NHL Lockout

[usonian]

Yeah, two lockouts in less than ten years is not doing them any favors. Also, I wish they'd get rid of the stupid shootout and go back to 5 minute sudden death ending in a tie if nobody scores. It drives me crazy to watch 60 minutes of neck-and-neck hockey is flushed down the toilet in favor of a one-on-one skill competition.

[seanachie]

Usonian, you are so right. Fellow hockey fans claim I never shut up about this. The shootout is a joke, how can you let a team sport be decided like that. I will never forget the gold medal game in the Olympics in '94 and Peter Forsberg. You award a gold medal on the basis of a shootout? No legitimacy whatsoever. The simple cynical answer is the NHL does it to put bodies in the seats with people like Gary Bettman who have no passion for the game. Make me commissioner for a year and there would be a lot of changes.

[MizzouScotsman]

Yeah, two lockouts in less than ten years is not doing them any favors. Also, I wish they'd get rid of the stupid shootout and go back to 5 minute sudden death ending in a tie if nobody scores. It drives me crazy to watch 60 minutes of neck-and-neck hockey is flushed down the toilet in favor of a one-on-one skill competition.

That's why I love my MLS Soccer. 90 minutes plus stoppage time...if you can't win it in that time, it's a tie unless it's a playoff game. Then they play a 15 min OT. If no one wins that one they have another 15 min OT. If no one still can win it, they go to a shootout.

Now that's a game!

[Canuck]

As a die hard Maple Leaf fan for 52 years, the lockout, may be a favour to us.
so much for launching hockey related kilt wear this season.

[frank_a]

Think of all the time I have by not watching sports! Loved to play football as a kid, never been interesting in being a spectator. Gave up TV a long time ago, and only listen to rock on da radio...

Frank

[Spartan Tartan]

I'm just happy we have a good AHL team in the local area and college. Sure, it's not NHL, but it IS hockey. And our AHL team has some fantastic young NHLers that I'd have never seen play in person...silver lining, perhaps not. But I'll take what I can get.

[seanachie]

I have always been a real fan of the guys on the fourth line, the muckers and grinders. I was disappointed when I saw the Winter Classic canceled and Shawn Thornton of the Bruins had this to say, isn't it the truth: "“We’re all disappointed that it had to come to the Winter Classic being cancelled. I know that personally I just want to get back to work,” said Bruins enforcer Shawn Thornton, who was making a Saturday morning appearance at the Thomas Joyce Memorial Playground 5K in South Boston on Saturday morning. "But (Bettman) makes $8 million a year, doesn’t he? You expect he would have 250 grand kicking around in an ash tray somewhere to keep the Winter Classic alive." (source Comcast Sports Net)

[Deirachel]

It's the third lockout under Bettman. That's a joke. Besides, I can't blame the boys for wanting a better deal. They are making a fortune for the owners and the league, but compare their salaries to professional athletes of other sports. I don't expect the players to get all the money, but it's really very simple math. Players = games, games = money. No players = no games, no games = no money.

Honestly, 50% revenues paid to the players is reasonable; they only asked that the current contracts be honored as well (so if they get more than 50% for a few years, then so be it). Hmm, expecting a contract to be fulfilled and any new agreements to go into effect AFTER you've completed your CURRENT obligation? What a WILD idea!