Lockout

[DocEmrick]

Good thing it's coming from Eklund

[JS©]

CBA talks break down, states source. Bettman and Fehr cannot reach agreement on multiple points, season expected to be cancelled.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=473112

I hate you

Spoiler:

yes, I fell for it.

[It'sagreatdayforhockey!]

http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2013 ... -khl-club/


Letang now signed in KHL

[pressure=9Pa]

I guess there really is no reason to believe they'll reach an agreement much earlier than January 11.

I think it's definitely going to last minute.

I recently picked up my old copy of "Thinking Strategically" from my game theory class. 3 chapters in and a lot of their back-and-forth behavior started to make sense. No doubt it will go down to the wire.

Was this book by chance written by a guy named Aliprantis (sp?)? He was my Game Theory professor, and was authored several books. Strange guy.

[pressure=9Pa]

CBA talks break down, states source. Bettman and Fehr cannot reach agreement on multiple points, season expected to be cancelled.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=473112

I almost fell for this for the 1,047,345th time, but happened to notice the target just in time.

[skullman80]

Tom Gulitti ‏@TGfireandice
Players ask for compliance buyouts. NHL agrees to 2. PA apparently upset now GMs would use buyouts to shed contracts they regret.Makes sense

https://twitter.com/TGfireandice/sta...53085909307392

I'm not all anti-player, but that just makes me shake my head if true.

[Great58]

Makes sense how exactly, Tom?

[Hawkeynut]

I get the feeling the players are going to disagree with EVERYTHING. I mean seriously... pensions? Guys who make $2.4m a year can't manage that on their own?

While the owners are greasy as all get out, the players are just as petty.

Can't wait for the season cancellation then the nuclear winter that ensues. Hopefully we come back in the fall with 4 less teams and a salary cap under $40m.

[skullman80]

Makes sense how exactly, Tom?

I think he meant the "makes sense" in a sarcastic way....

[MRandall25]

I was Bettman's wording about GM's wanting to "dismantle" their teams to get rid of "regretful" contracts.

Yeah, it doesn't look as bad when you see the wording.

http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/slapshot/ ... z2H1xrchSP

[skullman80]

Both sides are acting like children. Everyone gets it you hate each other, you don't trust each other.

Neither of those are needed to get a deal done. Suck it up, and get it done.

[Pitt87]

Both sides are acting like children. Everyone gets it you hate each other, you don't trust each other.

Neither of those are needed to get a deal done. Suck it up, and get it done.

Exactly... compliance buyouts are a 2013-14 issue. We're concerned about the way things are described or characterized now. Stupid.

[MRandall25]

Here's how I see that issue:

The players are asking for the 2 because there is no way some of these teams will get below either the PA proposed $65 mil cap or the League proposed $60 mil cap.

However, with Bettman's quote, it appears as though he's saying GM's on teams who DON'T need to get under the cap (which is half the league, according to capgeek) want to get rid of their "bad" contracts, even though they don't need it to get under cap.

[Troy Loney]

I was optimistic for a couple days, but now I'm pretty sure a deal isn't getting done.

[Digitalgypsy66]

I was optimistic for a couple days, but now I'm pretty sure a deal isn't getting done.

They'll work right up until the drop dead date, which is still a few more days away. Then they will fight over who gets credit for the "last minute" deal that saves the season.

[no name]

I think Fehr wants to pass up the Jan 11th deadline just to put his stamp on this. Even if a deal gets done on the 12th. Just to rub it in Bettmans nose that his make up deadlines don't scare him.

[MRandall25]

They won't pass the deadline. They'll go back and forth until the 10th and then announce a deal on the 11th.

The fact he didn't play the DOI card when he had the chance showed me that this is close enough to get a deal (yes, I realize they're re-voting, but IMO it's only because the League started trying to get dirty again).

[columbia]

Another important issue is the second-year salary cap. The league wants a $60 million cap, and the players want a $65 million cap.

To appreciate how important that difference is, let's look at the Pittsburgh Penguins' payroll situation heading into the 2013-14 season. According to Capgeek.com, they have 15 players signed for a total of $56.3 million.

If the cap is $60 million, they would have $3.7 million remaining to sign more players. Even if they paid those eight players the league minimum, the Penguins couldn't get under the cap. And the unsigned players include Tyler Kennedy (restricted free agent), Pascal Dupuis (unrestricted) and Matt Cooke (unrestricted). Those are not players you pay the league minimum. A $60 million payroll would mean significant changes to the Penguins' team.

The Penguins would still have an issue at a $65 million salary, but the extra $5 million would make a significant difference.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nh ... y/1808927/

How exactly can the league function, if they have a $60M cap and do *not* have a salary rollback?
Or to put it another way, don't be so sure that the Penguins wouldn't be buying out two contracts under that scenario.

[Idoit40fans]

Why would the players have asked for the buyouts? Sounds like something the owners would have added.

[MRandall25]

Why would the players have asked for the buyouts? Sounds like something the owners would have added.

To say they gave something to the owners?

[Steve]

I don't think the voting again means much - they have to keep all of their options open, until there is a deal.

I'm not convinced however, that these clowns are going to come to an agreement by the 11th. Hopefully they will.

[Bioshock]

Now the players are still pissed over verbage that was corrected 2 days ago. For being the toughest athletes in sports, you sure are a bunch of babies. Get a deal done and stop crying like 6 year olds. The owners are no better. Stop being dumb and changing things. You are rustling the jimmies of the players too much you idiots.

[shmenguin]

Another important issue is the second-year salary cap. The league wants a $60 million cap, and the players want a $65 million cap.

To appreciate how important that difference is, let's look at the Pittsburgh Penguins' payroll situation heading into the 2013-14 season. According to Capgeek.com, they have 15 players signed for a total of $56.3 million.

If the cap is $60 million, they would have $3.7 million remaining to sign more players. Even if they paid those eight players the league minimum, the Penguins couldn't get under the cap. And the unsigned players include Tyler Kennedy (restricted free agent), Pascal Dupuis (unrestricted) and Matt Cooke (unrestricted). Those are not players you pay the league minimum. A $60 million payroll would mean significant changes to the Penguins' team.

The Penguins would still have an issue at a $65 million salary, but the extra $5 million would make a significant difference.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nh ... y/1808927/

How exactly can the league function, if they have a $60M cap and do *not* have a salary rollback?
Or to put it another way, don't be so sure that the Penguins wouldn't be buying out two contracts under that scenario.

Martin (gasp!) and...? I've said it before...the lack of roll backs is bad for us. Moreso than most teams in the league. I haven't thought too much about it, but we might be the team that would get hurt the most from this with two guys who are gonna make about 17.4 mill. Especially with 2 buyouts being floated around.

[Pitt87]

I think Fehr wants to pass up the Jan 11th deadline just to put his stamp on this. Even if a deal gets done on the 12th. Just to rub it in Bettmans nose that his make up deadlines don't scare him.

Definitely in his nature. Its a bit extreme, but if he ever wanted to vilify labor representation, he's got his chance.

[Jesse]

Federal Mediators have been working all day to get the two sides to meet and have been unsuccessful thus far.