The Good Ol' Hockey Game!!

[Lisa]

I used to enjoy watching pro sports (mainly baseball and hockey) until so many players were refusing to play unless they made XXX amount of $$$ and entire leagues were going on strike. Now I find better ways to spend my entertainment $

[Big Mike]

The last stat I heard about NHL on American TV was that it gets about as many viewers as the pro bowling tour. If they counted the people who couldn't change the channel because they lost the remote in the couch...that would account for a "huge growth" in viewership.

The major US TV deals are up soon anyway. The NHL will not get as good a deal as they have now. ESPN may not even pick up NHL games.

[Big Mike]

Dose any of this really matter right now? The way things are going, there won't be any NHL games next year. What a mess.

Did you hear that recent report, it said the NHL owners lost over 1/4 billion dollars. And that did not take into account the two bankrupt teams (Pitt, Ott). Something like %75 of the costs are player salaries. That has to change.

Although, the Players ***. points out that teams know how to hide money. The Redwings for example, do not include food & drink revenue sold at games because that is filtered through a "separate company".

Bottom line is that the players make too much money. But the catch is that it's not their fault. It's the brain dead owners who are willing to sign the exorbitant contracts in the first place. Some superstars are worth a lot for various reasons. (they sell tickets) But once they sign for $5 million and then have a mediocre year, every regular Joe player will have their agent saying that they have as many points as that guy and want the same money.

Todd Marchant is making $3 000 000 for crying out loud.

Look at the NFL, it's the best run league. Salary cap, profit sharing etc. They had a strike/lockout and the owners won. The NHL had a strike and the players won...now look at the mess we are in.

I guess next fall, I'll have to find that backyard rink in Reddeer and watch those kids play for the Stanley Cup.

[DiamondDave]

I agree, we have 3 goalies, Dom Hasek, Curtis Joseph and Manny Legace and together they make 17.5 million a year. Just crazy, we can't get rid of Joseph cuz Dom has given up on the season, Now CuJO is out with an ankle sprain so Legace is playing! Where will it all end?

A salary cap is really the only way, too bad it's too late.

[Matt_K]

I think it's also time that the League looks at Bettman and decides what they're going to do about this guy.. Im my mind, he's not right for the job.. Also, some of these small market teams that can't turn a profit, they should start to think about moving them somewhere that they can.. For example, Pittsuburgh should be considering Winnipegs offer. Or perhaps think about moving em to Hamilton.. Atleast if they go there, they know the fan fare is there..