Thursday, February 10, 2005
This Is the End
My only friend, the end.
Anyway, no need for me to post more than one link regarding what’s probably the end of this “season” for the NHL.
The NHL had their conference call already, the NHLPA is having theirs at 5:45pm est. Eric at Off Wing will be blogging about it.
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
Watch That Rumor
Oradinary Least Square breaks down “Eklund” and his hockey rumors.
Link courtesy of Joe Tasca through Eric McErlain.
Sunday, February 06, 2005
Lost Opportunity
As many have said, the NHL should advertise to the large Super Bowl audience. Look no further than Eric McErlain, who points to ESPN’s John Buccigross, for the latest reminder.
While I agree completely, that the NHL should be advertising it’s product to this audience, especially in what would be mid-season, if they were playing and all, this could have been a great opportunity for the NHLPA to send a message to the fans. Filling 30 seconds with players telling fans “we miss you too” could have been a huge PR boost for the players. No matter what side you’re on, if you’ve picked one at all, the NHL has been winning the PR easily, and this could have made a huge dent.
Of course you could have some backlash about the players spending money on a Super Bowl commercial, but I think the general the message would get out to the public: there’s no hockey (and that the players would like to play). Remember, much of the US doesn’t even know there is a lockout. A commercial like this could be informative, introduce the US to some players’ faces, and put some pressure on the owners.
Or we could just keep letting hockey disappear.
Saturday, February 05, 2005
Lockout Drinking Game
Lockout Drinking Game from Hockey Will Tear Us Apart
Hat tip to James Mirtle
Friday, February 04, 2005
Some News is No News
Fresh from the inbox:
NHLPA STATEMENT FOLLOWING MEETING IN NEW YORK
NEW YORK - At the conclusion of today’s meeting in New York, National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) Senior Director Ted Saskin released the following statement:
“The parties met again today for approximately four hours and the discussions broke off with no progress to report.”
Billy Tibbetts Speaks
Billy Tibbetts, who has had a roller coaster life and hockey career, spoke openly with the Idaho Statesman. He talks of a possible fresh start up in Idaho and his past in his own words.
Shanahan Lax About Labor Situation
According to the Toronto Sun, Brendan Shanahan may play lacrosse if the NHL season is cancelled.
Shanahan is a part owner of the Rock and was a good lacrosse player as a teenager according to the article. He could make a maximum of $22,000 in the NLL.
As the Meetings Turn
The NHLPA released a statement from Senior Director Ted Saskin following the conclusion of today’s meeting in New York:
“The meeting with the league has ended for this evening. The parties plan to meet again tomorrow.”
OMG, OMG, OMG. They’re meeting! Again!
All jokes aside, even if they’re not going to do a quickie season in a week or so, it certainly wouldn’t be a bad thing to try and get something done asap so we can have a “normal” NHL season this fall.
Thursday, February 03, 2005
Anonymous Owner Says It’s Over
ESPN the Magazine writer EJ Hradek is reporting an NHL team owner, who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the league should make an announcement cancelling the rest of the season within 48 hours.
Hradek speculated (on Canadian tv/radio) that now may be the best time to announce such a thing as most of the US, and many in Canada, have focused their attention on the Super Bowl this upcoming weekend, deflecting some possible negative media reactions.
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
Wax Up That Floor
Bill Watters on 640 Toronto is reporting that the NHLPA will reject the NHL’s latest proposal.
You’ll most likely hear the same phrase as the reason for rejection that you’ve heard before from the NHL and NHLPA: “philosophical differences”.
Update: Here’s the press release just sent out by the NHLPA:
NHLPA STATEMENT FOLLOWING MEETING IN NEWARK
NEWARK, NJ (February 2, 2005): At the conclusion of today’s meeting in Newark, National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) Senior Director Ted Saskin released the following statement:
“The League today presented a written proposal with minor variations of concepts that were presented orally by the NHL last Thursday. We told the League last week and again today that their multi-layered salary cap proposals were not the basis for an agreement.
Given the status of negotiations, the NHLPA suggested that the parties meet again tomorrow with Bob Goodenow and Gary Bettman joining the meeting.”