UPDATE: NHLPA votes for further negotiations on 24-team return to play format

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

There would be enough dissenters from this plan - including star players - that the competitive legitimacy would be a joke.

Only from teams that don't see the regular season games as meaningful. You think any star players are going to not want to try for the Stanley Cup? You obviously don't know hockey players. These are ultra competitive athletes who have trained their whole life for one goal and they only have a small window once they get there if they get there to try for it. Even if they win it they want to do it as many times as possible. McDavid, Crosby, Ovechkin, Pasta, Kucherov, ect...they are all going to vote to play. So are young players trying to make their mark and get a shot because they know vets on non playoff teams like Thornton probably opt out to stay at home and I don't have an issue with that. If a player wants to sit out the rest of the regular season have at it, it opens the door for a young guy to get a cup of tea. Those young guys are going to be fired up too so maybe it makes for more competitive hockey than a vet going through the motions. I can't believe there are hockey fans that see hockey as a bad thing during a time when the world needs something to focus on other than doom and gloom if it can be done safely. Some people just want to live in the negative though.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Only from teams that don't see the regular season games as meaningful. You think any star players are going to not want to try for the Stanley Cup? You obviously don't know hockey players. These are ultra competitive athletes who have trained their whole life for one goal and they only have a small window once they get there if they get there to try for it. Even if they win it they want to do it as many times as possible. McDavid, Crosby, Ovechkin, Pasta, Kucherov, ect...they are all going to vote to play. So are young players trying to make their mark and get a shot because they know vets on non playoff teams like Thornton probably opt out to stay at home and I don't have an issue with that. If a player wants to sit out the rest of the regular season have at it, it opens the door for a young guy to get a cup of tea. Those young guys are going to be fired up too so maybe it makes for more competitive hockey than a vet going through the motions. I can't believe there are hockey fans that see hockey as a bad thing during a time when the world needs something to focus on other than doom and gloom if it can be done safely. Some people just want to live in the negative though.

Since absolutely no one has said that, it's pretty clear your emotions are guiding your thoughts.

Everyone, at least on a hockey forum, would like to be watching the game...right now even.

This discussion is entirely about whether it can be done safely and in a way that those who would be involved, would be agreeable too. Both of these things are very much in question.

And you keep saying you know what the players would do....you really dont.
Niether do I. Its entirely a guess at this point since the players themselves dont know.

There is so much involved in pulling this off and all of it needs to be addressed and discussed.

Is it fair to pull all the equipment managers and locker room guys, the PR people from every team, the slate of media needed, cameramen, producers, directors, etc away from their families for up to 4 months?

Again the players will decide for themselves but only when they have all the information to make a decision with. We just arent at that point yet and wont be for at least 3 more weeks.

Just this morning I read that the Hlinka/Gretzky has been cancelled.....cause things arent safe enough to go ahead with it. It was scheduled for August.

[Erick Estrada]

I would love to watch some hockey but not enough to put players in uncomfortable situations where they are isolated from their families. I understand why owners and fans starved for hockey/sports want this but if enough players don't then I'm totally fine with this not happening. I'm usually pro-owners when it comes to CBA negotiations but I'm 100% behind the players on this one.

[goflamesgo18]

If it can be done safely then it shouldnt be up to the players. They are getting paid millions. I wouldnt feel sorry for them if they are isolated from their families to finish the season. As long as nobody is at risk.

[CMPunk]

Originally Posted by goflamesgo18

If it can be done safely then it shouldnt be up to the players. They are getting paid millions. I wouldnt feel sorry for them if they are isolated from their families to finish the season. As long as nobody is at risk.

What about all the support staff not getting paid millions?

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by CMPunk

What about all the support staff not getting paid millions?

What about all the support staff that won't get paid at all if no games are played?

[ricardodw]

The future of the NHL is at stake. The NHL will generate some revenue for this carnival.

The TV viewership will be so low that the NHL will become a joke and lose big time on any future TV contracts.

Hard to believe that the NHL doesn't just cancel the season and start the negotiations with the Players with on new CBA required for starting up in a new Normal world.

It will look very minor league if the NHL stays with a 80 M plus cap and plans to hold 50% in escrow.

Player X signs for the league Minimum of 750k of which he will get paid as little as $375k


It would be a lot better managed with a 50-60 M cap with the Cap going up over the years depending on Revenue increases.

[CMPunk]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

What about all the support staff that won't get paid at all if no games are played?

He's saying he doesn't feel sorry if the players get locked up because they make millions. So what about the equipment guy who makes $40 grand a year? Does making less money make them any more human to him?

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

What about all the support staff that won't get paid at all if no games are played?

There will be 20% unemployment... probably worse in Alberta and lets focus on making some part time employees whole?

[Toonage]

Not every team will have all that time away from families. Half go home after a month or so.

As the playoffs go on, and Chris Johnston brought this up, there would be a chance families could be brought in and quarantined with the players. Then be there to celebrate with them if they win etc.

Its not as dire as its being made out to be in that regard.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

The future of the NHL is at stake. .

No....it really isn't.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by transplant99

No....it really isn't.

Maybe not but certainly in the 4 small Canadian cities.

[PaperBagger'14]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Maybe not but certainly in the 4 small Canadian cities.

Highly doubtful, if the league was in trouble of losing teams I highly doubt they would also be expanding at the same time

[standinmotion]

Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14

Highly doubtful, if the league was in trouble of losing teams I highly doubt they would also be expanding at the same time

Here's an interesting article on the pandemic impacts on NHL finance.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by scotty2hotty

If this flies ... the winner will always have an asterisk.

It will never be considered a true Stanley Cup, IMO.

I genuinely don't know if this is one I'd want to win.

People at the time said that about the 95 Devils. Now the only people who say that about the 95 Devils are Rangers fans.

[Beatle17]

Originally Posted by standinmotion

Here's an interesting article on the pandemic impacts on NHL finance.

interesting opinion piece for sure, but to mention well heeled owners and say Florida and Arizona owners aren't is false. They both have tons of money and I think all owners are billionaires.

[albertGQ]

[/QUOTE]
Just this morning I read that the Hlinka/Gretzky has been cancelled.....cause things arent safe enough to go ahead with it. It was scheduled for August.[/QUOTE]

I think the main reason it was cancelled is because it is in Edmonton. If it’s safe to play hockey by then, they’d be hosting the NHL, not a U18 tournament

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Beatle17

interesting opinion piece for sure, but to mention well heeled owners and say Florida and Arizona owners aren't is false. They both have tons of money and I think all owners are billionaires.

That wasn't the point of the article. The problem is less about how wealthy individual owners are, and more so the ability of teams carrying tonnes of debt to continue borrowing in order to cover costs. Teams like Arizona and Florida would be in trouble because of how much they are already leveraged, especially if it becomes increasingly difficult for owners to borrow money at affordable interest rates.

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk

[Freeway]

Florida's propped up by an amazingly favourable lease with Broward County which guarantees revenue. I'm unsure how they'll be impacted by the loss of games/fans, though. It's definitely a big kick in the pants either way.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Chances to salvage 2020 (for any NA pro league) are becoming more and more remote.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1255742105978392578