NHL cancels more games through December 14

You see where this is going? I suppose it won’t be long before the NHL leadership cancels the whole month of December and then we get to the ledge where the season is cancelled probably soon after if no agreement is reached.

NEW YORK - The National Hockey League announced today the cancellation of the 2012-13 regular-season schedule through December 14. The NHL also announced the cancellation of the 2013 NHL All-Star Weekend scheduled for Jan. 26-27 in Columbus, Ohio. The cancellations are necessary due to the absence of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement between the NHL Players' Association and the NHL.

A total of 422 regular-season games -- 34.3 percent of the season -- were scheduled for Oct. 11 through Dec. 14.

"The reality of losing more regular-season games as well as the 2013 NHL All-Star Weekend in Columbus is extremely disappointing," said NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly. "We feel badly for NHL fans and particularly those in Columbus, and we intend to work closely with the Blue Jackets organization to return the NHL All-Star events to Columbus and their fans as quickly as possible."

You have to wonder how many other players are begging to feel the same way as Roman Hamrlik and Michal Neuvirth. I think this is kind of what the NHL owners wanted to do as well. You have to wonder if there is beginning to be some dissention in the player ranks.

Katie Carrera; Washington Post --- Washington Capitals forward Troy Brouwer was frustrated Thursday to read comments made by two of his teammates that questioned the direction of the NHLPA during the lockout.

In the previous 48 hours, veteran defenseman Roman Hamrlik said that he was “disgusted” and spoke out against NHLPA Executive Director Donald Fehr while goaltender Michal Neuvirth voiced support for the blueliner’s view, adding that he believed the lockout was about “several superstars with big contracts.”

Those comments didn’t sit well with Brouwer, who along with Jason Chimera serves as the Capitals’ representatives to the NHLPA and has spent much of the past few months learning the details of the union’s proposals and helping relay the information to others.

I was wondering about this the other day, not everyone in the NHL makes 5-10 million dollars a year in the NHL. There are a lot of players that are making less money and might be feeling the pinch of the lockout. I wonder is the will signal the beginning of the end of the solidarity with the NHLPA?

“I agree 100 percent with Hammer,” Neuvirth said. “This lockout is not about majority of players, I think. It is about several superstars with big contracts.”

This sums it up well.

More lockout humor?

I am not sure that there is anything humorous about this picture.

KHL coming to ESPN3

The NHL lockout has killed the NHL hockey so far this season and there appears to be no end in sight, however, NHL hockey fans will be able to watch some professional hockey starting October 3rd as the KHL will be on ESPN3.

As the NHL Lockout drags on more NHL players are going overseas to play hockey and If fans are interested in seeing some good hockey, they will be able to see Zedano Chara's KHL team vs. Alex Ovechkin's team on Oct. 9th.

KHL Press Release --- The Kontinental Hockey League has reached an agreement with the US sports TV channel ESPN to broadcast games in the 2012/2013 KHL Championship. The games will be shown on the ESPN3 channel in the United States, Territories of the United States, and also in Great Britain.

ESPN3 reaches 73 million American households and devotes most of its output to live broadcasts of events, including college football, college basketball, the NBA, MLB, ICC (International Cricket Council) competitions and qualifying matches of FIFA tournaments.

During the first ten days of October, the channel will broadcast five KHL games. The planned schedule includes:

Dynamo Moscow vs Ak Bars on Oct. 3rd
Lev vs SKA on Oct. 6th
Slovan vs Dynamo Moscow on Oct. 7th
CSKA vs SKA on Oct. 8th
Lev vs Dynamo Moscow on Oct. 9th.

Toews on Owners; 'who knows if they're willing to do it again'

When I read articles like this one, I get the feeling that this labor disagreement might have the possibility of going for a very long time and there could be a chance that it might not get it settled next season.

s/t to KK… This article is a good read, also, I haven’t see a lot lately that gives me any hope… Former Fighting Sioux forward Jonathan Toews is quoted in this article as well.

Stu Hackel, Red Light Blog --- From the players’ perspective, the owners’ stance borders on self-destruction. Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews, among the most respected leaders in the game, articulated that on Monday after an informal practice by Chicago players. “We saw what the (owners) did in ’04-05, and who knows if they’re willing to do that again,” Toews said (quoted by Chris Kuc of The Chicago Tribune). “To me, it’s just carelessness. It’s them just trying to show everyone that they’re the owners and they’re the league. They can do whatever they want. If they want to hurt their own game and drive it into the ground, that’s what they’ll do. Even if it comes down to that, it doesn’t matter as long as they get what they want.”

Precisely what they want is now fairly well-known: They want to pay the players quite a bit less than they did under the previous agreement. Ownership’s contention is that the economics of the game don’t work, even after they overhauled them in the recently expired CBA by locking out the players for a season to achieve a salary cap system that was designed to fix things. If that tactic worked once for them, the owners are prepared to do it again.

But when that system also brings about record revenues and the healthiest state the NHL has ever been in, it’s worth asking if the economics are as bad as the owners claim. “I know it’s tough to muster sympathy for multimillionaires,” Siegel writes, “but when most of these owners say they’re losing money every year, they’re telling the truth.”

As Siegel points out, Forbes magazine listed 18 NHL clubs that lost money last season in their 2012 team valuations while simultaneously pointing out that the game’s economics have never been more favorable to the owners. (As a caveat, the NHL has always said the Forbes numbers are not accurate; but they remain the best information we have and constitute legitimate estimated and educated guesses.)

When I read articles like this one, I get the feeling that this labor disagreement might have the possibility of going for a very long time and there could be a chance that it might not get it settled next season. I understand why the players don’t want to lose a big chunk of the gains that they have made during the last CBA – I also don’t think that they should have to. This lockout is on the owners – the players wanted to keep playing – the owners locked them out. Now the fans are hostage of the owners and the NHL players.

Lockout humor...

s/t to my good buddy Jason Block...

NHL lockout: raw power to the players

This is a good read that I found today’s Vancouver newspaper the Providence – this year’s CBA negotiations almost seems like a case of déjà vu – we have seen this act before – didn’t like it very much the first time. The Owners led by Gary Bettman are going to bully the players – the owners are hoping that the players will start squabbling among themselves – when this happens the owners begin the break the players down they will then get an agreement.

Tony Gallagher, The Province --- It is about naked power and leverage, nothing more. The players had to know that, because after they hoisted the white flag and agreed to give the owners everything they wanted after the last lockout, the owners retained the same leadership. To expect a different approach now would be unrealistic.

And the key word in that last paragraph is ‘agreed.’ The players eventually agreed to those conditions.

Not only is Gary Bettman still at the helm, it’s the same law firm calling the same shots, which were called the last time, from the same firm calling the shots employed by the NFL and the NBA owners. So there are no surprises here.

In an excellent piece a couple of weeks back, Larry Brooks of the New York Post asked what people would think of the players if they, like the owners are doing now, basically insisted upon a 24 per cent raise in all their negotiated salaries before they took the ice this season. And he pointed out that’s exactly what the owners are doing by insisting the players take rollbacks again this time on contracts that both parties have already freely entered into. Good point.

We are going to have a lockout this season. I believe that there is no way to avoid it; It’s my prediction that hockey fans are going to lose at least a ¼ to ½ of the 2012-13 season.

Why the whole season won’t be lost… During the 2004-05 season the owners waited the players out. This time we won’t lose the whole season. When the lessor paid players hockey players start feeling the pinch of the lockout – this is when the players will succumb to the owners demands. The lesser paid players will pressure the higher paid players to settle so they can go back to work and make a pay check.

Much like 2004-05, fans are going to fill the void of not having the NHL with NCAA Hockey, AHL and JR hockey. One will also have more time, to keep up with their favorite sitcoms. Lastly, there will be more time for family members because there will not be as much hockey on the television.

Monday morning links



Fox Sport photo

 According to Todd D. Milewski of USCHO, there “could” be two NCAA championship games at the Frozen Four starting in 2014 if the NCAA committees signs off on the proposal.

This would mean that the men’s Division I and Division III “could” take place on the same weekend at the same arena. Let me just say – I am not a fan of this idea at all.

WCHA co-columnist for U.S. College Hockey Brian Halverson has resigned from USCHO and is going to be part of a new hockey web page known as Minnesota Hockey Magazine that is set to kick off this October. You can see their new Facebook page by [clicking on this link].

Here is an interesting article from the Toronto Sun, Unlike in 2004, there is no real threat that hockey is going away. Prepare to be bored. [Click to view]

From CBC Hockey Night in Canada, it seem that lockouts in the NHL have become a fact of life. [CBC.CA]

According to Sportnet.CA, Dynamo Moscow doesn't want Alex Ovechkin to play for them if there is an NHL lockout.

I know that this is a little old, but you've got to love J.R. for his brashness, Roenick says owners' proposal was 'bullying'.. [SportsNet.CA]

Ryan Durling of Stanley Cup of Chowder has given Tim Thomas a C+ grade for last season’s play. Just for the record, Tim Thomas played in 59 games recorded a GAA of 2.36 and a record of 35-19-1-5 and Save % of. 920 and in my opinion that is hardly worthy of a C+ ranking.

There had been a rumor in the media that Evander Kane has asked for a trade – Kane says that rumor is not true. [Click to view]

Apparently Capitals goalie Michal Neuvirth caused a stir when he said that team captain Alex Ovechkin “isn’t what he used to be.” Michal Neuvirth has since tried to walk those comments back.

Paisley Hockey has his Monday Links and weekend links up on his blog

Tom Stivali from in Lou We Trust, profiles David Clarkson's 30 Goals during the 2011-12 season.

Friday at the Links

Sounds like the NHLPA led by Donald Fehr is less than impressed with Gary Bettman and the NHL Owners response to their proposal that they put forth in good faith.

One casualty of the impending lockout is that the Detroit Redwings have cancelled their prospects tourney that they hold every summer in Traverse City Michigan.

Helene St. James, Freepress.com --- General manager Ken Holland told the Free Press that, "we had a conference call with all the teams involved. Due to the uncertainty of CBA negotiations and teams having to make commitments for hotel rooms and travel plans -- the biggest thing is the hotel rooms. The people Up North needed to know if the rooms would be used or not. So we made the decision to cancel for 2012. We plan to be back next year."

Games among prospects for the Wings, Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, New York Rangers and St. Louis Blues were to have run Sept. 15-19 at Centre Ice Arena.

Mike Brohy of Sportsnet.CA says not so fast don’t shoot the messenger. [Sportsnet.CA]

Not Lockout related but former Fighting Sioux forward Brad Malone is ranked 5th on the Av’s prospects.

5. Brad Malone, C: After he was taken with the 105th pick in the 2007 draft, Malone spent the next four years at the University of North Dakota. There he developed into an NHL-ready power forward. The Miriamichi, New Brunswick native turned pro prior to last season and made an immediate impact. That's not surprising -- Malone's size (6-foot-2, 207 pounds) and fearless attitude make him a valuable lower-line presence for any organization. He's also got some offensive pop, with 11 goals and 25 assists in 67 games for Lake Erie. When the Avalanche forward lines were hampered by injuries in December, Malone performed well in a nine-game tryout, averaging 10 minutes a game and notching two assists. If his development stays on schedule, look for him to make a breakthrough with Colorado sometime next season. "He's just a big strong guy who plays the center and the wing," Billington said. "He's got good hockey sense, and he's not afraid."

The labor impasse and the prospects of an impending lockout is holding up the signing of free agent deals. Phoenix Coyotes unrestricted free agent forward Shane Doan seems to be a casualty of this as well.

Sarah McLellan, Arizona Republic --– The Coyotes have been among the more conservative operators this offseason, waiting for potential buyer Greg Jamison and long-term captain Shane Doan to decide their futures with the team before the front office could further retool the roster.

But in the weeks leading up to the scheduled open of training camps in mid-September, the pulse around the league has copied that of the Coyotes, slowing as uncertainty picks up with the approaching expiration date of the collective bargaining agreement.

"Everybody is in a holding pattern in regards to the deals they can potentially make," Coyotes general manager Don Maloney said. "The last number of years, August is a quiet month anyway, but this CBA makes it a little quieter than normal."

Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News expects a work stoppage to happen but doesn’t think the lockout will go on very long. I agree as well, because I have a really hard time believing that the NHL would take a chance at losing their money maker the Winter Classic.

The players are thinking globally for the good of the game, allowing the salary cap to stay and proposing ideas like luxury taxes, trading of salary cap space and broader revenue sharing. Bettman and many owners are seemingly thinking only about their pockets. In a rarity for sports labor disputes, most fans are on the players' side.

My sense is we're not going to have an 82-game season but this won't go on too long. I find it hard to believe the league would blow off all the exposure HBO will be again providing with its 24/7 series in advance of the Winter Classic. And let's not forget the expected world record crowd in the 115,000 range likely to pack the Big House at the University of Michigan for the Red Wings and Leafs on New Year's Day.

Still, I wouldn't be making downtown dinner reservations prior to a hockey game thinking you're going to be seeing the Sabres against the Penguins (Oct. 13), Red Wings (Oct. 16) or Rangers (Oct. 19). Under the current schedule, in fact, seven of the Sabres' first 10 games through Nov. 3 are at home. They all seem in jeopardy now.

Jeff Z Klein of the New York’s Slap Shot Blog has two really good blog post this week. How to Share the Revenue Could Be Stumbling Block in N.H.L. Negotiations. [Click to open]

In N.H.L. Negotiation, the Union’s Good Ideas May Not Matter. [Click to open]

NHLers planning a European odyssey in case of a lockout may be in tough. [Winnipeg Sun]

NHL is headed for a lockout but it won't last into 2013, according to a national hockey writer. [Mlive.com]

Another NHL Lockout?

The possibility of the NHL having another lockout is looking more and more like a reality. I don’t believe we will see a season long lock out like we did during the 2004-05 season. There is also a possibility that if there is a lockout there are a half dozen teams that might not survive if there is a lockout.

NEWARK, N.J. - NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr confirmed on Wednesday that their sides hope to begin discussions on a new collective agreement in the next few weeks.

This was one of several topics Bettman spoke about in his annual pre-Stanley Cup final state-of-the-union address. Fehr was in attendance to listen to Bettman speak in the bowels of the Prudential Center and afterwards the NHLPA boss held his own Q-and-A session with reporters.

It was ironic that Bettman announced in his session that the league enjoyed record revenues of $3.3-billion US this season. Yet, there is a strong possibility that the 2012-13 NHL season will not begin on time because of prolonged CBA fight.

So as we watch the Stanley Cup Finals between the New Jersey Devils and the Los Angeles Kings – there is a possibility that this could be the only NHL hockey we have for a long time.