Lockout

[AlexPKeaton]

At least the Flyers won't be able to pull any shenanigans with Giroux's contract now.

[pittsports87]

WOOHOO! I can't wait for hockey. So did they actually expand the playoffs to 20 teams? Or will it still be 16?

Doing it NCAAB style starting 2013-2014. All 30 teams make it along with the top 2 teams in the KHL.

[newarenanow]

HOCKEY BABY!

[SDPen77]

Yes! This is great news. I cannot wait to watch live hockey again.

[SolidSnake]

[Myriad]

I'm mad that the Flyers are going to be able to buy out Bryz's terrible contract

[penny lane]

Josh Yohe ‏@JoshYohe_Trib
A Craig Adams phone call woke up Crosby at 5 a.m. He didn't mind. Will have the article posted shortly.

Thanks Craig Adams; thankless job beings the team's rep; especially this year! Although, I could see Adams staying in the business end of hockey. Harvard grad, et al.

[MRandall25]

Pierre LeBrun‏@Real_ESPNLeBrun
Last huge issue at the 11th hour was Year 2 cap. Players wouldn't budge off $64.3 M and league finally gave in at the end

Was looking for news on this. This is a good thing.

[TheHammer24]

I'll be watching wearing my Pens jersey from game 1 to the last game they play. The i'll-show-them-this-time mentality is short sighted. Why punish yourself? The fans on the periphery will leave as will the sponsors. That will punish the NHL and hopefully that teaches them a lesson. But the core fans (us) and sponsors (e.g., Reebok, NBC) will stay because we have to. We love the sport too much and they need the sport too much. But that's not where the money comes from---they need to expand the league and that's where they took the hit.

For us, just watch and cheer.

God this feels good:

LET'S GO PENS!

[TheHammer24]

I'm really interested in reading how this will affect existing contracts. I thought there was a one-time rollback, but it looks like I'm wrong. I still refuse to think the Pens are in that bad of shape relative to the other contenders under this deal. My only intuition on why it could be problematic is the Sid/Geno contracts are now too high.

[Fire0nice228]

I'm really interested in reading how this will affect existing contracts. I thought there was a one-time rollback, but it looks like I'm wrong. I still refuse to think the Pens are in that bad of shape relative to the other contenders under this deal. My only intuition on why it could be problematic is the Sid/Geno contracts are now too high.

For a few years maybe, but I would think the cap is tied to revenues and will go back up, right?

[MRandall25]

If this year were next year, the Pens would still be ~ $4.3 mil under the cap. Looking at capgeek, the Pens will be about $11.7 mil below the cap, with no FA's signed.

I don't think we need to worry, and that's why I'm happy about the $64.3 mil cap.

[pens#1]

Are the new division alignments starting this season?

[tifosi77]

* Contract variance cannot exceed 35% from year to year or 50% over any two year period of the deal.

That is a lot different than "the last year can't vary more than 50% from the first"... don't think I like that if it's true.

I think your interpretation is the correct one; the final year of a contract cannot be less than 50% of the highest single contract year compensation. Otherwise it wouldn't really make sense in the context of the 35% stipulation.

[TheHammer24]

lol wrong post!

[mikey287]

Are the new division alignments starting this season?

No. And you say "the new division alignments" as if they exist...they do not. Some suggest that Winnipeg will remain in the east not only this year, but also next. We'll see about that...but at least this season, no change, AIUI...

[nocera]

Is there any chance this falls through?

[pens#1]

Are the new division alignments starting this season?

No. And you say "the new division alignments" as if they exist...they do not. Some suggest that Winnipeg will remain in the east not only this year, but also next. We'll see about that...but at least this season, no change, AIUI...

the owners had them realigned but then the PA shot them down during last season- i wasnt sure if that was part of the new CBA. Has anyone heard anything concrete about season start date?

[mikey287]

No sir, it was shot down and it is staying down for now, AIUI. Logistics still to be worked out, but January 15th is a realistic start date with 50-game schedule. That said, it's very non-committal right now, I have nothing concrete, personally.

[penny lane]

http://www.tsn.ca/toronto/listen/

fyi~ talking now about hockey.

[America]

Is there any chance this falls through?

It would be absolutely devastating for the league now and into the future if something like this occurred.

[newarenanow]

Is the bloom off the lockouts rose?

[DudeMan2766]

[Steve]

The NHL is back - I'm thrilled and mad at the same time.

[Steve]

Is the bloom off the lockouts rose?

nice.