1. Most people I spoke with believe a new CBA will gain major traction later this week and be finalized at some point next week. If so, a season could start as early as New Year's Eve, or at least the first week of January. I caution you: this did not come from the league office or the NHLPA office, just people of various role and rank throughout the NHL.
2. The final steps of CBA negotiations put the 'Ugh" in Ugly. As one sports labor expert put it: "It's the last grab, the last chance to gain ground before you've met in what has become the new middle. So the temperature tends to creep upward and people get volatile. Usually there's one tremendous blow-up before a deal is reached. That's what happened in the NBA, right? Well, that's what has happened in a lot of them." Another noted that the very mention by either part of "transition" rules is an indicator that the end is near.
Oh, and one highly-respected NHL guy said he thought both sides should be "kicked square in the ( ----- )" for dragging this process out so long.
I remember when the NBPA filed a disclaimer after they appeared to be close to a deal. Stern predicted a "nuclear winter" but a deal was struck less than 2 weeks later. That was last Thursday for the NHL. Gary Bettman and Hill Daly lost their minds.
I remember when the NBPA filed a disclaimer after they appeared to be close to a deal. Stern predicted a "nuclear winter" but a deal was struck less than 2 weeks later. That was last Thursday for the NHL. Gary Bettman and Hill Daly lost their minds.
nuttz?
I couldn't agree more. It was a disgrace from the get go and its only getting worse. I wonder when Canadian press will stop idolizing Bettman.
just had a fantasy draft on Sunday, lol.......thinking positive that they will get this done soon and NHL is back in the New Yr.
If so what does the Rangers camp look like? Its going to be short so from what I see they have 2 G, likely call up a 3rd just for practice.............they have 7 D healthy, no Sauer and I don't think Gilroy gets a NHL deal but he does get a 2 way and is the first call up option. He also goes to camp.
up front they have 12 NHL contracted Forwards and Gabby looks healthy so everyone will be ready. A Spare is needed though so Haley , Kolarik, Newbury come to camp? They cant take too many from CT can they?
The King wrote a column in today's post. A great read...
Quote:
I HAVE to admit, I was so excited on Tuesday when I walked past the Garden and got my first look at it in a long, long time.
So many different thoughts went through my head. I was thinking about how I missed being there, how frustrating it’s been not to be able to play and be with my teammates and in front of our fans.
Everything I was thinking came back to the lockout. That’s how it is every day with almost everything. Everything comes back to the lockout. It just makes me upset. The more I think about it, the more upset I am.
I can’t even remember the last time I’ve been away from hockey as long as I have been now. It feels so strange. Everything is off. Nothing is the way it’s supposed to be. It’s hard to imagine that it’s almost Christmas but the season hasn’t even started yet.
I miss it so much. I miss the game. I miss the excitement. I miss the challenge of pushing myself every day. I feed off competing. I feed off the energy.
I’ve tried to be positive. I have to admit that I never thought we would be out this long. I’ve never gone through anything like this before. The first couple of weeks were weird but then when I realized we might be out for a long time, I started to freak out a little bit. It’s hard to explain.
You feed off the game. It’s your life. I never imagined it would be this difficult for me not to play and how much I would miss it. I guess you take it for granted that you will always play.
It’s really hard for a lot of people to understand this. I don’t expect people to understand. Sometimes it’s hard for us to understand.
It was good at first to be able to go home with [my wife] Therese and have the chance for [my five-month old daughter] Charlise to say hi for the first time to everyone in our family and our friends. That’s the only good thing about this. But as much as Therese and I enjoy home, we miss New York. That’s where we should be now.
Coming back a couple of weeks ago and playing in the charity game at Atlantic City was the best I have felt in a long time. I had no idea what to expect, but it felt so good to be out there playing a game.
Of course it wasn’t just playing a game, it was the reason we were playing — to help raise money for the recovery from Hurricane Sandy — that also made it special. It’s so inspiring to see how everyone works so hard — and I don’t mean the hockey players — to help other people in need.
It was a great night. I loved every minute of it.
When I went past the Garden I thought about the excitement our fans bring that makes it so special. I know the fans are really upset, and they have a right to be. They deserve better. I really mean that. They are so loyal. They spend so much money for tickets and merchandise and to be there to support the team.
The fans deserve better. The game of hockey deserves better. I can’t even express how much I hope we’re back playing very, very soon.
“@GMillerTSN: The consensus among NHL management types/agents here this morning is that there will definitely be a resolution to the lockout, and soon.”
“@GMillerTSN: The consensus among NHL management types/agents here this morning is that there will definitely be a resolution to the lockout, and soon.”
“@GMillerTSN: The consensus among NHL management types/agents here this morning is that there will definitely be a resolution to the lockout, and soon.”
The modern media and accessibility of information is turning this lockout into an emotional roller coaster for those with internet access at work.
