The NHL Hockey season may come to life after all.

Just when it looked like NHL hockey was following in Baseball's footsteps.
The players are now expected to ratify the agreement their union approved.

Maybe we'll have hockey next week.

34 responses total.

 They did. Season begins on Friday. Detroit vs Chicago. Yippee.

    I still think that salary caps are appropriate inrofessional sports
and if the crybaby baseballers can't accept that, I guess we won't miss
them all that much. Mike Illitch was interviewed the other nite on ch 7
and his comment was that a salary cap was needed or sports will become
so expensive that it will affect attendance. I think he is right.

hmm... what if it does? If attendance goes down far enough, the owners
won't be able to pay players as much as the players would like; thus
a "cap" is hit anyway. Perhaps a salary cap set by the owners is
"appropriate," but I don't think it's necessary, esp. since it's the
owners who are paying the salaries anyway.

Question, if "caps" are so necessary and help the league why are there "bonus"
clauses which allow the owners of the franchise to give up huge amounts of
money and still be "under the cap".  Also, if the owners, like Illitch are
complaining that it is necessary for a cap to be put in place why don't they
impose ones themselves.  It is not about making the league more fair where the
owners can all play on a level ice surface.  As we saw from the negotiations
the owners cannot even agree to terms amongst themselves.  It is the owners
whoi will eventually ruin the game of hockey as we know it. Since when has an
owner been forced by a player to pay a certain amount of money out?  If an
owner signs a player to a redicuously high amount of dollars he should be
forced to pay the player (no playter has ever held a gun to any of the owners
head's). So, owners should stop vbitching that they did not impose a cap and
stop pretneding that they have saveed the NHL as we know it.  The players
always wanted to "play" it was the owners who "loced them out!" By the way,
isit jhust coincidence that the owners agreed to begoin the season just as the
FOX broadcasting deal was set to begin?  I don't think so!!!!!!!  Don't make
the owners out to be heroes, cause they are just a bunch of money, grabbing
bums who d do not weant to pay the players with the most talent.  

I dunno. I'd think that the owners don't want each other to have
cheap talent when they can't get it. Also, not all owners are
created equal, and some of them have a lot more money than others.

 Could it be that these owners have a special insurance policy against
certain performances? I don't know but it would make sense if there was.

  I wouldn't attend a pro sports game even if it was free. I am sick and
tired of seeing these so calledprofessionals playing a childs game for 
millions of dollars while our schools go to hell in a handbasket. It is
time we changed things and if it means that a few of these professionals
have to go out a get a real job then so be it.

Well they make money not simply by playing the child's game but providing
entertainment and, more importantly, a community making function in the
society.  Whether one like the result is one thing but to call what they
do 'child's play' is another.

How old is this?  The hockey season has been going on for about 3 weeks now. 
It should have started over 3 months ago.   I don't understand all this talk
about a salary cap.  The whole debate is over now, until 2001 when the new
agreement expires.  And sports are becoming expensive?  Hello?  Look at how
much good seats for Chicago Blackhaws games cost.  A salary cap does no good,
dammit.  Why don't the owners simply stop paying the players so damn much!  If
anyone wants to respond to this, email me.  :-(. done

The dates are in the items. I posted the original one on Jan, 11.
The new agreement wasn't available to us at that point.
As long as people fill up arenas when the tickets are expensive, the
owners will have enough to pay the players to attract them when they
are free to negotiate. The only way to stop this is to refuse to pay the
higher prices. You the fans are financing these high salaries, not the
owners. 

side note: Red Wings lowered prices for bleacher seats.

Speaking of the Wings, has anyone noticed that they have the best record
in the NHL at the moment? Is anyone surprised?

I have to admit that I don't have the interest in hockey necessary
for true surprise, but I'll be pleasantly pleased if they can still
have the best record come playoff time, and to actually *win* 
during the playoffs. The North Stars proved a couple okof years
ago that season standings don't mean much when it comes to the
playoffs.

 The Wings have had a history of winning Stanley Cups in 48 game seasons.
I think the count is 3??  

   I cannot help thinking that if the Wings do manage to win the Cup
this yrs, a lot of people will say it was because of the strike shortened
season, and thus not a complete victory. Personally I hope they DO win
and shut the mouths of their critics. Hope Mike Vernon will work out
better than Bob Essensa did.

I hope so too omni, fingers crossed...

They beat the Mighty Ducks last night in Anaheim, and now have sole
possession of first place.

Who cares about hockey? How about college basketball, how about those Uconn
Huskies.  Both the men and women are outstanding this year.  They were ranked
number one in the same week, no other school has ever done that!  Huskie maniia
is out of contol.

Hey!  I care about hockey!  And as for college b-ball, how about those S       
   sorry - THOSE  Spartans?  Go State!

Lots of people care about hockey. There's room for basketball posts in 
a basketball item. Hockey is much more exciting toowatch than basketball.
(That's my opinion.)

I tend to find them equally exciting, although I admit to having watched more
basketball than hockey, probably mostly due to availability of product. I've
never watched hockey for the fights, though. Maybe I'm odd like that.

I don't either. We're the silent majority of hockey fans, IMO.
Anyway you are definitely not odd like that.

 Let's keep this about hockey, please.

Fine with me. Sorry I mentioned Basketball. Aside from the NCAA, I hate the sp 
      sport of basketball.  But, I love hockey!

Well. I have my tickets to the CCHA playoff game at Yost on Saturday a week
3/11. I don't usually get to go to them, so this is going to be a treat.

I to love hockey!  And I hop more than anything that the Red Wings will
go all the way.  It's been to long for my home team and they deserve it
more than any team.  I happened to get lucky and get tickets for the first
game in the playoffs.  At the time of this writing I'm not sure who we are
playing , Dallas or San Jose, but I'm sure gonna root for my team.

i hate claude leimeux

Join the club.

That's something I don't get. Everyone hates him, but if you
had him on your team, I think you (just guessing) would like him,
he's a good player to have even if he does take cheap shots. (Maybe I'm
just weird in thinking this...)

you are just weird...;)
probert was a bruiser...but he really wouldnt do stuff like lemeiux did..there
is a difference from bein tough and a fighter, and just playin downright
dirty...

But he helps his team win the games doesn't he? I realize he's no
Lady Bing contestat (for lack of better word..), but he does have
his good sides, he's wom the Stanley cup two years in a row, 
and got the Conn Smythe last year too. That says something about him..

i dont think they needed him to win at all...if anytrhing he was a
handicap...this was proven in the playoff games he had to watch from the bench

Oh well, maybe I'm just one of the few weird people that like him. =)

yer just so weird..;)

I dont care much for ole Claude, but must say that I agree with hemaitite he
is the kind of player you wouldnt mind having on you rteam...I somewhat
compare him to "Vladi the Impaler"  Everyone in the league hates him, thinks
he is a dirty player...but Detroit Loves him....

I see a difference of night and day between Vladi and Claude. 
I don't think it is just bias because I happen to be a Wings fan.

i agree with srw.....totally.....

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