I will be attending playoff games (if the Oilers ever make it there again) but will no longer attend any regular season games/buy NHL gear etc. Basically avoid giving the NHL and it's players/owners any money except for playoff tickets.

I know it won't make a difference but for me it's worth it.

Man, I knew shit would go south as soon as the Union let the disclaimer deadline pass.

Fehr (to players): Okay boys, we're close here so no need to disclaim interest when real progress is being made!

Bettman (to owners): See? They didn't disclaim interest, they're bluffing! I think it is time we tweak the HHR because we've got them where we want them! Victory is at hand!

Fehr seems to have underestimated the sheer power-play dickishness of his opponent and Bettman can't differentiate between good faith negotiation and weakness. Anyone wonder why nothing gets done?

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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.

didnt the league double revenues in the last 7 years? Yes, Bettman has a plan. You dont operate a $3billion business without one. Even if its a few owners that have his back, they would not let this happen without a plan. And yes, there are probably flaws in his plan, but i believe he has played this thing out pretty close to exactly how he expected it to go.

*These might be the same players, but a different leader. This isnt Fehr's first rodeo.

Man it does seem that way, don't it? Not that Fehr has been a benevolent force in all this, but I kinda get why he is reluctant to give an inch (good faith or not), when it seems like Bettman is always waiting on an opportunity to pounce.

/exhausting

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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

But it's his last rodeo. He won't be around for the next CBA so he doesn't care if the NHL goes up in flames. He just has to convince the players that what they're fighting for is worth the 800+ million that they lost so far in salaries.

Revenues might be high but they would be so much higher if they didn't mess up all the time and actually kept the game on the ice.

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UHL Calgary Flames
24-team H2H (roto G, A, GWG, SHP, PPP, PIM, +/, SOG, Hits, Blks, FOW, W, SV, SV%, GAA, SO)

Capped article archive

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Twitter:@DH_EricDaoust.

As an intended result of the last CBA negotiations? Perhaps. But I wouldn't assume that to be true, given the law of unintended consequences.

Which may sound purely cynical, granted (I tend toward that, I know), but given it took Bettman the better part of 20 yrs to realize his owners may be in need of a cap in order to maintain parity and stability, I would hazard a guess that "planning" isn't one of his strong suits. Reacting, certainly, but planning...not so much.

And Eric's correct, the league could have been generating even more revenue.

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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

His plan for a cap(along with his involvement in the NBA's implementation in a cap) is actually one of the main reasons he was hired. So he has had a plan since the beginning of his time with the NHL. Anyone that wants to know more about Bettman and what he has done with the league should read The Instigator. I am only half way through it right now but it is really pretty interesting if you are interested in the business side of the league.

Edit: Have to warn you though it isn't very well written.

That may be true, I really don't know the historical motive behind the hiring of Bettman.

What I do know is that Fehr - dickish, passive-aggressive, and unpopular as he may be - has been able to keep Bettman completely off-balance during this entire process. All without really holding a true card to play. Hill-we-will-die-on be damned, Bettman's been negotiating against himself.

Wouldn't be surprised if he was gone after this farcical performance.

__________________

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

Get ready for some hockey!

Don't tease me, Guru.

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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