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Hard8s · 12-12-2004, 06:39 PM

Ok haven't been surfing the sports board for awhile, so heres my take. Both the NHL and the NHLPA both need to make some concessions. I agree that ther players salaries are way to high. Personally I thought for a long time that the NHL guys were not being paid enough for the punishment they put their bodies through, especially when a baseball guy can't play because he has a blister on his finger. But, and here is the big reason, the salaries jumped way to fast over the last 5-6 years. Look at Jagr's contract, he's making $8-10 mil a year. There is no way with seating capped in the stadiums and no real TV money coming in that any team would be able to pay that. That being said, what kind of GM does not keep the bottom line in sight??? I think they both need to sit down and talk and not go home without ironing out some sort of deal. Not talking for 2 months is not a real great negotiation tactic if you really want to solve the problem. I'm glad to see the players thought it was a big enough problem that they rolled back salaries 24% but I do not see that as good enough. Give back 30% and really stiffen up that luxury tax. If the GM's can see their way to paying over 30-35 mil a year in salary then make 'em pay a hard luxury tax. Make it $.40 over 35 mil, $.50 over 40 mil, $.55 over 45 mil, etc. If they really want to pay someone $10 mil a year its going to make them look at the bottom line. Its the closest thing to cost certainty they can get withoput a hard cap.

As for the rule changes they are proposing its simple. Go back to the touch up offsides, and make the goalies far game if they go outside the crease. You can make the crease a little bigger but don't make it extend behind the goal line. If the goalie wants to play the puck its on him. I must say the one of the best hits I saw was when Owen Nolan plowed Belfour during the game when he came out to play the puck in the corner. These guys have the most padding on, and loard knows the forward get their fair share of beatings in front of the net (at least I do when i play) and its only fair that the forwards get a chance for payback, legally. No need to eliminate the two line pass or extend the neutral zone, but if that what you want put the nets back in the original place and extend the neutral zone that way.

As far as the guys who don't understand hockey, they just need to try it. The speed of the game is faster than basketball or football, the skills required are alot like baseball and soccer, and your're doing it while skating on 2 1/4" blades on ice!

They say the hardest thing to do is hit a baseball, have they ever tried to deflect a 90 mph slapshot with a 4' stick into a 4'x6' net past a 2'x'6 goalie, while being leaned on by another player dead fixed on you not doing that?

12-12-2004, 06:39 PM	#73 (permalink)
Hard8s Addict Location: Wherever I am!	Ok haven't been surfing the sports board for awhile, so heres my take. Both the NHL and the NHLPA both need to make some concessions. I agree that ther players salaries are way to high. Personally I thought for a long time that the NHL guys were not being paid enough for the punishment they put their bodies through, especially when a baseball guy can't play because he has a blister on his finger. But, and here is the big reason, the salaries jumped way to fast over the last 5-6 years. Look at Jagr's contract, he's making $8-10 mil a year. There is no way with seating capped in the stadiums and no real TV money coming in that any team would be able to pay that. That being said, what kind of GM does not keep the bottom line in sight??? I think they both need to sit down and talk and not go home without ironing out some sort of deal. Not talking for 2 months is not a real great negotiation tactic if you really want to solve the problem. I'm glad to see the players thought it was a big enough problem that they rolled back salaries 24% but I do not see that as good enough. Give back 30% and really stiffen up that luxury tax. If the GM's can see their way to paying over 30-35 mil a year in salary then make 'em pay a hard luxury tax. Make it $.40 over 35 mil, $.50 over 40 mil, $.55 over 45 mil, etc. If they really want to pay someone $10 mil a year its going to make them look at the bottom line. Its the closest thing to cost certainty they can get withoput a hard cap. As for the rule changes they are proposing its simple. Go back to the touch up offsides, and make the goalies far game if they go outside the crease. You can make the crease a little bigger but don't make it extend behind the goal line. If the goalie wants to play the puck its on him. I must say the one of the best hits I saw was when Owen Nolan plowed Belfour during the game when he came out to play the puck in the corner. These guys have the most padding on, and loard knows the forward get their fair share of beatings in front of the net (at least I do when i play) and its only fair that the forwards get a chance for payback, legally. No need to eliminate the two line pass or extend the neutral zone, but if that what you want put the nets back in the original place and extend the neutral zone that way. As far as the guys who don't understand hockey, they just need to try it. The speed of the game is faster than basketball or football, the skills required are alot like baseball and soccer, and your're doing it while skating on 2 1/4" blades on ice! They say the hardest thing to do is hit a baseball, have they ever tried to deflect a 90 mph slapshot with a 4' stick into a 4'x6' net past a 2'x'6 goalie, while being leaned on by another player dead fixed on you not doing that? __________________ If ignorance is bliss, then wipe this smile off my face!