no, either the new teams or the player will have to pay the insurance.
This has been debated over here since even if some players
says that they are willing to play for free, the teams still have to
pay for the players insurances.
Let me re-phrase my response. I read (on espn I believe but I am too busy to go back and find the citation) that the NHLPA will pay for/reimburse players who are forced to buy their own insurance if they play in another league. As I'm sure you're aware, unions provide benefits when their members are locked out/on strike.
It would be cool if the entire team (the starters at least) just stayed home and practiced/scrimmaged together for the duration of the lockout. It would help them develop chemistry, bring them closer together, and keep them in shape as sort of an extended training camp. I guess a man has to get payed, though...
Anyway, I've heard it on pretty good authority that the season SHOULD be back by December. Obviously nothing is certain, but that's what I've heard from people involved.
I'm glad that I know a website that streams all NHL games for free, because the NHL will not be seeing a dime of money from me this season. Maybe if all the fans united and did this, they would start to give a **** about these lock outs.
I think that the players going to different European leagues for a part (or all of) the season has nothing to do with disloyalty, Money (for the most part - maybe less some KHL players) or bad judgement. These guys are hockey players that have sacrificed a whole lot to make it to the NHL level of the game. They live and love the game and if they are locked out by their employers they try to find somewhere else to practice their passion & profession while they leave it to their professional representatives to solve the bargaining agreement - where their individual input and leverage is minimal. Who could really hold this against them?
The fairy tale ideas about having the team stick together, practice as a team and wait it out is nowhere near the mindset of many of these players. I know a whole bunch of these guys personally and their opinion differs greatly from the mindset here on HF Boards. And I also know as a fact that many players are willing to play for free - or very little cash - as long as their teams pay the quite expensive (by European standards) insurance policies that need to be signed before they hit the ice.
This especially applies to many European players and the younger contingency of NHL players. The average career and time in the limelight is short and sweet. They just wanna play! Let em do it!
Ryan McDonagh’s agent confirmed the Rangers’ 23-year-old defenseman has received offers to play in Europe during the lockout.
“We are sorting through them, but have not made a decision yet,” Ben Hankinson wrote in an email.
McDonagh last week told The Post he would seek advice before committing to play in Europe.
“The most important thing for me is to stay sharp and keep developing,” McDonagh said. “It’s my first time through this, so I’ll ask for recommendations from people with more experience.
“I want to improve as a hockey player. Whatever the best way is to accomplish that, that’s what I’ll do.”
The NHL’s lockout-prompted autumnal migration to Europe will not include Brad Richards.
“I am staying here for the fall,” Richards, the Rangers’ alternate captain, told The Post yesterday by email. “Not thinking about anything until at least Christmas. Going to train, skate and be ready.”
Richards received $8M of his $12M salary as a signing bonus in July.
The NHL should be playing or gearing up to play by Christmas.
Yea in Richards' case he really has nothing to gain by risking injury overseas since he already has $8M in the bank for this year.
Guess you gotta trust a veteran who's been through this before to be responsible and stay in game shape.
__________________
"Here we can see the agression of american people. They love fighting and guns. when they wont win they try to kill us all." -HalfOfFame
Chris Nichols @Nichols_NHLPool
NHLers WILL be able to sign lockout deals in Elitserien. Swedish anti-competition agency voids SEL rule. Per Aftonbladet, via
This makes me feel better. Would rather the players go to the SEL opposed to the KHL.
This makes me feel better. Would rather the players go to the SEL opposed to the KHL.
This. If McDonagh signs overseas, hopefully, if possible, he joins Lundqvist in Frolunda.
Edit - Forgot about Hagelin. Hopefully he signs in Frolunda as well.
__________________
"Trust me I'm an expert, I watched 13 rangers games on NHL center Ice this year through streaming." -Starburst
"I don't even understand what the point of all this arguing is. Are you guys hoping that the other side is going to have an epiphany and go 'Oh, OH! You're right, we ARE going to lose this series!'" -Crease
David Pagnotta @TheFourthPeriod
Rangers forward Carl Hagelin will stay in NYC for the rest of the month, then decide which team in Sweden he'll sign with.
Why would Frolunda want Lundqvist when they had arguably the top SEL goalie last year?
Because he signed and NHL contract and is now with Norfolk in the AHL. And even if he still was here Lundqvist would arguably be a better option in net, think I heard something about some Vezina trophy, whatever that is.
– Klart att det skulle vara kul att spela med brorsan och komma hem till familj, vänner, Frölunda och alla fans. Men det kom plötsligt. Jag behöver fundera lite och prata med alla berörda. Framförallt måste jag tänka på vad som är bäst för Rangers, som ju är min arbetsgivare.
– Of course it would be fun to play with my brother and come home to family, friends, Frölunda and all the fans. But this came so suddenly. I must think about it and talk to everyone involved. Foremost I must consider what is best for the Rangers, who are my employers.
This makes me feel better. Would rather the players go to the SEL opposed to the KHL.
The SEL has limits on the number of foreign players who can be on the roster at any time. Obviously, this will not have any effect on a Swedish player from the NHL, but unless the SEL is going to allow teams to expand their rosters and sign more non-Swedish players, there will be limits.
I think many of the returning players can survive without salary for a few months so most of them just wants to play in the league they came from and return home to friends and family. In their mind I think they return to a higher "quality" of life and hockey then they have in the NHL. This wont be true for everyone though but there is a reason why many return home after they are done playing in the NHL, some even before that.
Hopefully I'll get to see Lundqvist where he belongs, even if it's just for a short while, but from what I've read he really enjoy his life in ny so he might think differently about that.
Why would Frolunda want Lundqvist when they had arguably the top SEL goalie last year?
Uhhhhhh . . .
__________________
"Of course giving Sather cap space is like giving teenagers whiskey and car keys." - SBOB "Watching Sather build a team is like watching a blind man with no fingers trying to put together an elaborate puzzle." - Shadowtron
Sestito still on the make a wish tour. - rholt168
