Check out Post 485 on Page 20...where I said this is precisely how it would all play out.
I'm glad hockey is back, but it is absolutely hilarious to see all the excitement, given the amount of "boycott" and "send a message" stuff going on for the last 3 months.
The fans (myself included) are tools who exist to be used by the NHL and NHLPA and they know that.
That is why "fan reaction" is the last thing the parties brokering this deal thought about...and rightly so!
Also, now that this is close to being over, it is worth pointing out that Fehr was a great hire for the players and he absolutely got the better of Bettman...
Word on the street is that Gary always feels he's the smartest guy in the room. I guess that presumes Don Fehr isn't in that same room at the time.
It was a JOY to see Bettman's head almost implode during that 40 minute press conference back in December....when he realized he was being played like a fiddle by Fehr, possibly for the first time in the entire process.
Little whiney boy (Bettman) is used to being able to beat up on inferior opponents. Then Fehr comes along and takes him to school.
Check out Post 485 on Page 20...where I said this is precisely how it would all play out.
I'm glad hockey is back, but it is absolutely hilarious to see all the excitement, given the amount of "boycott" and "send a message" stuff going on for the last 3 months.
The fans (myself included) are tools who exist to be used by the NHL and NHLPA and they know that.
That is why "fan reaction" is the last thing the parties brokering this deal thought about...and rightly so!
Also, now that this is close to being over, it is worth pointing out that Fehr was a great hire for the players and he absolutely got the better of Bettman...
Word on the street is that Gary always feels he's the smartest guy in the room. I guess that presumes Don Fehr isn't in that same room at the time.
It was a JOY to see Bettman's head almost implode during that 40 minute press conference back in December....when he realized he was being played like a fiddle by Fehr, possibly for the first time in the entire process.
Little whiney boy (Bettman) is used to being able to beat up on inferior opponents. Then Fehr comes along and takes him to school.
A real JOY to see.
I cannot wait for Game 1.
You should apply to work for the DPRK. They would love your work.
What? To dismiss Paul Kelly's ouster or what that ouster meant in terms of a power struggle within the PA as simple "drama". Well that tells me you really don't have a strong grasp of the Kelly fiasco and its impact on the current situation.
I'm actually amazed at the level of ignorance some posters have when it comes to the NHLPA and what it is. Its corruption, dirty dealing and underhanded crap and thats just within its own ranks. Its been a sleazy organization its entire existance minus the Kelly years. Paul Kelly tried to fix the problems and uncover the dirt. He also worked to have a stronger relationship with the NHL to prevent the type of labor strife we are seeing now. What did it get him? Ousted by the very scum he had investigated by a former FBI agent. the majority of players had no idea why it happened and still don't.
The NHLPA hardliners are as cutthroat as any NHL owner out there, probably more so than most.
You might find this little bit quite interesting...
Andrew Ference was on Boston local WEEI and said the following
Ference on if Kelly were still leading PA: "We'd be playing and the league would be salivating."
2013's front-runner for the Massengill Award already... 'round of applause please...
EDIT: Would help if I remembered to post a link
Quote:
Bruins defenseman Andrew Ference, who admitted on Dennis & Callahan to helping "get rid of" former NHLPA executive director Paul Kelly, said after an informal skate Monday at Boston University that he doesn't believe Kelly could have gotten the players the deal that current NHLPA head Donald Fehr netted them this weekend.
"No," Ference said, straight-faced. "We'd be playing, I'm sure. I'm sure we wouldn't have missed as much hockey and the league would have been salivating. That's the blunt answer."
We are very pleased that the owners and the players' union were able to come together and agree upon the framework for a new, 10-year Collective Bargaining Agreement. With the new CBA, a fair deal is in place to ensure that the NHL remains strong and continues to be the world's best showcase for hockey.
As an organization, the Buffalo Sabres have always cherished our passionate fans and their unyielding love of hockey. We want to sincerely thank our fans for their patience during this process and their consistent support of our team for the past several months. During those months, we have kept your dedication in mind as we have continued to make Buffalo a premiere destination for hockey.
Once the CBA is ratified, our organization will move quickly to make sure all of our fans and partners have the required information they need regarding the schedule, beginning of training camp, season tickets, mini-packs and individual ticket sales. We have a plan in place and will execute it over the next several days, once we’re able to do so.
It's time again to play, watch and enjoy the game we all love. The Buffalo Sabres will remain committed to the one goal Terry Pegula set for this franchise when he became owner nearly two years ago: winning the Stanley Cup. I look forward to a successful 2012-13 season and an exciting new chapter for hockey.
Sincerely,
Theodore N. Black
President/NHL Alternate Governor
Standard stuff and lacking in a lot of specifics, but things are moving forward at least.
Mirtle tweeting that "teams will be able to retain salary/cap hit in a trade. This will be a very complex and carefully worded portion of new CBA I'm sure."
Good! I'm glad the players (esp. the more vocal and militant ones) think they got a good deal via Fehr. That means they are likely to vote in favor of it.
Frankly, I don't see how the majority of players - i.e.; the rank and file, ever recoup the losses they took in earnings after they rejected the Oct and Nov league offers. Seems like a deal that was struck more for the benefit of the 100 players with longer term contracts versus the lunchpail players. But I've not done a side by side comparison.
(I guess Ferrence thinks he's in the former group???)
The best news for me is that by the time the next CBA needs to be negotiated (8 or 10 years), Fehr will probably be looking in from the other side of life's terminator.
Bettman for that matter as well (or retired, one hopes).
Why do I feel like a "10-year CBA" that either side can opt out of after 8 years is really an 8-year CBA?
It's too early to know whether or not anyone will opt to terminate it as soon as they get the opportunity when we haven't seen how the deal will treat each side yet.
The last one had multiple opt-outs and I'm sure many felt that the PA would terminate as soon as they got the chance because they apparently "lost" last time, but it treated them more than well (average of 500-700% increase in salary) and the agreement ran until the latest possible end date.
FWIW - Per Bob McKenzie - CBA is 10 yrs with mutual 8 yr opt-out but NHL has 1st option to terminate, no later than Sept. 1, 2019. NHLPA 2nd option, Sept. 15, 2019.
Its pretty sad he is proud of what he did back then but not surprising. Some of the crap thats gone on in the NHLPA over the years would make a a Teamster blush.
If either side can opt out in September 2019 then the deal is even worse-fans will be shut out again....
How do you figure? At absolute worse it's an 8 year deal. What does it matter then when the deal ends? It's still a long deal and it'll still end at some point.
"In the end, neither side got everything it wanted and everyone lost in the short term," said Bettman. "But the NHL gained a long-term agreement that's good for players and good for teams, and should guarantee the future success of NHL hockey for many years to come. It will help the game to grow, ensuring greater economic stability for all of our teams."
