I have one question for Goodenow

[Jim Bob 0]

At his 4pm press conference yesterday, Bob Goodenow talked about how the NHLPA only wanted a "fair deal" and a "marketplace for players".

Well, the one question I wished that someone would have asked him was why is a cap at $49 million fair and a marketplace, yet a cap at $42.5 million isn't fair or doesn't create a marketplace?

I understood where the NHLPA was coming from with their non-cap stance. The marketplace issue made some sense, although I didn't agree with the take, when it was a systemic difference of opinion.

However, once the NHLPA reacted to the NHL's move to remove linkage between revenues and payrolls by offering up a salary cap system, the conflict was no longer a battle of principles and was merely a question of dollars and cents.

What made no sense to me was that once that gap was bridged, why didn't both sides lock themselves in a room and not leave until the numbers were workable for both sides?

I understood how that approach wouldn't have worked when one side was yelling "Cap" and the other was yelling "No Cap". But once that little charade was over, why couldn't they just sit down and hash out the numbers?

And quite honestly, I'd love to hear any player try and explain why $42.5 million per team isn't fair, yet $49 million per team is. At least that would provide me with some entertainment fr4om some people that are in the business of entertaining me.

At least they used to be in that business.........................

[DrMolotov 0]

To add to that.... Gary Bettman was on the Fan this morning and he admited that he had a second speech at the ready, one that would have announced Game On.

If he had a speech ready, why not work a little harder at getting the deal done. That being said, I still like Damien Cox's take on the matter where he believes a deal to have a shortened season would do nothing to cure the ills of the league.

[Jim Bob 0]

I think a shortened season would have done one huge thing to help the NHL: It would have turned the focus of the league from something fans can't stand (the battle of millionaires and billionaires over a huge pile of money) to something the fans love, the games on the ice.

The NHL needs to change the focus of the league from the battles in the boardroom to the battles on the ice ASAP so that the healing process can begin.

[LegoDoom 0]

I really don't believe that the NHL will abandon linkage and don't think this was all that close to being settled. It seemed like it since both sides moved off of their previous stance (linkage and a cap), but the money was way off and it would have required a huge drop in terms from the PA to work out a deal.

The owners can go without a losing investment and I don't believe they will agree to any deal that will lose the majority of them money.

[Chadd 916]

The owners can write off any losses, players are still out of luck.

[LkptTiger 1]

It would have turned the focus of the league from something fans can't stand (the battle of millionaires and billionaires over a huge pile of money) to something the fans love, the games on the ice.

...Especially during the playoffs - the unbelievable passion during those games would have won many fans back.

Too bad it's something we (probably) aren't going to see for quite some time.

[GekigangarIII 0]

As much as I would like to have seen some games this year, I firmly believe that any last minute deal would just drag this out another 10 years... just like last time.

What needs to happen now is for both sides to stop pussyfooting around. Time to make demands, time to put up or shut up. Dragging this out another year from now will absolutely KILL this league, it won't be around. Put all the chips on the table now or start sending out resumes.

[2048 0]

I don't see what's wrong with 42.5 million, especially if it can rise with increased profits.

42.5million=more than 2 mil per player on average in the league (assuming 20 men per roster). Not all teams will spend at the threshhold, but the few who will won't inflate slaries so much that others can't afford them. I'm just pissed at this whole thing and how long it took them to get anything done, but it's not very suprising.

[Eazy_b97 1]

That extra 3 players can make a big difference though. Plus I like the fact in the NHLPA offer you could go over, on occasion, to keep the team.

[Fury of One 6]

The Devils are the perfect image of how a team should be run. I don't know what their payroll was but it couldn't have been well over $40 mil. They built contending teams from their farm team. Stevens and Brodeur were their highest paid players and were only making under $5 mil. The image that stays in my mind is when they won the Cup in '95 and Mike Peluso was crying on the bench because he was minutes away form hoisitng it over his head. No wonder some players don't want the cap, then 3rd/4th liners like Bobby Holik wouldn't make $9 mil. a year.

[Eazy_b97 1]

I truly believe, teams like NJ are the reason there has to be a cap. Without teams who clutch and grab then good players wouldn't be at a premium. Their payroll was also around $60 million last year. Both Stevens and Brodeur are a little under 7 million.

[Fury of One 6]

Yeah I guess I was thinking back to '95. I know their payroll has gone up in recent years but I actually think its teams like Philly, the Rangers and Wings that blew the numbers out of proportion. Like I said before, how can Holik be making $9 mil. a year? That's a little ridiculous.

[Chadd 916]

I truly believe, teams like NJ are the reason there has to be a cap. Without teams who clutch and grab then good players wouldn't be at a premium. Their payroll was also around $60 million last year. Both Stevens and Brodeur are a little under 7 million.

$48.9 last year, though they would have been around $60M this year before the rollback the players offered.

[Eazy_b97 1]

Sorry about that. I was looking for the link you posted and couldn't find it. I found $58 mill and change for 2002-2003.

[Chadd 916]

Sorry about that. I was looking for the link you posted and couldn't find it. I found $58 mill and change for 2002-2003.

http://asp.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/...px?year=2003-04