Canadiens owner Geoff Molson attended the Canadiens’ 31st annual blood-donor clinic on Thursday morning at the Bell Centre and spoke alone with The Gazette’s Dave Stubbs for 15 minutes before he circulated among donors and was scrummed by the media at large. While Molson wouldn’t comment directly about the ongoing lockout and labour discussions, he did have some interesting things to say.
“I’m a glass-half-full guy and I try to be that way all the time,” Molson told Stubbs. “I’m not in the room negotiating and I won’t comment on that anyway. But I believe that we’ll get back to playing and I’m looking forward to that day.
“In my heart, I hope we are. There’s no question, it’s difficult for everybody. More than half the people who work at the Bell Centre are on a four-day week and to some people, every day matters. This impacts everyone. It’s part of our life and culture, especially in Montreal and other big markets. Everybody wants us to be on the ice.”
Molson added that every NHL owner has input in the labour negotiations and had a message for frustrated Canadiens fans on Day 68 of the lockout.
“If there are fans out there who think for a moment that I don’t respect them, hopefully they understand that I do. I look forward to bringing this team back on the ice for them as much as they look forward to watching our team.
“And I’ll do everything I can to make sure we come back in style and the right way.”
• Stubbs’s full column.
• Pierre Obendrauf video of Geoff Molson at Habs blood-donor clinic today
Meanwhile, Thomas Boswell of the Washington Post wrote an interesting column about the NHL lockout under the headline: “Owners shouldn’t underestimate the Fehr factor”. You can read the column by clicking here.
And Roman Hamrlik talked with James Mirtle of The Globe and Mail about his controversial lockout comments, saying he wasn’t taking his comments back but will support whatever the players decide. You can read that column by clicking here.
(Molson photo above by Pierre Obendrauf/The Gazette)
A few changes in the Canadiens’ dressing room, which was open to the public during the blood-donor clinic. Stubbs’s photos below:
Note the door at the far end of the room, through which the players pass en route to the ice… larger view below. It’s unclear whether the red carpet is permanent; seems like it’s there to cover the white carpet on which there’s the outline of a rink in the middle of the room.
The Canadiens confirm that the phrase above the door was the idea of the team’s coaching staff. For those who fear the English-only will anger Quebec’s famous language police, Stubbs suggested on Twitter that the team need only add the letter “s” after NO following a loss, which would turn the phrase into French meaning, “We’re sorry.”
Last June, when Max Pacioretty won the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, he told Stubbs from Las Vegas shortly after he’d been named the 2012 recipient that he wondered whether his name would appear in the dressing room on the Honour Roll plaque. The huge plaque celebrates the team’s individual award winners through the franchise’s history. Indeed, his name was added to the plaque during the offseason. Pacioretty saw his name for the first time Thursday when Stubbs messaged this photo to him. He replied: “Absolutely amazing. Biggest accomplishment I’ve ever achieved in my life by far.” Below, Pacioretty wins the Masterton:
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Super stoked to see gally tonight in kitchener, been waiting for this all season!
Have a great time, chilla!
Lucky guy. Enjoy!
Tell us all about it after.
————————————-
Listen to the Smart Dog. He knows his poop!
Must be hard to be a glass half-full guy when you’re richer than God. I wonder how he could possibly fill in those nights where there’s no hockey? He really has no options. I feel sorry for him.
————————————-
Listen to the Smart Dog. He knows his poop!
Hockey Frustration Song no. 24
Cue the music!
You can’t imagine so many monkeys in the same hall
All of them hiding in undisclosed scenes so they leave no trail
I never thought I’d see leave a hockey player for overseas
But Bettman and Fehr can’t agree, fights in the room, those chimpanzees.
Some chimps in fine suits, some chimps are swinging from a vine
Some chimps like yahoos, some chimps that wish they could be fine.
Bettman and Fehr chimps, a chimp who’s sitting on the can
A pair of pimp chimps who lie of love for our fair game.
Another lock-out by chimpanzees
And every one is affecting me.
Another lock-out by f***ing thieves
And every one is affecting me.
If I had to guess, I’d say the monkey-leader thinks it’s great
He’s shrugging me, all the fans can’t you see, just to see us get irate
I’m losing sleep – and it’s gonna be keeping me up all night
I thought it was funny, but now there’s no hockey in this monkey fight.
Some chimps with hard heads, should be working on a chain gang
Some chimps who hate fans, snubbing their nose at our complaints
A birthday hating chimp, a chimp acting like a god
A smellin’ fish(ew) chimp, a nasty stab in the back.
Another lock-out by chimpanzees
And every one is affecting me.
Another lock-out by f***ing thieves
And every one is affecting me.
Somehow they allowed this negotiation hack and stole our game
No matter what, they squawk and they squawk they can’t stop being lame
Take them out and shoot them all. They make me lose my mind
Now look at me stumbling through the remote til I finally find
Some chimps in fine suits
Some chimps like yahoos
Some chimps with hard heads
Some chimps who hate fans
You’ve got some lame chimps; that’s chimps devoid of knowing fair
They’d do more if they dressed up in women’s underwear.
Another lock-out by chimpanzees
And every one is affecting me.
Every one is, every one is, every one is affecting me.
Every one is, every one is, every one is affecting me.
Another lock-out by chimpanzees
And not-a one is affecting me.
Another lock-out by f***ing thieves
And I don’t care, it don’t affect me.
Run from those chimps, Bri! They can’t be trusted. Especially the 2 with law degrees.
Ah, the shame of it all….
I was up at 4am yesterday morning, got home last night and turned on the tube to see an awesome football game.
I watched the whole thing (McMaster vs Rouge et Or), including overtime.
As my eye-lids were closing, I posted one measly little comment, then went to bed.
I got up this morning to the humiliation of realizing that I watched a replay of last year’s final, and what do I see….
Everyone’s laughing at me… .oh the shame of it all.
(bows head, clicks “submit comment”, then goes back to bed).
LMAO!
Ya see!!!
damn Bri….I was trying to help you out down there….calling you a visionary and all, predictor of future events….shoulda waited until after the game….if Mac wins you’d look like a genius!
aw who am I kidding…its when Mac wins! Go Marauders!
———————————–
It’ll always be Habs Inside/Out to me
I saw that! Thanks Hammer, but …. you don’t know me very well.
Move over Nostradamus.
Would love to say we were laughing with you, but no we were laughing at you.
Cheers bud, you are a great sport about it!
I know Gerry… you’re always laughing at me.
I’m hurt.
shout out to Geoff Molson who is a class act and always takes the “high road”.
for those of you who like to complain about “billionaires” and “greed”, our owner stands for all that is classy and respectful.
Molson is a true fan of the game, and a huge Habs fan.
If all the owners were like Molson there never would have been a lockout.
Agreed Ed. I just get the feeling that Hockey is running through his veins.
Price at pratice with the Tri City Americans.
didn’t get to meet Nathan Beaulieu…..but his gf I give a 9.5
———————————–
It’ll always be Habs Inside/Out to me
You gave her a 9.5? You dirty bugger….
Congratulations on your 9.5 Hammer.
Congratulations????
That’s a birth defect….
Congrats for what? Thats about average isn’t it?
———————————–
It’ll always be Habs Inside/Out to me
http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/article/1291212–nhl-old-timers-caught-in-the-crossfire-of-lockout-cox
This stuff should be outside the realm of the CBA. It should be automatic and not at the mercy of hardliners on either side.
Agree, I was surprised to read that these guys don’t get their pension cheques now, when some of them really are counting on it. The two sides should agree to meet on this issue alone and get it passed.
Absolutely. I hope the two sides can come together on this quickly even if they don’t see eye to eye on the other CBA stuff. Actually I’m not even sure they would have to come together – I imagine either side could just contribute their $2 million to the fund without doing so in conjunction with the other party.
- Honestly yours
Twitter: @de_benny
Looking forward to Stubbs piece with Plekanec, here’s hoping they find him a new turtleneck manufacturer.
I was surprised that Bettman would take time to answer questions from a boisterous fan, it might just be P.R. be he could have easily just ignored the guy since he had no press pass.
My guess is he knew the cameras were rolling and knew how it would be perceived if he refused to speak with a fan.
- Honestly yours
Twitter: @de_benny
Sure but given Bettman’s character, it still surprised me that he just did not dismiss him.
Don Cherry with some words of advice to the players.
http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/article/1291710–nhl-lockout-don-cherry-to-players-smarten-up
For a Don Cherry rant it was very good. None of the usual self indulgent stuff. His advise to the players no matter how frustrated they are not to make fools of themselves was straight on IMO. Abit funny as to his pronouncing of Fehr as Fuhr abit of a dig. In all a good piece.
Cherry was giving advice on how not to make a fool of oneself?!!
Ya Front and in this case ( only ) I think he was genuine in his talk. Surprising to most I am sure but have to give him this one.
You know the world is going topsy-turvy when even Don Cherry gets it right (except the part where he tries to pretend he’s at the same level as concessionaire or an usher, anyways).
I actually felt re-affirmed when reading this article because I disagree with Cherry.
- Honestly yours
Twitter: @de_benny
Molson talks a good game but I have been thoroughly disappointed that someone from Generation Y who grew up in the rich hockey tradition of Montreal 70′s teams have so far stood by and watch the crappy team and crappy hockey which this orgainization has burdened its fans with.
I hope he means it when he says, ” And I’ll do everything I can to make sure we come back in style and the right way”.
There is nothing better than watching your team play with flair and style. Pray God you mean it Molson.
Step 1: Sign the P.K. on day ONE as proof. No hummin and hawin.
In fairness to Molson, he hasn’t owned the team for very long and has already made many significant changes with the team’s management. Can’t go from zero to hero over night.
- Honestly yours
Twitter: @de_benny
What he said!! I mean other than completely replacing the management team and the coaching staff for both the Habs and the Bulldogs, what has Molson done to change the direction of this team?
I don’t know how much more of this status quo sitting on his hands I can take. What a bum.
I’d say he’s more of a generation X kind of guy. Since gen Y people generally missed the 70s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwAdFZT2VOQ
“There must be some kinda way out of here”
Said the fan to the chief
“There’s too much confusion
I don’t want no grief
Lawyermen they, they act like swine
Bettman kills my hearth
None will level on the line
Nobody of it is worth”, hey
“No reason to get excited”
The chief he kinda spoke
“There are many here among us
Who feel that hockey is just a yolk”
“But you and I, we’ve been through that
And this is too our fate
So let us not talk falsely now
The hour is getting late”, hey
Hey
All along the mad tower
Donny kept the view
While all the fans came and went
CBA servants too
Outside in the cold distance
A Unionist did growl
Two months were approaching
And the season began to foul, hey
All about the mad power
All about the mad power
Good tune, well done L. Our resident Rocker Chick, keeps pumping up the volume here.
Nice version of “All Along Fawlty Towers”!
“Jimmy”!
You should see my grandson walk around with his plastic guitar playing Jimmy when I blair the music.
Classic…
I have never been a fan of the Flyers but i am a fan of this Flyers fan
http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/flyers-fan-crashes-gary-bettman-media-scrum-confronts-024733751–nhl.html
I think this needs to keep happening fans rallying at the meetings when the media scrum happens we need to start pointing out that we help pay them, what do you guys think of this?
I wonder if Bettman was nervous? That guy must have had 100lbs on Bettman and being a Flyers fan…
One of the comments on that article was if that guy was a real fan he should have checked Bettman haha. I bet he was shaking probbaly wanted the scrum to last longer so he wouldn’t have to deal with this guy.
I also doubt hed ever speak with a fan or fans after just run on home doing nothing to help the game
Gotta give it up to that guy. I have no passionate feelings at all about this lockout but I probably wouldn’t have been so polite to the G-Bett.
For those interested in tonights Vanier Cup, here is a preview of the Mac team from the Hamilton Spectator. Should be a great game tonight, it will be hard to match last years epic game which TSN replayed last night (Yes Bri, that was a replay you watched).
http://www.thespec.com/sports/local/article/841322–mac-s-best-gridiron-crew-ever
Gerald! going to be another great Vanier Cup game tonight!
Andree and I will be watching for sure.
Hi Ian and Gerald. I’ll be watching too. I love the Vanier Cup. Mac going for 2nd straight Vanier Cup … would be an amazing feat.
On a personal note, my son was on the last Ottawa Gees Gees team to win the cup. Think was 2002. His ring is freakin impressive.
Enjoy!
Oh that is cool Trin, congrats to your son. Yes I am looking forward to the game as well. Two really good teams. I am not very familiar with the Laval team, they must have quite a few returning players from last year, which makes this a great rematch.
Doing what is right and protecting the future NHL`rs, is a convenient mantra, as if somehow future NHL`rs might have it tough. I don`t thing successful players make for a successful franchise and league, however, a successful league and franchise will make for successful players.
The notion that the owners will somehow hoard the extra money, not at least reinvesting in their business, and force their workforce into some kind of sweat shop labour is laughable.
Maybe Sydney Crosby should invest some of his Reebok money in Phoenix, Florida or Carolina. I am sure he must own a vacation home in each of those areas.
The owners are hoarders and are fighting to hoard even more. That’s what prompted the need for the union in the first place. The notion that billionaires won’t do everything they can to hoarde as much money and power for themselves as they can is truly laughable suggestion here.
There are many examples of business owners who will milk a company to squeeze out every dime, then toss it aside into bankruptcy. Not all business owners do the right thing, it would be naive to think hockey business owners would be any different. The players need to protect their rights, not trust the owners to do the right thing if they give up their rights.
And for what Sydney Crosby brings to the NHL, his salary is a huge bargain for the owners.
Do you get the impression when Bettman looks for advice from owners, Molson isn’t high on his priority list? I don’t mean this disrespectfully of Molson. Seems to me Bettman has militant owners whom he appears to be more concerned with when it comes to setting agendas etc….
I absolutely get that same impression, Gerald. There seems to be a “cool kids table” among the owners and that is where Bettman sits himself.
- Honestly yours
Twitter: @de_benny
I know that in any group of 31 people, there will be cliques. Why would the NHL BoG be any different?
Cal you are correct that it happens with any group, just seems to me that the owner of the most storied franchise in the league not being among them seems wrong or at least odd. Now don’t get me wrong, I am grateful that Mr. Molson is not of the same character as that of Jacobs or Snider, but nonetheless I wish and/or hope that Bettman would seek advice from someone like Molson. Seems to me he is pretty level headed.
No question that Molson knows his stuff. It looks like it’s a seniority kind of thing going on. The Habs have been bought and sold 3 times since Bettman started. He seems to value long-term connections more. Look at the Winnipeg transfer from Atlanta. If he didn’t have a great relationship with the people running the Moose, it wouldn’t have happened.
If I was Molson, I would be keeping my head down as well. You have to think the poorer owners would like to squeeze more revenue sharing out of Montreal, Toronto, and New York. Even at 50/50, the bottom 6 teams will still lose money.
That is my fear, given the tax issues Montreal faces, i don’t like the idea of Montreal having to provide even more revenue sharing to the lesser teams. Unfortunately, every time Bettman sold a franchise, the league happily took their money and split it up. So the league does owe an answer of some kind to these teams. I just don’t want to see it fall largely on the back of my team. I recognize this is a selfish view, but it is my honest view.
Part 3 of the draft rankings, 21-30
http://lastwordonsports.com/2012/11/23/2013-nhl-draft-november-rankings-21-30/
Go Habs Go!
Check out Top Shelf Prospects, my Team by Team prospect reports
http://lastwordonsports.com/
Tomas Plekanec ’100% understands Hamrlik’s comments and Cole’s reaction’. Calls it product of frustration of passionate locked-out players. (from Stubbs)
Telio
The greatest Canadiens and NHL news-site: http://teliopost.com/
Twitter: @teliopost
Great to see the Royal York Hotel waived its “No Horse in Lobby” Policy and allowed the Stamps to bring their horse in.
I’ve always thought that the horse in the lobby thing was unique to Grey Cup Week. Very glad to see the tradition being kept up. Seeing as I am a big Toronto fan (insert sarcasm font here), go Calgary!
I know the Stamp fans love to bring their horse to the Grey Cup and in 1948 when the Stamps last played Argos in Grey Cup in Toronto they had their horse in the Royal York that year, without permission, they just did so.
Yesterday, the horse was initially denied entrance, they then took Marty (Horse) to the BMO in downtown T.O. (suspect he had a deposit for them) then to a pub where he had some Guiness and then finally the Royal York allowed Marty in the Lobby, recreating the scene from ’48.
Amen!
A Puck on both their houses.
Now with Party Hats!
http://calsnhllockout2012songparodies.weebly.com/
I keep picturing Adam Sandler singing this to Ferhbutt. Good one Cal.
———————————–
Hope your Thanksgiving was a good one. Everything getting back to normal?
All good here. Thanks.
———————————–
Congratulations to the Marauders for a well-faught win, and to Laval for offering up a great game.
The game is tomorrow.
Go Habs Go!
Check out Top Shelf Prospects, my Team by Team prospect reports
http://lastwordonsports.com/
doncha know ben? Bri is a visionary….but no betting on the game now that you know the outcome….his powers are only to be used for good
———————————–
It’ll always be Habs Inside/Out to me
Oh that is pretty funny, poor Bri.
Jeeze Bri, You will never live this one down.
I don’t understand the big deal….
I’m not allowed a prediction?
If it happens, I will predict (accurately) when the hockey season will start back up again.
Shame on Cole. Scumbag.
Shame on you, don’t let the door hit you in the brains on your way out.
Telling the monde that you’re a glass-half-full kind of guy is likely not really the thing to say when you’re in the business of peddling beer.
Quite a few people speculated Hamrlik would claim misquoted, I am happy Hamrlik re-affirmed his position. It isn’t that I disagree with the position Cole has taken, nor do I disagree with the position or stance Hamrlik has taken.
However, i feel Cole was quite a bit off base for criticizing a guy who has more than paid his dues in this league. If there leader Fehr wants to rip Hamrlik a new A&^hole that is one thing, and I assume Fehr would do so privately, but Cole showed little professionalism in his critique of Hamrlik. He could have said he was dissappointed in Roman, but he went much further. If Cole had no signing bonus his words may ring truer, but he has to be smart enough to realize he has a unique situation, but he didn’t. I love his heart as a player, but I struggle with his ability to make good judgement call.
I reallylike both guys and had the same attitude when each was signed by the Habs as a free agent: The best available free agent to fill a specific gap on the Habs. The price was paying a bit too much for a year too long, but that is what it took.
I don’t agree with Hamrlik but think he has the right to say it. And while I largely agree with Cole, I think his reaction was overboard.
Hamrlik is an example of one class of player who I expect has no interest in a work stoppage: the late career guy who will never make what he is scheduled to make this year even if he keeps playing longer.
I do think there is an aspect with Cole that plays into his perspective. He is a guy who is in his peak earning years in late career. If he plays beyond his current contract it is likely for less money. I think he really is doing this more for the next generation of players. He has more at risk and is potentially giving up more than Hamrlik and really cannot understand why someone like Roman cannot do the same, especially after career earnings of near $60M.
“Et le but!”
Hamrlik urinated publicly on all of the players who have sacrificed over the years to help him get everything he’s gotten out of the game with his, “What about poor me?” rant and he deserves to be shot down for his selfish attitude. Without guys like Ted Lindsay and others through the ages falling on the grenades for him, he’d never be where he is right now and when it was his turn to take a hit for the benefit of future generations as repayment for those who made sacrifices so he could enjoy the good life, he said hell no, I might lose some money, who cares about them?
Well, that’s a crock. The guy has every right to speak his mind, especially with guys like Cole around.
As much right as Cole has to tell him to stick his selfish BS up his brains.
Cole went overboard with his comments, no question. But when you strip away the over-the-top comments, his message needed to get out as well because not everyone understands why the players are still resisting. Even Bettman seemed genuinely perplexed why the players haven’t taken their offer so far. I thought Cole did a good job explaining why he feels the players should stand strong and not sell out even though they will never get back their losses.
As for the signing bonus I think that is a bit of a red herring. Hamrlik has made more money than Cole in his career, I’m sure he is not suffering. Most players who have been in the league a while or any of the high salaried players are not suffering. Cole will suffer the same financial damage in the end as all the players.
You make good points as usual Phil.
To expand on my previous post I guess I’m a little tired of hearing players talk as if they’re a union of oppressed coal-miners.
Especially guys like Crosby.
He makes 8.7 million dollars a years.
14% of Pens payroll and 15 x more than guys at the bottom of the payroll.
So whereas it is great to talk about revenue sharing with the owners I would like to see players do the same with their own.
Perhaps a player can max out at 10% of the payroll and guys at the bottom of the pat scale who stick their necks out to protect the stars and have the shortest careers can get a little more.
And if a player has an offer from his team and its at the maximum but decides to leave the team that drafted and developed him to go to a ” contender” his team would be compensated with a draft pick.
And perhaps the guys earning 8-12 mil a year could share some of their endorsement money with the have nots.
Couldn’t go back to football – a blow-out.
The reality is that without a CBA and a salary cap, a player like Sidney Crosby who is irreplaceable would make even more…. and the fourth line grinder who is replaceable by AHL players would make even less.
Its the stars who drive the game, the top 6 forwards, top 4 defencemen, and number 1 goalie who contribute most to wins and losses over 82 games and who are the rarest type of players.
The Max of 20% of the cap, and minimum NHL contracts that keep rising hurt the stars and help the bottom guys.
Jaromir Jagr’s pre-salary cap AAV is still higher than any player has gotten post salary cap even with average salaries rising.
Go Habs Go!
Check out Top Shelf Prospects, my Team by Team prospect reports
http://lastwordonsports.com/
Facts and logic have no place here, Ben. Get it together, will ya.
- Honestly yours
Twitter: @de_benny
1g 1a for Galchenyuk, but a 5-3 loss to London.
Keeps his point streak going to 7 games (16 points)
Go Habs Go!
Check out Top Shelf Prospects, my Team by Team prospect reports
http://lastwordonsports.com/
Great to hear he’s back playing from the Flu; going to see him tommorrow night in Kitchener. Can’t Wait!!!
Hope the Sting pick it up tomorrow… they were down 5-1 until the very end of the 2nd period. 3 games in 3 days for them against tough teams (well, maybe not Peterborough, but they’ll probably be dead by Sat).
Interesting interview with Ryan Miller regarding the CBA, negotiations, and the option of de-certifying the union.
http://m.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/exasperated-ryan-miller-heartily-endorses-decertification-of-union/article5578329/?service=mobile
- Honestly yours
Twitter: @de_benny
How is it the fans fault that Deharnaise makes well under a million per and Gomez makes $7mill per . There’s moneys to go around right now ….make all contracts based on PERFORMANCE,nuf said!
Another two point night for Gally tonight. 1+1 so far coming off the flu. Although they are losing 5-3 to a good London team
Why are no reporters asking the serious question “why isn’t Bettman stepping down”?
He has been in charge of this league since 93. Yes the league revenue has grown considerably, but most teams are still losing money? How can this be. Well maybe Bettman’s ideas to expand league to the South wasn’t a great idea afterall. Where is his accountabilty to that?
Here’s a question I would love Bettman to answer the next time he says “we’ve made concessions in their direction…”
Reporter: What concessions would those be, Gary? You’ve stated that your initial offer of 43% for the players was to telegraph meeting at 50/50, and the Make Whole is basically just honouring contracts owners signed as recently as the days leading up to the lockout. So again, what concessions have you given the players?
- Honestly yours
Twitter: @de_benny
I have a couple of comments although I wonder if anyone cares.
Getting a little fed up.
For all the talk about fairness and revenue sharing and unions – if the Habs are representative – 25% of the players earn 50% of the revenue.If the players were really interested in fairness they would rectify this and have some degree of salary scales as do teachers and psychologists and the rest of society.
Secondly they would look at the issue of loyalty and free agency.After drafting and developing players they basically hold their team hostage and the fans suffer. If there were some kind of salary scale teams would be able to keep their elite players.
Now back to football.
Definitely outside the box thinking, but unless ALL of the major sports leagues decide to adopt this thinking. There’s no way any one Players Association or Union will accept this.
—
Go Habs Go!
“Fairness” would be a free market without exclusive rights or a salary cap. Players could play for any team them wanted if they could earn a spot of the roster, and they would all get payed whatever they are really worth to the business.
And their contracts wouldn’t be guaranteed…
Maybe they would, or maybe they wouldn’t. The guarantee increases risk for the owner, but it comes with the benefit reduced salary. i.e. (as a hypothetical example) if Sydney Crosby assumes all the risk then maybe he needs $25 million per season to play for your team, but if the team owner shares the risk Crosby might play for $15 million.
An intellectually honest person would agree that obligations should be reciprocal and mutual. Non guaranteed contracts would be fine, as long as you get rid of the draft and make everybody a free agent at the end of every year. If the owner gets to decide to unilaterally stop paying then the player ought to get the right to unilaterally move to another employer.
This gets rid of the Gomez scenario but it doesn’t really help in things like retaining the talent that the organization has so selflessly developed, which seems to be such a focus of the “players should accept whatever owners deign to offer” crowd.
Of course as Sean points out this could align in mutual interest, with both owner and player agreeing to a longer term deal with some stakeholder possibly taking a discount in the interest of certainty. But then you would have to honor that.
“Et le but!”
A free market would result in players getting whatever contract their agent negotiates, guaranteed or not.
Professional sports are a lot like other professions and a lot more like the real world than you think.
The BEST of the BEST teachers are top tier university professors who are paid far above the pay scale of other teachers. The highest paid professor at Harvard or Oxford, or whatever school you want to look at is not on the pay scale of the rest of society.
Neither is the BEST of the BEST psychologists.
Hockey players in the NHL are the Best of the Best at what they do.
Go Habs Go!
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Elizabeth Warren just took about a 50% pay cut moving from a Professorship at Harvard to the US Senate.
If she was in a similar position at a lesser school like McGill or UofT she would have made half what she made at Harvard.
If she was in a less valued field like say Sociology (the Nokaleinein of Academia?) she would have made half again as much.
Even in the allegedly socialist confines of Academia the difference between Law Professor at Harvard and Sociology Prof at Carleton is like the difference between 1st line star and 4th line grinder
“Et le but!”
That’s bs Ben, I would challenge you to find a better lab technician in the microbiology field than myself!
To Hamrlik, and any other who say the players should vote.
I think if a vote had taken place among the owners, there wouldn’t be a lockout!
The players have bent over, it’s time the owners meet them half way, because their initial demands were outrageous considering the facts surrounding revenue in recent years, and the mega billion dollar deal with NBC still not officially kicking in yet.
What I see is owners who know BIG money is coming soon, and they want a huge chunk of it.
Saying the owners take all the risks etc? Yeah, that’s why you signed that deal with NBC to get more money. Traveling, hotel stays, meals, etc those costs won’t jump by as much as you suddenly now make a lot more via the NBC deal.
I’m disgusted with Bettman. He caused this, 20 years in the making. Putting teams in horrible markets, and stubbornly leaving them in crappy markets, that cause a need for revenue sharing and lost revenue leading us to CBA negotiations arguing about $.
I say move 6 teams from currently crappy USA markets, move 2 to smarter US markets and 4 to Canadian markets.
Revenue will go up even more, and also remove the “in the red” teams.
I think for innovative thinking like this, Bettman and Daly need to be gone.
I just want hockey back, and I am frustrated that outside the box thinking is not being discussed.
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Go Habs Go!
To actually believe that Geoff Molson is willing to return to play on the players term. Man that is way out there. If you believe that he is willing to compromise between the two sides then definitely yes.
EDIT; Heh, did you change or was I talking to someone else? Well consider yourself told in any case
I think if the owners voted, to still play the season out, even if only to commit till February, 2013 under previous agreement. In order to continue to negotiate a new deal?
Yes, I believe majority of owners may have voted to not lock them out. Molson is suffering in more then just ticket sales, Molson Breweries is suffering too. As are many other owners.
This would have removed much of the animosity the fans are growing for any or all of the parties involved.
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Go Habs Go!
I’m sorry but playing while negotiating with Fehr…if nothing else the last two months has confirmed that the NHL was correct in that move.
I could enjoy his messing with Bettmen if it didn’t impact my watching hockey.
Sorry, I noted a badly worded sentence. My apologies
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Go Habs Go!
I think that a majority of NHL owners would voted for a lockout, especially since Mr. Bettman pitched it as the starting point of negotiation rather than a last resort.
But seriously, if you think that owners of teams like the Habs or the Rangers or Red Wings or Canucks or even the new owners of the Leafs would not have been perfectly happy to play under the old CBA, the players’ initial proposal, or just about any other arrangements then I have some swampland near the Florida Panthers Sunrise Arena to sell you.
“Et le but!”
While your comment certainly explains how you came into procession of that land in Florida
And my “no thanks” just confirms the logic of my post
But the County Auditor has re-evaluated that section of land and have lowered its value since it is near the Sunrise Arena which loses money each year since 2005. So it might go real cheap.
Hamrlik understands that 50% of 3 billion is more than 57% of 2 billion, or 1 billion, or nothing. He comprehends that every day of this lockout is just more money that he will never get back.
So why is he being berated by the PA for having a functioning brain?
43% of 3 billion is more than 50% of 2 billion.
Noticed Cole called Hamerlik remarks selfish because if he had called them dumb or stupid as he knew the comments weren’t as bad that were made by White & Versteeg who called the NHL top brass idiots and a cancer not to mention the drunken comments made by Barch on Twitter a few months back…….
Another reason to like Vernon Fiddler, the superpest/motormouth that had Alain Vigneault busting a gut as he mocked Kevin Bieksa in a game last season:
“Jim Lites, president and CEO of the team cited Stars player Vernon Fiddler as an example.
It seems that when Fiddler received a check for $77,000 from the team Wednesday because he was injured — per the existing player’s association contract — Fiddler turned around and gave the money to the Dallas Stars Foundation.
“He felt wrong taking the money when his teammates weren’t being paid,” Lites said. The lockout has been tough on the Stars, but Lites declined further comment because the team can’t talk about the lockout.”
- reported in the Dallas Business Journal back on October 26
Two decent fellas out of 700
That is a class act. Wrote that before I noticed the irony of calling a super-pest classy however it was.
That’s a great story. It’s nice to hear something refreshing for a change.
i love this part of the main article:
‘I tell Molson that every Canadiens player I’ve spoken with since the lockout began Sept. 15 believes that the Habs owner isn’t one of the hawks who has had no problem padlocking the game, but rather is one who wants to be playing hockey.
“Of course, yes,” he replied with a thin smile, and the answer wouldn’t go a syllable further.’
So Geoff Molson is the good guy owner who doesn’t want the players locked out and wants the NHL to be playing hockey. What a great guy. Too bad all the other owners are so greedy and don’t listen to him…
Telio
The greatest Canadiens and NHL news-site: http://teliopost.com/
Twitter: @teliopost
It only takes 8 or more owners to keep the lockout going.
Go Habs Go!
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Bob explains the “de-certification” threat used in both the NFL and NBA lock outs;
http://www.tsn.ca/blogs/bob_mckenzie/?id=410081
Could the de-cert be the players hammer?
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Didn’t work in the NFL and NBA, but maybe they think it will with the Canadian factor.
The NFL and NBA got deals shortly after the decertification.
Doesn’t have to go all the way through the entire court process to “work”
Go Habs Go!
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If that is what it takes…still the Fehr factor.
what a load of crap…get on with it…I am getting really crabby now….
At the end of the day, Hammer and Cole are great hockey players. I do not hold anything against either because of their opinions on negotiations or about each other. Been there, done that. I was part of a union for along time and for some reason people who can normally get through life without uttering a word come out of the wood work to support or not support a union. It’s really quite amazing how these situations get blood to boil. The single most important thing to remember when you are under the publics scrutiny is to keep your mouth shut…whichever side you’re on. History seems to remember what you say long after anything that you do, especially if it’s controversial.
I will not take sides on this one.
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“It just goes to show how difficult predictions are, especially ones made about the future.”
RGM
***Habs Forever***
Good post Pete. Makes perfect sense to me.
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Thanx
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“It just goes to show how difficult predictions are, especially ones made about the future.”
RGM
***Habs Forever***
That’s the beauty of a democracy.
You have the right to speak your mind, just as others have the right to agree or disagree with you.
If them voicing their opinion helps things move a bit, I am happy they didn’t stay quiet.
Anything that helps hockey get going is OK with me too. I just think it would be better if they didn’t give fans the ammunition needed to judge.
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“It just goes to show how difficult predictions are, especially ones made about the future.”
RGM
***Habs Forever***
Why wont the PA hold a vote? I don’t get it. I thought Fehr did what his association wants.
Obviously on the 700 player conference calls (of which Hammer takes no part) there isn’t near enough dissention to call for a vote.
Go Habs Go!
Check out Top Shelf Prospects, my Team by Team prospect reports
http://lastwordonsports.com/
Not sure if this was posted, but Michal Neuvirth has entered the fray:
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=410073
Good for him. My fav quote by him “This lockout is not about majority of players, I think. It is about several superstars with big contracts.”
Ive been thinking this for awhile
Only one superstar is not tied up to a long term cap circumventing contracts. I don’t get how you could have “thought this all along” unless of course you allowed your left pinkie toe to think about it.
Btw, the sole remaining superstar… Malkin, his contract ends in 2 years if memory serves.
Oh and btw, I missed when Mathieu Darche became a superstar, because yeah he’s VERY involved in these negotiations.
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Go Habs Go!
I understand that the superstars have long term contracts.. that’s what this fight is about… making sure those long term contracts get every penny.
Darche is looking for a job in the PA. his playing days are behind him
Apparently you are a bit miss informed if you believe this is all about that. Read up on this a bit more.
Limiting contracts, delaying UFA eligibility, maximum salary ranges ….. So many things, on top of the “one point” you believe is the key sticking point, and it’s not even a sticking point anymore. The NHL and NHLPA have all but agreed the contracts need to be honored.
The fact remains, the NHL has teams in non Hockey markets, this causes revenue sharing to kick in as those teams are losing money causing other teams to not take in as much, how is this the players fault? It’s not!
The players voted! They voted to give Fehr the job, the reason they got Fehr is so they wouldn’t get screwed over by Bettman and Co for a third time.
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Go Habs Go!
The fact remains that “Make WHole” is only about the next 3-4 years not the entire term of the long term deals.
Players will lose money over the next four years if not for “make whole”. That includes all players including Neuvirth.
Go Habs Go!
Check out Top Shelf Prospects, my Team by Team prospect reports
http://lastwordonsports.com/
Nice.
Even a Czech hockey player is good once in a while!!
Cute.
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So within the player’s faction you have:
- those players who stand to lose the most by not playing for an extended period of time (probably most of them)
- those players who had their future secure with long term high-paying contracts who stand to lose the most by agreeing to a salary rollback, and yet will still make a lot of money regardless…
But I guess it’s the principle of having these long contracts signed perhaps in bad faith that most players rightfully don’t like. And yet, I can’t feel as if the players were being shortchanged since their profession is by nature high paying, and those who are most affected are the highest paid in the first place. It’s difficult to argue based on principle at that level in my opinion.
As much as the owners are businessmen who are calculating and primarily concerned with money… well, that’s normal, and I can’t see them as crooked in the financial sense.
What I’m most disturbed about is the principle that both the NHL and NHLPA seem to be operating on that the fans will all return every time a lockout ends, and so the lockout is always viewed as the way to go. That’s where I’m skeptical about the owners and Bettman.
Speaking of hard lines, I’m reminded of a touching little story.
I was walking across a bridge one day, and I saw a man standing on the edge, about to jump off. I immediately ran over and said “Stop! Don’t do it!”
“Why shouldn’t I?” he said.
I said, “Well, there’s so much to live for!”
“Like what?”
“Well … are you religious or atheist?”
“Religious.”
“Me too! Are you Christian or Jewish?”
“Christian.”
“Me too! Are you Catholic or Protestant?”
“Protestant.”
“Me too! Are you Episcopalian or Baptist?”
“Baptist.”
“Wow! Me too! Are you Baptist Church of God or Baptist Church of the Lord?”
“Baptist Church of God.”
“Me too! Are you Original Baptist Church of God, or are you Reformed Baptist Church of God?”
“Reformed Baptist Church of God.”
“Me too! Are you Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1879, or Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1915?”
“Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1915!”
To which I said, “Die, heretic scum!” and pushed him off.
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Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
I guess you’re in the habit of pushing several of the younger generations off the bridge.
Not sure if I like the phrase “No Excuses” and it has nothing to do with it being only in English.
It denotes a negative feeling which will always be visible to the players.
I believe there was a previous saying above the dressing room door which was much more positive and went something like this:
Play Together
Grow Together
Win Together
Just walked in, and I’d like to take the opportunity…
Happy Thanksgiving to all our American friends!
I ate enough for both of our great countries friend. CHeers.
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That’s why I feel so full, having eaten nothing. Thanks Jim!
Since my wife and her gang are down in your neck of the woods, I think I’ll have cereal.
By the time she gets back, that’s all we’ll be able to afford to eat.
WAY TO GO HAMMER! GOOD FOR YOU.
COLE IS AN ARROGANT BULLY WHO GOT PAID FOR MOST OF LOCKOUT SO FAR BECAUSE OF INJURY. COLE TRIES TO PAINT HIMSELF AS A UNION BROTHER, WHAT BS!
Centre, don’t be so hard on Cole. He obviously believes strongly on this matter and in addition its an emotional period in the negotiations. That said, it sucks having no hockey.
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http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/opinion/2012/11/friedman-still-too-many-hard-lines-being-drawn-in-nhl-talks.html
This rant by Elliotte Friedman has an almost HIO-esque feel to it, like it was written from the bottom of a whiskey bottle.
Thanks for sharing that. Seems emotions are beginning to ride high on all three parts now. Owners, players and fans. Perhaps that’s the push that’s needed?
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Hello, anybody here???
Shhhhhh. We’re sleeping.
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Looks like I might be meeting Nathan Beaulieu tomorrow
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It’ll always be Habs Inside/Out to me
Awesome Hammer. Let us know how it goes, will ya?
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