"What we have now is the ragged end of a chess match between a master and a novice. Ownership is chasing the NHLPA’s king across the board toward an inevitable end, but the union does not have the sense to retire.

Surrender isn’t their best option. It’s the only one they have left..."

http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey...ur-fight-kelly

The players are missing the point here. It's that a majority of owners are willing to miss a season if they can deny primary culpability.

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G 4.25, A 2.75, PPP 1.5, SHP 3, Hits 0.4, Blocks 0.5, PIM 0.25, DFP 1
W 5 OTL 1 SO 6 SV 0.25 L-1 GS 1

F:Stamkos, C Stew, R Johansen, B Dubinsky, Max Pac, Umberger, B Ryan, D Backes, T Ruutu, Lucic, Ott, MSL, Heatley, C Kunitz, J Benn, L Adam

D: C Fowler, Kronwall, A Goligoski, JM Liles, M Giordano, K Letang, N Nikitin, R Josi

G: J Quick, A Niemi, C Anderson, Rinne

Yeah I didn't get that myself.

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Four out of three people have difficulty with fractions

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Well I do understand their demand for longer contracts... only on the surface though...

You would think protecting the "pie" would out-weigh that...

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But I just assumed their availability on the open market is what drives their salary higher.

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Four out of three people have difficulty with fractions

Commish - Twisted Wrister Fantasy Hockey League

12 team, $$$, 24 players, Weekly, H2H, limited keeper (8), multi-cat (G, A, PIMs, Hits, SOG, HT/ W, GA, SV%, SO)

Start: 2C, 2RW, 2LW, 4D, 2G

Been following the whole saga, like everyone else... the two things that bother me

Why didn't the union let the players vote on the latest or any proposal?

Why does it seem like the union only cares about the high money players... what about the guys who had this year as only one of three years in the show? Or the minimal salary?

The cynic in me suspects it is the same reason that you see so much of US politics focus on the '1%'. High money players pay the most union dues (taxes) so they are the ones who hold most sway with the union.

But that's what a cynic would think... I'm not saying that's how it is, right?

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Okay, so maybe nobody likes a cynic, but everybody f**king hates those perky optimists!

... and anyway, I make a damn good cynic.

Fehr is pushing this thing to the brink, telling the players to wait and they'll get more....Until a drop date is indicated, this circus will persist. The only one suffering are the fans. Yesterday, was a grand example of a lucrative offer by a select few of owners and the players union pushing things and wanting more. Even though the main perimeters of the deal only affects 5-10% of the players and if there were a vote, 90% players would vote to play. Whether you like Bettman or not, he is for the state of the NHL and their franchises. These owners have millions and millions of dollars, and should have a lucrative return, given their investment, I know I would. At the end of the day, this latest offer only affects a select few (5-10% of players) and the silent majority of 90% and 2nd-4th line players would vote to play in a minute. I was pretty excited yesterday and then this curve ball.

Totally agree....

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What I find most interesting is how the tide seems to be turning against the players. It seemed as if during the last lockout, most people blamed the players for being greedy, and the owners were given some slack.

This time around, it started off with the owners being the bad guys. But slowly, the focus has shifted to the players taking the blame. Yes, people are blaming the owners still, but the players are taking a lot more blame than. They were in September.

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Top 8 forwards, 5 dmen and 2 goalies count.

We keep 8 forwards, 5 dmen, 2 goalies & 1 rookie.

Forwards: Malkin, Stamkos, Getzlaf, Hall, Kunitz, St. Louis, Pavelski, Kadri, Purcell, Hartnell, Brunner, Weiss, Bouchard, McDonald
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