Are you making money? “We’re not making money, and that’s one reason we need to fix our system. We need to fix how much we’re spending right now. Our revenues are fine. We’re down a little bit in attendance, but we’re up in sponsorships, we’re up in TV revenue. And so the revenue that we’re generating is not the issue as much as our expenses. And our biggest expense by far is player salaries.”
Their goal isn't to raise revenues but to cut spending, particularly on player salaries? That's really worrying. It's not like this is a cap team, or even close to it. If they "fix" how much they're spending, they're gonna fall into Phoenix salary territory.
Their goal isn't to raise revenues but to cut spending, particularly on player salaries? That's really worrying. It's not like this is a cap team, or even close to it. If they "fix" how much they're spending, they're gonna fall into Phoenix salary territory.
this is in context of the upcoming CBA talks llama. I don't think he's talking about Cap spending.
this is in context of the upcoming CBA talks llama. I don't think he's talking about Cap spending.
Good point. I took that section a little hard. However, in context of the owners potentially wanting a better HRR split, it would be a poor choice for any owner to claim they're making a profit.
let the mud slinging begin! Cynical goggle fully in place I read that as an opening salvo in the PR scuffle that will inevitably happen as the deadline approaches. I think the owners are all smart enough to realize that no one is going to be sympathetic towards them so they're trying to get public perception of the players down to their level. Look at these guys and how much money they make! At least that's the tone in which i read it. We need to come up with a system in which the wealth is spread more evenly. We have costs to match or exceed our profits, and the players don't.
let the mud slinging begin! Cynical goggle fully in place I read that as an opening salvo in the PR scuffle that will inevitably happen as the deadline approaches. I think the owners are all smart enough to realize that no one is going to be sympathetic towards them so they're trying to get public perception of the players down to their level. Look at these guys and how much money they make! At least that's the tone in which i read it. We need to come up with a system in which the wealth is spread more evenly. We have costs to match or exceed our profits, and the players don't.
Honestly, Leipold's right. There will be no issues and no lost games. In fact, Russo couldn't be more wrong about "coming down to September 15" as it'll likely be resolved on May 15th.
Honestly, Leipold's right. There will be no issues and no lost games. In fact, Russo couldn't be more wrong about "coming down to September 15" as it'll likely be resolved on May 15th.
hahaha i was informed by someone in accounting that most organizations will make money if there is a lockout that erases preseason...or lose less, in some cases, as they don't have to pay the players.
edit: i don't think it will go as smoothly as you predict, unfortunately. I don't think we'll lose a season or anything like that but i'll be happily surprised if it doesn't eat into the season a little.
Mmm...I think it will take some time. They won't lose any season, but I don't think it gets down super quick. I think the owners will either need to revamp revenue sharing to give more money to the small- (and even mid-) market teams or else go after the players to get back some of the revenues. Because although Revenues are going way up, costs are going way up as well, and that means lower revenue teams are getting squeezed out. I mean, the Wild went from making money to losing money over the last few years, even without spending to the cap.
i remember an article from earlier this year talking about how much insurance prices have skyrocketed...owners are going to want to mitigate that somehow. Salaries aren't going down, so how else are they going to do it? You can only cheapen the fan appreciation stuff so much (people here have already complained about it). I don't want to be the "Awww poor owners!" guy but from their perspective owning a team and spending to the cap is a lot more of a PITA than it used to be.
The reason I mention May 15 is because the CBA doesn't actually expire this year. In fact, I'm not sure it expires at all, ever. What actually happens is the "out clause" in the CBA is valid this year and forward. Starting this year, either the NHLPA or the league may opt out of the existing CBA as long as they issue a statement to that regard prior to May 15. This will cause the CBA to end, and require a new one be agreed to in order for the season to resume. Outside of a little bit of pre-emptive posturing, and a ton of media speculation with no sourcing, basis, or resemblence to reality, there's no indication that either side will opt out of the existing CBA. Player salaries are at all time highs. There's little to no issues with which the PA have significant concern. The players don't really have any reason to bring an end to the CBA. The owners are in a spot where league revenues are at all time highs. General sports opinions are fairly negative towards owners in general (although the Fehr hiring brought the PA significant ire). The league just received a record TV deal for their product. Do they really have incentive to invoke the end of the CBA this year? Wouldn't it make a tremendous amount of sense for the league to wait an extra year, and initiate talks during this offseason, with a deadline not until the following year when their product is in the fragile spot of just nearly climbing back into national relevance?
AP Headline that came across on something I was reading. I think it might have been ESPN's Wild page when I was trying to see if they had "hits" stats (NHL.com does not like my work comp).
The reason I mention May 15 is because the CBA doesn't actually expire this year. In fact, I'm not sure it expires at all, ever. What actually happens is the "out clause" in the CBA is valid this year and forward. Starting this year, either the NHLPA or the league may opt out of the existing CBA as long as they issue a statement to that regard prior to May 15. This will cause the CBA to end, and require a new one be agreed to in order for the season to resume. Outside of a little bit of pre-emptive posturing, and a ton of media speculation with no sourcing, basis, or resemblence to reality, there's no indication that either side will opt out of the existing CBA. Player salaries are at all time highs. There's little to no issues with which the PA have significant concern. The players don't really have any reason to bring an end to the CBA. The owners are in a spot where league revenues are at all time highs. General sports opinions are fairly negative towards owners in general (although the Fehr hiring brought the PA significant ire). The league just received a record TV deal for their product. Do they really have incentive to invoke the end of the CBA this year? Wouldn't it make a tremendous amount of sense for the league to wait an extra year, and initiate talks during this offseason, with a deadline not until the following year when their product is in the fragile spot of just nearly climbing back into national relevance?
That actually makes perfect sense.
And that is precisely why I expect one of the two parties will opt out and force the issue this year.
It has been confirmed that Koivu will join Team Finland for the World Championships.
I think this is the only reason why he came back to play for the Wild at the end of the year. If he stayed out and played in the WC, then fans would have been upset, and possibly management. He played through the pain to play for his country. Koivu's wont to play for team Finland, lost out on our tank. This upsets me.
Yeah...he didn't come back because he's a competitor and felt healthy and wanted to do the job he's being paid for...and captain his team...no way couldn't be that.
I think this is the only reason why he came back to play for the Wild at the end of the year. If he stayed out and played in the WC, then fans would have been upset, and possibly management. He played through the pain to play for his country. Koivu's wont to play for team Finland, lost out on our tank. This upsets me.
