So, to review, NHLPA is prepared to go to 50-50 immediately, but wants $393M over four years as part of so-called "Make Whole."
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) November 21, 2012
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| English: Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews during warm up prior to a National Hockey League playoff game against the Calgary Flames, in Calgary. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Chris Kuc, Chicago Tribune --- The Blackhawks captain wasn't 100 percent healed in July. Or October. In fact, it wasn't until late last week that Toews was convinced he's completely over the concussion that caused him to miss the final two months of the 2011-12 regular season before he returned in the postseason against the Coyotes.
While Toews was symptom-free and had cleared all the NHL-imposed concussion protocols before returning to the Hawks' lineup, there were lingering effects from the injury that even the 24-year-old center didn't realize were affecting him. They included balance and eyesight issues that were discovered and solved during a five-day stint at an Atlanta-area chiropractic neurology facility last week.
"Even if you don't feel something and you think you're symptom-free, there's probably still something there that's kind of hindering you and affecting the way your brain works," Toews told the Tribune on Wednesday. "It was just a lot of eye-movement things. My eyes didn't track very well. They didn't look from one target to the next very well. My balance with my eyes closed and my head turned a certain way was terrible. (There were) little things that I would think were normal because I didn't feel something in my head.
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| Original NHL logo, used until 2005. A version of the logo features it in the shape of a hockey puck. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP)--- A person familiar with the situation tells The Associated Press that the NHL has cancelled the 2013 Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium.Nice to see that the NHL is finally becoming the No Hockey League... One has to wonder if and when will the two sides finally put their differences aside and come to an agreement so we can have an NHL season. It's obvious that the NHL Owners are trying to get the NHLPA to crack and I don't see it happening this time around.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity Friday because the league had not yet announced the cancellation of its signature event. The person also the NHL will schedule its next Winter Classic at the iconic stadium that seats more than 100,000 people.
Last week, the NHL wiped out all of its previously scheduled games through the end of November.
Detroit and Toronto, two of the league's Original Six teams, were going to play outdoors on Jan. 1 at the stadium known as the Big House. The league was hoping the matchup would break the world record for hockey attendance. Michigan and Michigan State's hockey teams drew a record 104,173 fans in 2010.
RT @csnne: #BruinsTalk Reports are saying the Winter Classic could be canceled very soon. ow.ly/eRrBN #lockouttalk
— Joe Haggerty (@HackswithHaggs) October 29, 2012
@drewc_78 @csnne Yes. They also reported last week that it would be today. So there's that
— Joe Haggerty (@HackswithHaggs) October 29, 2012
Since rejecting the union's trio of proposals, the league has made two rounds of game cancellations. The latest, announced on Friday, wiped out the regular-season schedule for November. A source familiar with the league's plan told ESPNNewYork.com that the league is expected to cancel the Winter Classic on Thursday, the source said.[Katie Strang, ESPN.COM]So if the NHL cancels the Winter Classic, that would mean all the other events that were supposed to take place during that time frame will also be cancelled or moved to other venues as well.
The bigger loss to the city of Detroit is the Winter Festival, a two-week event set to start in late December at Comerica Park and featuring a slew of hockey games ranging from high school to juniors to college to a Wings' alumni doubleheader.So here is the schedule of everything that is supposed to take place during the Winter Classic. There is a full slate of game from the NCAA, OHL, AHL and the NHL scheduled. That is set to be cancelled on Thursday if no agreement is reached.
While it may seem like that could still be held regardless of the state of the NHL, it is the NHL that would be building and funding an ice rink at Comerica, a trade-off the Wings agreed to in exchange for having the Winter Classic in Ann Arbor rather than Detroit.
Pierre LeBrun, ESPN.com --- Fehr reiterated to ESPN.com on Tuesday that he believes the league in that meeting Thursday told the NHLPA there isn't much wiggle room on the rest of the deal, apart from "make whole," other than "minor and insubstantial" tweaks.This is the article that makes me think that the end to the lockout might be closer than we all think. I mean seriously, we know that there are some NHL owners that aren’t doing that well financially and last year one blog said that there were a half dozen teams that might not make if there is a lockout that lasts for a whole season.
Not helping things is the growing distrust between the two sides, the controversy over the league’s 48-hour window allowing GMs to talk to players being the latest example. It’s the kind of thing that doesn't inspire either side to believe anything the other side is saying.
Having said that, all rhetoric aside, I believe the ability of both sides to figure out "make whole" is paramount to having any chance of ending this lockout.
James Mirtle, Globe and Mail --- So the NHL is tired of talking to “a baseball guy” and trying to take its message directly to the players, looking for a sympathetic ear.I guess only time will tell and here are a few more tweets that popped up tonight, that you can peruse and see what I am talking about.
Such an end-around isn’t unusual – after all, it happened during the last lockout – but it usually comes as part of an endgame strategy.
Are we that far along already? Maybe.
But this time around it is as much to do with (a) testing the players’ resolve and (b) frustration with NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr’s dour consistency as anything.
It’s also a sign the league is getting a little anxious – and that a compromise that can end this lockout could actually not be as far away as the rhetoric suggests.
What the NHL is really doing here is fishing for weak points in the membership: players who really don’t want to miss paycheques and are willing to consider the not quite 50-50 offer on the table.
@helenenothelen @michaelgrange I do. And I suspect Bettman and Fehr settle this long before we hear about meeting that seals it.
— Rob Rossi (@RobRossi_Trib) October 24, 2012
likely this deal gets done before either #NHL or #nhlpa confirm meeting that ends #lockout. This was never ending in public view. #quietgood
— Rob Rossi (@RobRossi_Trib) October 24, 2012
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| English: NHL Commisioner Gary Bettman in 2007. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
TORONTO — NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman received three counterproposals from the players’ association on Thursday and left the negotiating table “thoroughly disappointed.”
No new talks have been scheduled, and the possibility of a full hockey regular season is quickly shrinking.
The union offered multiple options in response to the NHL’s offer on Tuesday that called for an 82-game season and a 50-50 split of hockey-related revenues between owners and players.
Bettman said that proposal was the “best that we could do” and added that the two sides are still far apart.
“None of the three variations of player share that they gave us even began to approach 50-50, either at all or for some long period of time,” Bettman said. “It’s clear we’re not speaking the same language.”
NHL owners reject 3 counter-offers from players; commissioner says sides 'nowhere close' to deal - @globeandmail bit.ly/RbCL0W
— Breaking News (@BreakingNews) October 18, 2012
Sidney Crosby: when you make 3 proposals and get shut down in 10 minutes it's hard to think the other side really wants to negotiate.
— Michael Grange (@michaelgrange) October 18, 2012
Crosby says he will look a little harder at playing in Europe.
— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) October 18, 2012
NHL offer today at 50-50...Biggest issue is to honour existing contracts...players will get full value of contract in deferred dollars.
— John Shannon (@JSportsnet) October 17, 2012
Per player source,clarification is needed on HRR definition in league proposal,appears in new offer player share is lowered.Also 'salary
— Aaron Ward (@aaronward_nhl) October 17, 2012
guarantee/protection',to allow to go from 57% to 50%,means players would likely be paid back by themselves,out of their share in the
— Aaron Ward (@aaronward_nhl) October 17, 2012
Being told there's plenty of good traction tonight over CBA. Still a lot of work to be done, but this could move relatively quickly.
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) October 17, 2012
New PHT -Next CBA meetings will indeed take place Thursday dlvr.it/2KpBm3
— Joe Yerdon (@JoeYerdonPHT) October 17, 2012
Players cautiously optimistic after NHL offer es.pn/R8WJJL
— ESPN NHL coverage (@ESPN_NHL) October 17, 2012
Slight window that would allow 82-game season, #mnwild will cut checks to those fans wanting refunds now (2/2)
— Michael Russo (@Russostrib) October 4, 2012
Although, not official, it's expected the NHL will announce games from Oct 11 through Oct 24th have been cancelled.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) October 4, 2012
NHL cancels 82 games, thru Oct. 24. RT @downgoesbrown: "Here's hoping it was just the entire Blue Jackets schedule." Ha!
— Mark Spector Sports (@SportsnetSpec) October 4, 2012
NHL: 14 days of games cancelled.Players in Europe: big deal. Season ticketholders: owners still have our money paid in April.
— Chris Botta (@ChrisBottaNHL) October 4, 2012
Per NHL release: "The cancellation was necessary because of the absence of a (CBA) between the NHL Players' Association and the NHL."
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) October 4, 2012
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| ST PAUL, MN - JULY 9: Chuck Fletcher, general manager of the Minnesota Wild looks on as Ryan Suter #20 and Zach Parise #11 speak during a press conference on July 9, 2012 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife) |
Patrick Hoffman; Sportsnet --- Ryan Suter, D, Minnesota Wild: $2 millionJust for the record I don't fault either player because they signed what they were offered during the off-season. I also think it's a bit of irony that the NHL owners while claiming to be hurting - there is at least one NHL owner that is going to have to pay 20 million dollars in player bonuses while the league is locked out.
Much like Weber, his former defensive partner with the Nashville Predators, defenceman Ryan Suter had quite the interesting and rewarding off-season.
On the first day of free agency, Suter was signed to a 13-year deal worth $98 million by the Minnesota Wild. It was one of the most lucrative deals in Wild history, and one that must pay off if the team wants to become a postseason contender.
Suter is due to make $12 million total this season, which includes a signing bonus of $10 million. Therefore, should the NHL season be lost for the year, Suter will only lose $2 million of his salary.
Zach Parise, LW, Minnesota Wild: $2 million
The other most lucrative deal that the Minnesota Wild signed this off-season was to left winger Zach Parise.
Like Suter, Parise was also signed to a 13-year deal worth $98 million. The Wild, not known for their offensive prowess, now have someone who can produce on a consistent basis and a player that wields a ton of speed, a nose for the net, soft hands and the ability to create plays.
In an identical windfall to Suter, Parise is due to make $12 million this season with a signing bonus of $10 million. Like Suter, Parise will only lose $2 million if the lockout extends.
Parise considering job in Switzerland; Parise, Koivu crunched by Big John; Rest of #NHL preseason canceledstartribune.com/sports/blogs/1…
— Michael Russo (@Russostrib) September 27, 2012
There's a stunner RT @nhl: NHL announces cancellation of remainder of preseason schedule.bit.ly/QXuMTZ
— John Forsyth (@blackbear93) September 27, 2012
ICYMI Mathew Dumba is on a list that allows him to be recalled when the Lockout ends. bit.ly/P92aoV #mnwild #wildprospects
— Nate Wells (@gopherstate) September 27, 2012
CBA Meetings Planned Through Sunday: from the CP at TSN, The NHL's collective bargaining talks are set to restart... dlvr.it/2DVl7s
— Kukla's Korner .com (@kuklaskorner) September 27, 2012
NHL Cancels Remaining Preseason Games: NEW YORK (September 27, 2012) – The National Hockey League announced today... dlvr.it/2DVl6C
— Kukla's Korner .com (@kuklaskorner) September 27, 2012
Rest of #NHL exhibition season bagged officially, but #cba negotiations to resume (kinda) Friday in NYC #nhlpa #lockout
— Rob Rossi (@RobRossi_Trib) September 27, 2012
NHL cancels rest of preseason schedule bit.ly/V1Alof
— John Vogl (@BuffNewsVogl) September 27, 2012
Jeffrey Ougler, Sault Star --- “(Hockey’s) a game of emotion, it’s a game of teamwork, it’s a game of guys protecting guys, watching each other’s backs, guys stepping up to each other if someone does a dirty hit ... It’s a game of accountability,” he said, adding NHL instigator rules have only seen concussions increase, “respect rates” diminish and “head shots” hike.I don't like this new rules one bit, because I am afraid that some genius in the NHL is going to come up with the idea that this 10 fight rule -- or a rule similar to this one needs to be enacted in the NHL as well. I think it's a slipper slope that we don't want to go down - if the NHL went to a rule like this the "rats" would flourish in the NHL.
In 1992, the league ushered in the controversial “instigator” rule, which adds an additional two-minute minor penalty to the player who starts a fight.
“But I really think there will be an issue when a guy can’t stand up for a teammate,” Belanger said.
“If someone hammers a goalie, that’s OK now because, guess what, my excuse is I can’t do anything to the guy because I don’t want to get suspended.
“So now, is there accountability for anybody?”
In other words, what you might see now are some players thinking they can, perhaps, high-stick or do other dirty deeds with impunity — violations that would have earlier landed them a crack in the jaw.
“(The new rules are) not going to eliminate head shots and guys getting into fights, because, guess what, if your top-line players aren’t going to be getting into fights, they’re going to be running around, and now you’ve got your small guys who don’t have to worry about fighting,” he added.
