizzak]

was that from yesterday or earlier in the week?
The CBA information was from earlier in the week, though there have been no changes to report yet.

The JR comments are from yesterday.

[Trizzak]

Rule Changes! Hurray!

http://www.tsn.ca/columnists/bob_mckenzie.asp?id=129330

Sure changes:

- Eleven-inch goal pads. Smaller blockers and catching gloves. Less bulky uppers, pants and new form fitting sweaters.

- The tag up offside will be re-instituted.

- The goal line will be moved two feet closer to the end boards

- More penalties will be called.

Likely changes(but details might change):

- Shootouts:
a) 4 minutes of 4-on-4 overtime, followed by 3 minutes of 3-on-3 overtime before getting to the shootout.
b)3 points for a regulation time victory and maybe no point for losing in overtime or the shootout.

- The blue lines will be made fatter, another effort to increase the size of the offensive zone.

- No red line.
(Either two line passes will be allowed all the time or the red line will disappear once the puck crosses the 'Bowman' or ringette line across the top of the circle.)

- Icing will be different. It could be no touch icing. It could be linesmen using discretion on missed passes. It could be no icing allowed on the penalty kill, or no line change for the team that iced the puck. It could be all of the above. Whatever it is, icing will be modified.
^ Paraphrased version stolen from Habs77 at Habsworld.net

[Trizzak]

Tag up offside will improve the flow of the game, and moving the goal line back will help stop the effectiveness of dump and chase. Also, if that 3 point overtime change is put into effect we could see some real exciting hockey.

[Keith Moon]

- Good work Trizz...:trizzles: can sometimes come through.

[jazz]

i only like the overtime changes and maybe the new goalie pad restrictions...

[Trizzak]

- Good work Trizz...:trizzles: can sometimes come through.
I keep one ear to the ground and one hand on the keyboard. Just happy to be of service.



Oh, and July 1st, Canada Day, has come and gone and there is no agreement announced yet. So that rumour was apparently taken from Wishful Thinking News.



by the way Keith, since your official baseball thread won out over mine, I'm calling dibs on creating the Official NHL thread once the season starts.

[EtchedInCold]

i heard between the 7th and 11th, the deal will be announced.

[jazz]

as long as their thinking of making up all these new rules, they might as well get rid of gary bettman.

[Keith Moon]

by the way Keith, since your official baseball thread won out over mine, I'm calling dibs on creating the Official NHL thread once the season starts.



- Deal :shake:

[Ryan]

if tristan replies to this thread he is gay.

[Trizzak]

- Deal :shake:
and if I remember correctly, you owe me $50 for unsportsmanlike thread creation. :shame: You even posted in my thread but decided to make your own :shame:

[Trizzak]

if tristan replies to this thread he is gay.
An NHL thread to me is like a NIN thread to you.

If that makes me a homosexual, than drop your pants and feed me man sausage.

[Ryan]

*feeds*

[Trizzak]

as long as their thinking of making up all these new rules, they might as well get rid of gary bettman.
nah. Considering his past I don't see it necessary. Remember, he got a huge tv deal with ESPN back when hockey was nothing in the US (it still is nothing, but oh well.) And he pretty much broke the player's union this year. If the league is stagnant in 5 years, then yes, he should go.

[Trizzak]

*feeds*
*bites*

[Ryan]

*bites*


can you get up off your knees?

[Keith Moon]

and if I remember correctly, you owe me $50 for unsportsmanlike thread creation. :shame: You even posted in my thread but decided to make your own :shame:



- How about I let you make next years Spelling Bee thread instead?

[Trizzak]

- How about I let you make next years Spelling Bee thread instead?
Throw in a draft pick and a veteran player to match salaries and it's a deal.

[Keith Moon]

Throw in a draft pick and a veteran player to match salaries and it's a deal.



- :consults his agent: :phone:

[EtchedInCold]

i've always wanted out...

[Trizzak]

Ticket changes ahoy!

A whole bunch of teams are waiting for the new cba before they start changing ticket prices, but pretty much every team has stated "we're gonna lower the price."

Notables for encircling members:

jazz - Florida - The Panthers lowered season seat prices in six of 10 pricing categories prior to what would have been a 2004-2005 season. In addition, a limited number of upper level seats previously priced at $430 will be reduced to $365 ($8.50 US a game).

"We have not raised ticket prices in several years. We have also increased the value of privileges such as exclusive meet and greets with the team, autograph sessions, concert purchasing priority, etc. The Panthers season ticket prices are in the bottom half of the league." - club spokesman.

Greg #2 - St Louis - As announced June 11, Club season tickets drop to $79 US a game from $83, and Plaza seats fall to $72 from $77. Less expensive seats, such as Plaza End and Mezzanine High End, are unchanged.

This will be the fourth consecutive year the Blues have frozen or lowered ticket prices.


And just as an example of what could be happening to a team near you, I present Anaheim with a Trizzak approved "That's How You Do It" award.

Anaheim - Season ticket prices have been rolled back an average of 5.28 per cent.

The biggest cuts are on about 1,500 seats that drop to $9.50 US from $25 a game. Prices have been frozen through 2006-2007.

Subscribers will get free parking, food and non-alcoholic beverages for the first three home games.

A new 2-for-1 scheme allows a family of four to buy four seats (buy two, get two) for a total of $47 a game.

"We believe our new pricing structure combined with our price rollback will keep NHL hockey affordable in southern California," said Bob Wagner, senior vice-president and chief marketing officer.

^^^ that's an organization that wants it's fans back.

[Trizzak]

I never tire of posting large articles, but I will be nice and bold the noteworthy sentences...

As the NHL and NHL Players' Association continue to inch their way towards a tentative deal, Colin Campbell is working feverishly on the league's on-ice facelift.

And that's because when commissioner Gary Bettman takes the podium to announce the lockout has ended, the league understandably wants to put off-ice turmoil behind it and focus on improving the game on the ice.

A package of rule changes meant to open up the game will likely take centre stage.

"We're just trying to make the game better," Campbell, the league's director of hockey operations, said Tuesday in Toronto. "Our thought process is that we want to reward the offensive part of the game.

On the labour front, the two sides met from 12:30 p.m. EDT to 7 p.m. EDT in New York on Monday and went at it again 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.

A tentative deal on a new collective bargaining agreement is expected within the next week.

What's taking so long? Sources indicate there are still some issues -- none perceived as critical -- being negotiated while the actual process of drafting the long and complicated document is slow and laborious.

An announcement could come as early as Thursday but could also drag into next week.

Campbell is hard at work in the interim. There is much to do. Contrary to some reports, the league has still not signed off officially on any rule changes.

"Nothing has been decided just yet," said Campbell.

After years of meetings and research, including the GMs' meeting in Nevada in February 2004, Brendan Shanahan's hockey summit last December in Toronto, the GMs' meeting (which included players) in Detroit in April, and the league's research and development camp in Toronto last month, it's now up to GMs and players to lead Campbell and his hockey operations staff down the right path.

Campbell continues to receive feedback from GMs around the league. His contact with the players comes via Shanahan as well as NHLPA president Trevor Linden -- both members of the NHL's competition committee along with Montreal Canadiens GM Bob Gainey, Edmonton Oilers GM Kevin Lowe, Nashville Predators GM David Poile, Atlanta Thrashers GM Don Waddell, Calgary Flames star Jarome Iginla, Colorado Avalanche defenceman Rob Blake and Philadelphia Flyers owner Ed Snider -- as well as NHLPA director of business relations Mike Gartner.

While there is no official deadline to narrow down the list of changes, Bettman will want to come armed with them when he grabs the microphone.

Unlike 10 years ago, it appears there will not be a "Game On" news conference when the tentative deal is announced. This time around, there's a chance that the news conference will come after ratification.

Because a deal was rushed to salvage some part of the 1994-95 season, that CBA wasn't actually ratified until later that summer. The league wasn't happy with the language in the final document and vowed not to let that happen again this time around.

But final plans to handle the joint announcement of the tentative deal have yet to be determined between the NHLPA and NHL.

Still, all the I's will be dotted and T's crossed and final ratification will also be needed before the league opens shop. The union's 700-plus players need to see the deal and vote on it while the league needs to hold a board of governors meeting so the owners can also give the deal approval.

Either way, the focus at the ensuing news conference will have as much to do with the on-ice product as the CBA. The league will try to highlight the massive changes that may or may not be coming -- no centre-ice red line, smaller goalie equipment, penalty shootouts, etc.

Bettman may also use that news conference to announce the draft lottery process for the belated 2005 entry draft. That matter may be resolved at the next board of governors meeting. The right to draft first overall and snag hockey phenom Sidney Crosby has been a hot potato.

With GMs unable to find common ground on the hot button issue at their last meeting, it's up to Bettman to decide whether all 30 teams will get a fair crack in the lottery or whether teams that have not faired as well over a certain period of time will get a better shot at the No. 1 pick.

As for where and when, Ottawa in early August is a good bet although it's going to be a streamlined version of the event with likely only the top prospects on hand.

Meanwhile, the longer talks drag on, the shorter the window before the regular season kicks off in early October. One has to wonder if perhaps training camps will be shorter in order not to delay the start of the season.

Source: Sportsnet - http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/article.jsp?content=20050705_164337_3272

[Keith Moon]

Ticket changes ahoy!

A whole bunch of teams are waiting for the new cba before they start changing ticket prices, but pretty much every team has stated "we're gonna lower the price."

Notables for encircling members:

jazz - Florida - The Panthers lowered season seat prices in six of 10 pricing categories prior to what would have been a 2004-2005 season. In addition, a limited number of upper level seats previously priced at $430 will be reduced to $365 ($8.50 US a game).

"We have not raised ticket prices in several years. We have also increased the value of privileges such as exclusive meet and greets with the team, autograph sessions, concert purchasing priority, etc. The Panthers season ticket prices are in the bottom half of the league." - club spokesman.

Greg #2 - St Louis - As announced June 11, Club season tickets drop to $79 US a game from $83, and Plaza seats fall to $72 from $77. Less expensive seats, such as Plaza End and Mezzanine High End, are unchanged.

This will be the fourth consecutive year the Blues have frozen or lowered ticket prices.



- Another superb effort, Trizz...:thanku: :five:

[Trizzak]

but the question is...will the lower priced tickets help bring back fans?

[EtchedInCold]

i'd go at regular price.

[Trizzak]

i'd go at regular price.
That's my boy

[jazz]

thanks for the info, trizz. and yes, i'm definitely going to a few games next season.

there's only so much espn nhl 2k5 you could take. i need my fix! :wired:

[Trizzak]

Details! Hurray!

The NHL and NHL Players' Association will continue talks this weekend after meeting for a fifth straight day in New York on Friday as they continued to inch closer to a collective bargaining agreement.

A deal could be reached as soon as this weekend but more likely early next week.

The two sides have met 78 times overall - nine consecutive weeks - since commissioner Gary Bettman cancelled the 2004-05 season Feb. 16.

Bettman has summoned the NHL's executive committee to New York for an update Monday, something he has done routinely during the lockout. This time they'll probably be asked to look at the deal at hand, a six-year agreement that will look something like this depending on last-minute changes:

-Team-by-team salary cap set for next season between $37 million and $39 million US at the upper limit with a minimum of between $21 million and $24 million.

-Players salaries cannot - on a league-wide basis - take up more than 54 per cent of revenues; next season's cap is based on the projection of between $1.7 billion to $1.8 billion in revenues for next season, down from the $2.1 billion in 2003-04. In ensuing years, the cap levels will be decided by the previous year's revenues. This can cut two ways: if revenues grow in future years, the cap will move upward in the players' favour, perhaps much higher than the $42.5-million hard cap offered by the league before the season was cancelled; but if the NHL gets hammered by the fallout from the lockout, the cap could be even lower than $37 million for the 2006-07 season.

-All existing player contracts will be rolled back 24 per cent, which also includes all qualifying offers this summer for restricted free agents.

-No player can earn more than 20 per cent of his team's salary cap. Under a $37-million cap, that means no player can earn more than $7.4 million next season. Jaromir Jagr ($8.36 million), Keith Tkachuk ($7.6 million), Alexei Yashin ($7.6 million) and Nicklas Lidstrom ($7.6 million) are all above that right now, and that includes the 24 per cent rollback.

-Players will place a yet-to-be determined percentage of their salaries into escrow at the start of the season until after the year when revenues can be determined and the 54 per cent rate can be figured out; either the teams or the players will get money back, depending whether the rate is above or below 54 per cent.

-Revenue-sharing where the top 10 money-making clubs donate to a fund shared by the bottom 10 teams.

-The entry-level system will limit those players to $850,000 a year in salary (which it was 10 years ago) with bonuses not as easily reachable as the previous deal.

-The age of unrestricted free agency will remain 31 this summer but will gradually be brought down to 27 or 28 by the 2008.

-Two-way salary arbitration. Both players and owners can select to go to arbitration, whereas only players had those rights in the previous deal. This will allow owners to downgrade underperforming players.

-The ability for teams to buy players out of their contracts at two thirds of their value. This is meant to help teams fit under the cap but the clubs won't be able to re-sign those players.

-Participation in the February 2006 Olympics in Turin, Italy.

Once a tentative deal is announced, both sides still need to ratify the deal. A board of governors' meeting will be called where all 30 owners will need to approve the deal. A vote of the 700-plus NHLPA membership will also be needed. All of which may take more than a week before the deal is officially ratified.

[Trizzak]

Both sides had a meeting till just past midnight tonight (EST) on the 300th day of the lockout.

No deal yet, but everyone is positive one will be reached soon. A lot of players are speaking out now saying "Yeah, we wasted a season and got nothing out of it. The owners have won this year." So really guys, it's just a matter of days.

Oh, and guys like Manny Legace from Detroit are calling for Goodenow's resignation after the deal is done.

[EtchedInCold]

that's my guy! I love Manny. He's been a favorite of mine since we got him.
i even told him at the training camp a couple of years back that we didn't need Cujo... and he got all embarrassed

[MAGO]

No deal yet, but everyone is positive one will be reached soon.


Dentists all over the country are jumping with joy!

[iha]

Yes, yes it is.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2106776

However, I don't care.

[Keith Moon]

Yes, yes it is.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2106776

However, I don't care.



- Oh, but you will...:evil:

[Tzarina]

"NEW YORK — The NHL and the players' association reached an agreement in principle Wednesday on a new labor deal, ending a lockout that wiped out last season.

Those who are still under contract will have their salaries reduced by 24%, a concept first proposed by the union last December.
"

wow, i'm glad there is going to be hockey, but wow reducing existing salaries :shame:

[EtchedInCold]

Yes, yes it is.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2106776

However, I don't care.
let the fun start... the free agents and the trading and all that jazz.

[EtchedInCold]

the second that this deal is ratified, Holland had better be on the phone with Datsyuk's agent.

[Trizzak]

Draft scheduled for July 30th.

The players will meet next Wednesday and Thursday, and the owners on Thursday, to ratify the deal.

The tentative deal reached is believed to include;

-24 percent rollback on all existing contracts;

-The upper limit on the salary cap for 2005-06 will be $39 million US while the minimum floor will be at $21.5 million, based on projected revenues of $1.8 billion;

-Players salaries cannot -- on a league-wide basis -- take up more than 54 per cent of revenues;

-No player can earn more than 20 per cent of the team cap, which for 2005-06 means no player can earn more than $7.4 million. (So basically, what Jagr's salary will be)

-The age of unrestricted free agency will remain 31 this summer but will gradually be brought down to 27 by the end of 2007-2008 season. (Don't like this, that's way too young)

-Young players now entering the league will also benefit -- they will qualify for unrestricted free agency after seven years of NHL service. That means an 18-year-old NHL rookie (like Sidney Crosby) could be unrestricted free agent at 25.(WAY FUCKING TOO YOUNG! And that's coming from me, a Habs fan that will benefit with Crosby coming to his favourite team in the prime of his career)

-Revenue-sharing where the top 10 money-making clubs donate to a fund shared by the bottom 10 teams.

-The entry-level system will limit those players to $850,000 a year in salary (which it was 10 years ago) with bonuses not as easily reachable as the previous deal.

-Participation in the February 2006 Olympics in Turin, Italy.

[Trizzak]

the second that this deal is ratified, Holland had better be on the phone with Datsyuk's agent.
I dunno...Datsyuk would look mighty fine skating beside Koivu on the top line...

[Trizzak]

oh yes, and please excuse me while I dance around my house in joy

[Keith Moon]

- I'm gonna try out for the Blues... :blink:

[Tzarina]

- I'm gonna try out for the Blues... :blink:
dooooooooooooo iiiiiiiiitttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt!

[Trizzak]

The draft lottery will take place on the 21st. After that, watch for mad signings before the draft on the 30th. Also, previously unsigned draft picks from 2003 need to be signed or they re-enter the draft. GM's will have a one large continuous headache up till the first game is played.

[Trizzak]

Oh, and I will be making the Official NHL thread after ratification by the players and owners.

If anyone else creates it before I do, I'll be sending jazz 50 smarties boxes in exchange for you being banned.

You have been warned...

[MAGO]

dentists all around are jumping with joy!

[Trizzak]

dentists all around are jumping with joy!
Psst. You already said that. And it was only kinda funny the first time.

[MAGO]

Psst. You already said that. And it was only kinda funny the first time.


no, but now they're really jumping....before they weren't so i had to share that with you again....

[EtchedInCold]

Oh, and I will be making the Official NHL thread after ratification by the players and owners.

If anyone else creates it before I do, I'll be sending jazz 50 smarties boxes in exchange for you being banned.

You have been warned...
i'll send 100 on the stipulation that that person is brought back and you are banned.

[Trizzak]

But Rob, this is the one and only time Canadian value is better than American. Ask jazz what he prefers, American or Canadian chocolate.

[EtchedInCold]

i can get canadian smarties, too.

[Trizzak]

yeah well


you smell bad

[EtchedInCold]

it's because i'm downwind from canada.

[jazz]

someone send me smarties already!!!

[Trizzak]

it's because i'm downwind from canada.
Stop reading from The Judas Cow Canadian Insults Pamphlet.

[EtchedInCold]

i'll go get some today. not a lot, but some.

[Trizzak]

someone send me smarties already!!!
give me a mailing address

[EtchedInCold]

Stop reading from The Judas Cow Canadian Insults Pamphlet.
fool, that was all original work.







and i feel bad for saying it...

[EtchedInCold]

give me a mailing address
:werd:

[Trizzak]

Hey Rob, the Red Wings just signed Mike Babcock as their new head coach.

[EtchedInCold]

yep. i think he'll be good for us.

[bleuMadonna]

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, hockey is BACK!

Now, hurry up and make that thread, Trizzak!

[PatrickBateman]

I was hoping they would start all over....complete with new draft of all existing players.

/rangers fans

[MAGO]

who's that french player everyone wants??...Sidney something...is he really that good??

[EtchedInCold]

Crosby. allegedly the "next gretzky"

[MAGO]

that's him...all the analysts are hoping he ends up with the Rangers or BlackHawks cause they're big market teams...

[EtchedInCold]

that's him...all the analysts are hoping he ends up with the Rangers or BlackHawks cause they're big market teams...
you mean Barry Melrose?

[MAGO]

him and the other bald headed guy....don't know who that one was...

[jazz]

give me a mailing address
do a whois query on encircling.us

:jig:

[Trizzak]

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, hockey is BACK!

Now, hurry up and make that thread, Trizzak!
Nuh uh. Until player and owner ratification, this thread still applies.

NHL... is it back?

Not yet.

[Trizzak]

do a whois query on encircling.us

:jig:
??

[Tzarina]

i wish i could go to a rink and just lay on the ice for a bit...

[bleuMadonna]

Nuh uh. Until player and owner ratification, this thread still applies.

NHL... is it back?

Not yet.

Ratification, schmatification. They wouldn't be stupid enough to announce an agreement and then not make it official, would they? Oh...wait...yeah, maybe they would.

*puts away champagne glasses*

[Trizzak]

700 players are voting on it. How many will think it's a horseshit deal and decide to play in Europe?

I'd wait until it's ratified before making the NHL thread.

[Tzarina]

700 players are voting on it. How many will think it's a horseshit deal and decide to play in Europe?

I'd wait until it's ratified before making the NHL thread.
:nono: it sucks, but i have no faith :crying:

[DeadOhioSky]

i've been working 24/7 but i just got a chance to come on and read up. i heard it from my boss but i really didnt know any details, so thanx for catching me up

[jazz]

??
sorry, i assumed you spoke :nerd:

i'll send you a pm.

[Keith Moon]

700 players are voting on it. How many will think it's a horseshit deal and decide to play in Europe?

I'd wait until it's ratified before making the NHL thread.




- Make it!

[Trizzak]

NO!

I will not let them make me look foolish! There will be no premature threads made by me!

[Keith Moon]

- :argh:...:hug2:...:argh:

[bleuMadonna]

NO!

I will not let them make me look foolish! There will be no premature threads made by me!
Are you sure you're not a Red Sox fan? That's a very Soxian kind of attitude. :wink:

[Keith Moon]

- Soxian...:laughing:

[Trizzak]

Are you sure you're not a Red Sox fan? That's a very Soxian kind of attitude. :wink:
My younger brother's a fan, I am not.

Pop quiz for you bleu! Pretty much all Red Sox fans know the name of the owner that sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees (Harry Frazee,) but do you know the name of the owner of the Bosox that signed him?

[Tzarina]

NO!

I will not let them make me look foolish! There will be no premature threads made by me!
can't make it yet, if the deal falls through, it will have to be "the fucking NHL sucks" thread :shrug:

[bleuMadonna]

No, I don't know the name of the owner who actually signed him. A big goose egg for me :shame:

[Trizzak]

J.J Lannin

A Canadian :biggrin:

[bleuMadonna]

J.J Lannin

A Canadian :biggrin:
Smart man!

[Trizzak]

And very underappreciated. The Bosox won 2 World Series during his 3 year reign.

[Trizzak]

Just a thought: I hope Columbus gets the #1 pick to draft Crosby, and then sign Corey Stillman so they can both play on the same line as Nash.

*waits for someone else to get it...*

[Trizzak]

New schedule format.

According to TSN:

32 = 8 games vs. each division rival

40 = 4 games vs. each non-division conference rival

10 = 2 games vs each team in ONE division from the other conference

[bleuMadonna]

And very underappreciated. The Bosox won 2 World Series during his 3 year reign.
:up:

[EtchedInCold]

Just a thought: I hope Columbus gets the #1 pick to draft Crosby, and then sign Corey Stillman so they can both play on the same line as Nash.

*waits for someone else to get it...*
haha... kind of like Hull and Oates

[Trizzak]

haha... kind of like Hull and Oates
Good! I'm not the only one who thought it was funny.

And too complete it, Columbus finds a goalie with the last name Young.

That's the easiest marketing ploy ever.

[PatrickBateman]

700 players are voting on it. How many will think it's a horseshit deal and decide to play in Europe?

I'd wait until it's ratified before making the NHL thread.
then I guess I would have to kiss Roenicks ass

[Trizzak]

- Make it!
Friday!

There will be so much info on that day including; definite cba details, rule changes, the draft lottery, and probably a slew of bought out players.

[Ryan]

don't reply to this thread, tristan.

[Ryan]

Friday!

There will be so much info on that day including; definite cba details, rule changes, the draft lottery, and probably a slew of bought out players.


shit. you beat me.

[Trizzak]

56k powaa!!!

[Ryan]

56k powaa!!!


:crackup:

[jazz]

it's a thing of beauty...that florida panther logo. :inlove:

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/media/photo/2005-07/18523891.jpg

[Trizzak]

One of the better logos for sure.

[EtchedInCold]

players vote today.
owners vote tomorrow.
and televised draft lottery tomorrow night.

[Trizzak]

Player ratified!

Time to make a thread!