According to the buzz this morning, the league still plans to cancel the Winter Classic later today. If that announcement comes as expected, you would think the owners can really start to put the pressure on the NHLPA. If Friday comes and goes without a cancelation, it might be an indication the two sides are finally on a similar page.
We’ll see what happens…
- After Sens Owner Eugene Melnyk made comments not far from what you’d hear from any passionate hockey fan, you had to know this news was coming. This morning, an article in the Ottawa Citizen indicated that the league is investigating Melnyk’s comments. The League has strict policy about teams discussing ongoing CBA talks. Seems unlikely Melnyk would get in too much trouble but you never know with this league.
- The CHLPA story is downright bizarre. I won’t even begin to attempt to explain the whole thing but you can get a pretty good break down here. Really have to feel for any players that got involved with this group.
This is chlpa thing looks awfully dirty.
And for those who question his wealth, he is well situated even after his divorce complications.
He has been brilliant in his purchasing of the Sens and the building at a relative steal for what it was originally valued at, and he has the right people in place to ensure that the entire conglomorate of companies associated, make him plenty of revenue in return.
The fact that he has the right people in place to produce excellent talent at the right price, only goes to further prove his business acumen.
We are extremely fortunate to have this type of owner in our city, Melnyk is precisely the perfect fit for the city of Ottawa, good but wise person, hard working, humble and modest, and above all passionate.
Praise Melnyk!!!
if you've ever been upstairs at Scotia Bank, there are pictures of all of the original shareholders. When Melnyk bought the Sens they were going to take them down and Euge told them to leave it up.
When his buddy was going to lose his bar in a divorce, Euge bought it (Berts in Barbados) and essentially gave it back to the guy to run.
I wouldn't trade him for any other owner. Betwen Euge and Jeff Hunt this city has got some terrific sports owners.
Bettman can try and put a muzzle on all the owners because he knows what he's doing is wrong.
Get rid of Gary, that's the only way the NHL will be back.
I think its great to have an owner who is as much of as fan as everyone else. Its also good to have an owner who actually manages his club like a business. If more teams had the "new-Senators" mentality, there would be a lot less teams losing money
you cant really fault owners, gms, or players for trying to get the most of out the previous CBA before it expired, but just look at the Karlsson contract compared to all the others that were signed Pre-Lockout... I think its speaks volumes to what Ottawa is doing compared to other Orginizations.
You know, as much as Im on the players side about the whole Honoring existing contracts thing.. I think it would be great if they got rolledback just a little. with the Turris, Neil, Smith and Karlsson signings already at bargain prices, a rollback would mean a ton of profit for the Sens in the next few years.
Conversly, Id much rather see higher salary teams get fucked over with no rollback, but a smaller salary cap. that would be super entertaining.
yes true with Hunt leading our future Football team, and OSEG in charge of a future soccer team this city is sitting in the best of hands to promote excellent sportiing entertainment for years to come. No wonder Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan wants into the City of Ottawa... smart man.
now all we need is to get the NHL back on the ice and out of the boardrooms :)
I thought it was Eugene originally trying to bring MLS to Ottawa.. OSEG is taking that over now?
I'm gonna have to go re-read the article now to see where he might of gotten in trouble.
Listen..brother s and sisters...I understand your pain and frustration. And in all of this, we all simply want to heard. No one (in the media) is talking about the fans, and its pissing us off. So we want to be heard...and were getting desperate by using the only card we have, which is the whole "I will take my business elsewhere" and stomp out of the store.
If some people are actually steadfast with their promises to "give up" and move on from opening their wallets to hockey, then the truth is we wouldnt even be reading those comments. They wouldnt bother. The ones we are reading (yes...I was guilty too) are the ones that are saying it to desperately get some attention in all this.And rightfully so!! We want to be heard in this whole messed up situation, and were not.
Secondly, the whole "hockey players make too much money" thing has to stop too. Do they? (yes...probably ). But thats just the way it is. Professional sports around the world (that we love to watch and go nuts for) will have very well played athletes. Just the way it is. Did Keanu Reeves deserve 100 million for the matrix movies...probab ly not, but that the nature of that business. As is hockey.
If any of you think hockey players are "greedy", then prove them wrong. Take 10% of your pay cheque and give it back to your boss for no reason. Sounds silly? Well guess what, there will always be someone in an income bracket lower than yours that doesnt think so at all. Think about that.
As for Melnyk I can't see them doing to much, more of a warning I'd expect. The NHL has bigger problems, like getting Hockey BACK on the Ice.
And the talk about the Winter Classic, wasn't it originally supposed to be the big ticket item of the NHL? If it's cancelled, doesn't the NHL as a whole get affected? I can't understand how the owners could put more pressure on the NHLPA if that happens, I'd think it would be reversed, would it not? You've lost the Classic, what else do you want to lose? Anyway, maybe I'm missing something.
What Melnyk did say that surprises me is that not too many season ticket holders cancelled their tickets. He also said that the Sens are the biggest employer in Ottawa outside of the Government.
So this lockout affects more people than we ever imagined.
Haven't been paying too much attention to this CHLPA thing.. but after reading the link Chirp provided really makes me question what is really going on. Was it run by a bunch of crooks out to take advantage of children? And yes, some of these players are still children.
Another point is... why do you have to unionize 16 - 20 yr olds. It just makes no sense.
I refuse to get my hopes up regarding any CBA discussion. I will get excited only when they say it is settled.
Anyone have a lineup for tonight's B-Sens game? Read somewhere that Prince could be in the lineup tonight? Like to see what he would do with Hoffman... Go B-Sens.. get back to winning.
Anyone know how salary cap and escrow is supposed to work now?!?
Apparently this started in the handshake line:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=9zzOwVMT07w
Who gives a fuck anymore?
Fuck em'.. I'm not watching some half assed rushed 3 month NHL season.
They better have their shit together by the 2013-14 season.
AMAZING.
You know what else is funny. Apparently BizNasty (Paul Bissionnette) just signed to play with the Cardiff Devils... one of the teams in this video...
Is it true that Shane Prince is in the lineup tonight? What about Cowen - they need him!!!
This is real disturbing and I hope so untrue.
==============
Denis Beyak just said on Winnipeg radio that a player agent just told him that Donald Fehr chastised the players for signing an agreement in July last time (when there were no paychecks to be had), and that the NHLPA has an internal deadline of December 2013 (13 months from now).
Says that the agent told him that Fehr was brought in to "win", and that he convinced the players that they may have to sit a long time. If any of this is true, I think that is horrible advice and miscalculation.
Go BSens!
why do we have prospects in the AHL again? each game i see the fans look like they're time warped sporting 1980's fashion and very limited no Hd video feeds.
seems like the Amature Hockey League to me.
Hahaha
AHL hockey is what Indy car racing fans watch when the racing season is over...
I would agree that the AHL is missing a valuable opportunity to build a bigger fan base by NOT reaching a substantial TV agreement (at least with a Canadian distributor), by not upgrading their tv and web capabilities, by not promoting more in Canada, etc...
But hey! Not everyone likes money...
Just need Cowen and Stone back and we'll be good to go.
Not enough local revenue is available in all markets. Affilation agreements impact a lot too.
... and the Big Mouths with Small Agendas have all vanished.
Lots of good hockey talk from the people who finally get to talk.
Best comment since this lockout started!
If you're so "over the nhl" and "don't care about it" anymore you wouldn't be posting on here.
Taking the time to read articles on TSN and other media sources including senschirp means you care BIG TIME and once hockey is back you will dive right back in
So do everyone a favor and quit this annoying nonsense. The only fans the nhl might loose are the casual weekens sports fan from the states
Not to toot my own horn but some of us were stating that "obvious" back in the the preseason... And got a lot of confrontation for it too!
Feel free to search the archives to find your allies.
Atta boys!!
Elmira wins yet again in South Carolina! Sens taking it to Dixie!
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=408711
Smells like another top 3 pick for Edmonton if the NHL is back this year.
i think Wiercioch stock is going to start climbing again, he moves awfully well for a big man.
Been a Wiercioch fan for a while, he's a really smooth skater and a lot of people don't know, he actually put up 2 assists in the 7 or 8 games he played in the NHL
plus he's a giant. ahl.com has him listed at 6'5, but I seem to remember nhl.com had him at 6'4
either way its beastly
He reminds me of Lidstrom in a way that he is a big guy but moves smoothly around the ice.
Sorry, I guess Lidstrom isn't really that big, but it seems that way because he's so lanky. I see the similarities offensively anyway.
Let's hope that Daly and Fehr can restart the negotiations,
and get closer to resolving their ridiculous standoff positions, and get down to finalizing the deal to start playing sooner than never!
NHL is ready to make a concession on "make whole" offer,
in their last proposal. Donald Fehr must work to keep moving this process to a close !!
The NHL's offer to pay the 'make whole' appears to be a good one.. BUT what do we not know about it.
The chance to get this settled rests with Bill Daly and Steve Fehr. Getting the egos like Bettman & Donald Fehr out of the talks is indeed a good one.
I will get excited and optimistic once they tell me this is all settled.
B-Sens won... yeah.... 67's also won -- on the road yet... 6-1.. good game by them FINALLY.
Following last night's story about making players "whole", Don Fehr sends memo to players to "not read too much into media reports".
DONALD FEHR IS NOTHING BUT A SHIT DISTURBER !!
We should send Fehr to the KHL where he belongs with all the other pinko Obama supporters.
What? do you dislike obama? do you believe romneys lies and think obama F'd up the system when Bush destroyed the modern worlds economy ?
Healthcare is good to have my friend.
but this is not a politcs site.
American Politics = YAWN !
But they could screw us over.
FREEBIRD
Thanks i needed that.
hey chirp where are the bingo GDT's?
"Of course, the cost of the Make Whole provision is dropping day-by-day. The players are losing about a collective $9.3 million a day. Each passing day also brings the NHL a day closer to having those contracts that have to be honoured closer to completion.
There are about 270 contracts that will expire after this season and another 215 that will be up after the 2013-14 season. That’s close to 500 contracts out of the mix in less than two years. That sounds well and good, but you have to also consider that the remaining longer-term contracts which will have to be honoured are those that belong to the stars like Ilya Kovalchuk, Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, guys who are making considerable money.
One agent estimated the cost of the Make Whole provision for next season would have been about $230 million given a full season.".
Entire article:
http://www.ottawasun.com/2012/11/03/make-whole-at-centre-of-talks
Sorry, but if they do come back, I am done for the year. I love the Senators, but as a fan, my voice is only heard by not opening my wallet. I am pissed off and I will not go running back immediately and forgive and forget.
As for the average fan giving 10% back to their boss, you absolutely cannot compare NHL salaries with the real world. A guy making $800k giving back 10% loses $80k, and goes down to $720k. Whatever will he do? Joe fan making $50k gives back $5k. That's his car payments, rent, food or any other number of bills that have to be paid. Hell, maybe it's his season ticket money!
i just think that a signed contract for "x" period of time is legally binding, the players should keep their contracts. the bad deals were made by GM's.
management should own up to its own faults.
Bishop in net... Lawson is the backup?
Where the hell is Lehner? I thought Lawson was in Elmira.
TIMWRX -- anything wrong with Robin?
bishop should get the rust off tonight with that many shots
stream
atdhe is great for streams
Hate to say it, but all the doubts have caught up to me now. 3 assists, in 9 games playing top six, is not impressive at all, Let alone he has 0 goals. I'v been waiting for him to score his first pro goal since last year 9 game stint with the Senators, now 9 games into the season he still has no goal for a second tier pro league.
Last year he was impressive during preseason, but not so much during the season. It seems like he is following the same pattern this year.
In contrast Cotourier has 8 points in 9 games so far. This really hurts me lol.
Agreed
Not that I think Bishop is BAD [he isn't great tonight], it's just that Lehner is so amazing.
I find it difficult to get injury information from Binghamton.
Missed most of the 1st period.. it appears by the SOG they decided not to be ready to start the game.
At least the 67's won.. Two wins in a row...record now 6-8-0-2 (I think)
I'm willing to give Zib & Silfverberg more than 9 games before I send them out with the trash... but that's just my opinion.
But thats not the sens fan way! unless of course your name is butler or filatov then you get all the benefit of doubt
in all honesty give them time, they will start to click
Silfverburg is used to the large ice surface in Europe -- and now he is playing on the smallest ice surface in the AHL (told to us by Bingo fans). It will take him some time to get use to not having the room and the time to make plays he is used to. He probably will do better on an NHL ice surface.
He's not that type of player!!
His only real asset that sets him apart is his lethal shot. A good shot won't make you look like a player whose dominating out there.
If you wached him play in sweden it was the same deal. He didn't skate withe the puck on his stick every game. In fact it was quite the opposite. He was basically invisible until he got the puck on his stick in the slot...and before anyone could blink it was in the back of the net.
When he scores it won't be flashy plays. It will be him the right spot at the right time. Similar to a player like Heatley. He never did much except get to open areas and either wait for rebounds or wait for Spezza to find him with dirty feeds.
Silfverberg is the exact same player. Just skates better.
So stop harassing him because he doesn't dangle around kids in the AHL. He will get his chances to shoot and he will score
Both said they made some progress on core issues,and would be meeting again early next week, to continue discussions.
Both these 2 guys should meet, until a deal is agreed upon, and leave Bettman and Donald Fehr away from negotiations,
simply because they are too abrupt with each other,and talks go nowhere!
We want a resolution to bring back our winter pastime ASAP.
It took me about 3 games of watching silfverberg play to discover that he isn't the puck possession guy I thought he was. He sneaks in out of nowhere and finds the puck on his stick by anticipating the play better than others (alfie)
Playing with a centreman who can make ridiculous passes (spezza, turris) I see silfverberg being a hugely successful prospect
Zibby is another case, could be the adjustment, but I have no idea what kind of game he's playing. I said mike Fisher type player earlier and I hope that's wrong. Fisher always left us wanting more. Terribly inconsistent on the score sheet but such a good defensive game that you couldn't really talk shit
Oh ya and fisher had a killer release too.... I really hope there's another dimension to zibanejads game that just hasn't whown up yet
Mark stone is our best prospect. He's a point getter, no question about it. Hes just going to go out and score a point a game no matter what the score is. Does anybody know what his injury is? Why isn't there a website for this stuff? I've searched high and low. Would like to see some more of what he can do.
No question that he's an NHL caliber player but the resemblance to Fishers game is a little bit alarming for such a high pick.
All the flash in the world coupled with a great shot is only effective if the puck ends up in the net.
Definitely hope he begins to hit his stride as the year goes on and I agree that regardless of the NHL coming back this year, leave him in the minors to work on his offense. If he comes in as a grinder, I think he'll peek as a great 3rd liner/ borderline second liner.
Very excited to see what Prince can do, I'm pretty confident that he develops further than at least one of our big three forward prospects.
Couturier has had the benefit of a full NHL season on a good team.
Mika had 9 NHL games on a team struggling at the beginning of last season. Then he goes back to Sweden to play on a crappy team.
I have heard Luke Richardson say a couple of times on his weekly Team 1200 interviews about Mika being the best forward during some of the games.
Binghamton is said to be one of the youngest teams in the AHL.. that will bring inconsistency.
Do we know what is wrong with Stone?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGjWql6VJdM&feature=g-vre
Nothing wrong with Stone, he's alwready shown he can pefrorm at the NHL playoff level.
Zibanejad is looking lost out there. Two assists so far, at that? This is what a 6th overall pick gets us?
Aeden Helmer two days ago:
"“Obviously coming from the wider international-s ized ice, it’s a much different game in North America. It’s a much tighter game and things happen a lot quicker. You have no room with the puck, you have to be able to make plays quicker and you have to absorb body checks a lot more often. There’s not a whole lot of room out there, and you have to battle for every inch.”
Both players have been used on the power play and penalty kill, but have yet to find their flow 5-on-5, as Richardson routinely rotates four lines to compensate for the compacted schedule."
Zibby invisible again yesterday. Silf shows up, but sporadically. These are the guys are supposed to win us a Stanley Cup...Bingo is in 9th place right now.
I think sandy meant what's wrong with stone as in what's his injury and how long is he out for
As for your last paragraph, I never knew that they are going to stay at this same level till their last game in their careers. They're only gonna get better in the ahl. 2 players aren't gonna win u a cup alone, there are also role players that play a big part
As for your last paragraph, I never knew that they are going to stay at this same level till their last game in their careers. They're only gonna get better in the ahl. 2 players aren't gonna win u a cup alone, there are also role players that play a big part
-------------------------
Exactly... I'm wondering what the injury is...
As for Zibby & Silfverberg... it's 9 games into a new season... So they have struggled... You are going to base their future on 9 games?
It's an article from a Michael Russo as to where the NHL/NHLPA stands right now.
In the non-monetary issues... seems a lot of concessions have been made towards the players.
An interesting read:
http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs/177160641.html
He had 17 goals in 30 games last year. He already has 12 goals in 17 games, and the team is not even playing at its best. Just think how his production can inflate once guys like Faksa and Murphy start playing up to expections.
Not sure what is wrong with Noesen this season, but he is not playing well at all from a statistical point of view.
I remember reading an ottawa sun article in the middle of summer, where Noesen mentioned to his agent that this year his goal was to be 100 point player for plymouth.
This is exactly what a welcher's sycophant would say.
I understand what you mean, but regardless of him maxing out as a hardworking second liner or not in the NHL, he should be getting better in the OHL every year, especially as a first rounder. Out of his 4 years so far in the OHL, this is probably his worst start since his rookie campaign.This kind of performance will also hurt his chances in playing WJHC this year aswell. He mentioned that he got all fired up last year because he was left out of WJHC last year. He indeed start playing a lot better post WJHC, but it's wrong to expect the same kind of reaction this year.
His performance from the playoffs last year, really left something to be desired for this year; 15 points in 7 games, which included 7 goals.
is the ice not a regulation size in the AHL? Is it a regulation size in the NHL?
I've been a die hard follower well before the previous lockout, stat reader, keeping up on prospects, big into Hockey pools and looking for the next big dark horse. But with this lockout (and I'm not saying I'm boycotting Hockey, I know I'll return) I'm just having a hard time tuning in, trying to keep interested is a lot of work. Honestly, if it wasn't for Chirp and my occasional NHL 13 GM action online, I wouldn't be following Hockey at all right now.
I know I can't be the only one who feels this way.
I'm in the same boat. I'll use an old school quote to put it in perspective. "Once it hits your lips, it's so good!". I just need the NHL to hit my lips. Then, my pools will start, then my interest in prospects will increase, I'll follow stats, etc., etc., etc.
Speaking of that, when does Anchorman 2 come out? I can't wait to see that.
We were told by Binghamton fans when we were down for the games a couple of weeks ago that their ice surface was the smallest in the AHL. Their words.. not mine...
Thanks for the confirmation TIMWRX...