NHLers taking up minor league jobs!!

[HockeyCanuck]

The thing I have a major problem with is these NHL players that are complaining they don't make enough or don't want to be capped on what they can make taking jobs in leagues where they make thousands a year instead of millions. If they are willing to play for the wee amounts they are making in the minors and in europe then why won't they play in the NHL for that amount and what is the big beef about?

[Global-Hockey]

That is the 1.9 Million dollar question. Doesn't make a lot of sense does it? Plus the chance of a career ending injury in the CHL? Now that is truly a dumb move.

[HockeyFan2]

The mis-management of some of the NHL Teams is the problem. The Teams extended the CBA agreement (they made 10 years ago) they surely waited long enough to repeat the money in now they turn around and are blaming the Players when in fact they dished out the paychecks and every contract they agreed to pay the players

I am sick of hearing this is the Players fault
Canucks made 45 million in profit the last two years
and are against a salary cap and said it would be bad for hockey to have the cap

Now does that sound like it's the Players fault?
Teams want a salary cap, heck players that signed as free agents took cuts and they still locked them out

Also the Fans association askeed why can't they be in on some of the discussions since it's the fans who have spent their hard earned money to make all these folks rich
Response was it's up to the Teams and Unions on the final say of a contract

What does that tell you
They could have hired a mediator a couple of years ago to have this settled before the deadline and chose not to

They chose the lockout , not the Players. the Teams and Union could have contiued talks while the season started. The Lockout is the Team Owners choice meaning they did not give a darn about all the people who have been affected by this, not just the Players but the whole chain of businesses, working people in the arenas'a surrounding busineees, resturants etc. Talking about thousands of lives on and off the ice

Did they care, NO!! The Players would be on the ice in the arena's in the US not overseas but the Teams wanted this now how much of a tax write off will they be getting because of the lockout
There are so many issues about this, isn't there??

[Global-Hockey]

The team owners said that they can hold out for 3 more years before they lose the money that 1 season would cost them. Carolina Ownership said by not playing he would only lose $5,000,000, If his team played he would lose $15,000,000 so in his mind he could take a 3 year lock out before he lost any money. The players are going overseas to play hockey. Russia is paying US players the same if not more than they were making here, so they don't care and they are being treated like kings back in the old homeland. Forsberg is playing with MODO in Sweden where is dad is the coach of the team, he is in no hurry to come back to the NHL, he is making as much as he was here, and is now playng before his home town and family. This will be a LONG Lockout. No NHL this year and probably not next year either.

[HockeyCanuck]

I was told via his brother that Mario Lemieux had said it will be at least a season lockout and maybe 2. I bet they go with replacement players for the second season. I would. Set their own rules again. Force the players union to cave in. Wanna bet alot of players agree to the deal then? The NHL wont be the elite league it is today because some will go off to Europe but then again it's all about the money. No profits = No team.

I know it is the fault of SOME of the owners for paying too much for players like Detroit and the Rangers, St. Louis and teams like that. They pay too much for 3rd line players. Although at least Detroit keeps winning. The top players I agree deserve 10 million a yr but its when 15 goal a yr men make 5 million a year that I start to have the problems. The lockout is both sides fault.....the players for not wanting a cap (which is doing amazing things for parity in the NFL) and the owners are at fault for driving the salaries up for years. They should have had the extended lockout in '94 instead of renewing the CBA then. The NHL teams would be in alot better shape today. Quebec and Winnipeg would probably still have their teams too.

I think another problem is that players that used to score 50 and 60 goals a year now score 15 thinking they should be paid like 50 goal men still. Maybe a good idea would be (and I know this would never happen) is to have all players on a base salary and they all make more on bonus incentives. Offensive players get bonuses for points, Defensive players get bonuses for faceoff % and shutting down the other teams scorers. Goalies get bonuses based on games played, wins and save %. I know it will never happen but it would make for a easier negotiations of contracts.

No matter who is right and who is wrong the simple fact is none of us get to watch NHL hockey for a year or more. I say support the local teams you have if you have any. AHL hockey is good hockey as I found out last season. Support your local college or Jr. teams. At least they can guarantee they will be playing all year.

[Pounder]

For the love of God, no more individual incentive-based contracts.

Incentives for WINNING GAMES, please!

(Can I dream, or what!)