2005-03-30
2005-03-23
Just a couple of updates to the posts I made earlier today:
Peter Forsberg has officially declined the opportunity to represent Sweden at the Worlds. This is no surprise to anybody, as the oft-injured superstar as been suffering from a concussion and a sore wrist that just hasn't been the same since he broke it earlier this season. (Add Tomas Holmstrom to the list of guys who won't be there, too; I forgot to mention his name earlier.)
Wayne Gretzky has weighed in on the steroid issue, saying that he doesn't think it's a big problem...he seems to be downplaying it a little too much, though. "It's like drugs in life, people who do drugs don't hang with people who don't do drugs...People who do steroids don't hang with people who don't do steroids," he said, all but admitting that even if guys on his teams had used performance enhancers, they wouldn't have talked to him about it. "It's something that I never saw, it's something that I don't think is part of our game. But is it totally invisible? Probably not," Greztky continued.
I'd like to think that he's taking this approach in an attempt to put the issue aside while things like the CBA get solved; the other possibility is that he's naïve, and I find that hard to believe about one of the greatest players ever to play the game, as well as one of the sharpest minds ever to preside over it. True, sometimes he does appear to idealize hockey, but I'm not going to psychoanalyze him over this...as long as he is willing to say that if there's a problem, something should be done about it, then I'm happy.
Peter Forsberg has officially declined the opportunity to represent Sweden at the Worlds. This is no surprise to anybody, as the oft-injured superstar as been suffering from a concussion and a sore wrist that just hasn't been the same since he broke it earlier this season. (Add Tomas Holmstrom to the list of guys who won't be there, too; I forgot to mention his name earlier.)
Wayne Gretzky has weighed in on the steroid issue, saying that he doesn't think it's a big problem...he seems to be downplaying it a little too much, though. "It's like drugs in life, people who do drugs don't hang with people who don't do drugs...People who do steroids don't hang with people who don't do steroids," he said, all but admitting that even if guys on his teams had used performance enhancers, they wouldn't have talked to him about it. "It's something that I never saw, it's something that I don't think is part of our game. But is it totally invisible? Probably not," Greztky continued.
I'd like to think that he's taking this approach in an attempt to put the issue aside while things like the CBA get solved; the other possibility is that he's naïve, and I find that hard to believe about one of the greatest players ever to play the game, as well as one of the sharpest minds ever to preside over it. True, sometimes he does appear to idealize hockey, but I'm not going to psychoanalyze him over this...as long as he is willing to say that if there's a problem, something should be done about it, then I'm happy.
Countdown to the Worlds (because really, what else do you have to do?)
Well, it won't be the tournament of superstars that everyone was hoping for, but Canada at least should have a good chance at their third straight gold medal. Wayne Gretzky has stepped out of the GM's role to be with his mother, who is being treated for lung cancer; Canucks' assistant GM Steve Tambellini has filled the void there. Instead of Pat Quinn, Mark Habscheid will coach the Canadian contingent; he's a capable guy who has international experience, so this is a good time to give him a shot.
The players are a bit more of a mystery; several have refused the call already, because they're not ready to go. Mario Lemieux said he doubts he'll be ready, so take that as a "no." Joe Sakic and Jarome Iginla are reportedly on the fence; the latter has indicated that he will announce his decision today. Roberto Luongo and Robyn Regehr got invitations from Tambellini already, and Todd Bertuzzi might even be considered if his suspension is ended by Gary Bettman (given the Vancouver ties there, Tambellini will be loath to incite trouble by omitting Big Bert if he's able to go). TSN.ca is also reporting that Red Wings' forward Kris Draper has just accepted an invitation to training camp, along with three defencemen: San Jose Shark Scott Hannan, Ottawa Senator Wade Redden, and another Canuck, Ed Jovanovski. Martin Brodeur has been contacted as well, presumably to be the #1 to Luongo's #2, as it was in the World Cup last fall.
Many players who haven't played this season may be passed over, since there is a bevy of talented players who have been hard at work in Europe. Ryan Smyth, however, is one of those who will probably be contacted; they don't call him "Captain Canada" for nothing. He's represented the country at many international tournaments, including the last several World Championships (since his Oilers have such a propensity for getting knocked out of the playoffs early, if they evey make it). As for guys playing overseas:
Elsewhere, Sweden, who lost the gold to the Canadians for the last two years in a row, probably won't be back in the final. Mats Sundin, Markus Naslund, and Nicklas Lidstrom have all opted out, citing rust as the problem; they know they won't be in peak condition by the end of April. This isn't like Alexander Mogilny and Nikolai Khabibulin refusing to play for Team Russia because of disagreements with the government officials who control it; Sweden is a country of hockey fanatics who expect the best of their players, much like we do in Canada, and the players know it. These three guys aren't turning Swedish hockey down because they just don't feel like it; don't think for a second that they wouldn't love the opportunity to get revenge for their last two defeats. But they know they won't be ready to play the best they can, so they're unselfishly stepping aside for other guys who have been playing all year, and are ready for more.
The players are a bit more of a mystery; several have refused the call already, because they're not ready to go. Mario Lemieux said he doubts he'll be ready, so take that as a "no." Joe Sakic and Jarome Iginla are reportedly on the fence; the latter has indicated that he will announce his decision today. Roberto Luongo and Robyn Regehr got invitations from Tambellini already, and Todd Bertuzzi might even be considered if his suspension is ended by Gary Bettman (given the Vancouver ties there, Tambellini will be loath to incite trouble by omitting Big Bert if he's able to go). TSN.ca is also reporting that Red Wings' forward Kris Draper has just accepted an invitation to training camp, along with three defencemen: San Jose Shark Scott Hannan, Ottawa Senator Wade Redden, and another Canuck, Ed Jovanovski. Martin Brodeur has been contacted as well, presumably to be the #1 to Luongo's #2, as it was in the World Cup last fall.
Many players who haven't played this season may be passed over, since there is a bevy of talented players who have been hard at work in Europe. Ryan Smyth, however, is one of those who will probably be contacted; they don't call him "Captain Canada" for nothing. He's represented the country at many international tournaments, including the last several World Championships (since his Oilers have such a propensity for getting knocked out of the playoffs early, if they evey make it). As for guys playing overseas:
- Look for Shawn Horcoff to get a phone call; he's been playing for Mora in the Swedish Elite League, and has been spending most of his time at the top of the scoring chart.
- Jose Theodore's name has been bandied about for a possible #3 goalie -he's been playing for Djurgarden in Sweden - but if he wants to sit it out, Andrew Raycroft also starred for Djurgarden, and most recently has been playing for Tappara in Finland; he's another solid young goalie that Hockey Canada should try and develop.
- Mark Recchi has been playing in Finland as well, for Turku; he hasn't been involved internationally since the Nagano Olympics in '98 (he was a sub for the concussed Paul Kariya), but he would be a good fit for the speedy European-style game.
- Wild defenceman Nick Schultz has been playing in Germany this season, and is another great young player that will be brought into the fold sooner or later - preferably sooner.
- This is the part where you'll get chills: besides Kris Draper, the list of Canadians playing in Switzerland this year includes Joe Thornton, Rick Nash, Martin St.Louis, Daniel Briere, and Alex Tanguay - Marty Gelinas has been hanging out in the magical land of Neutrality too, and his playoff performance last year was nothing short of impressive.
- More goosebumps: in Russia, Dany Heatley, Vinny Lecavalier, and Brad Richards all played on the same team, AK Bars Kazan. (Nicknamed the "New York Rangers East," they boasted a whole heap of firepower; fittingly, they also got knocked out of the playoffs early-on.) Granted, Richards is still recovering from surgery, but don't count him out.
The learning curve should be a lot shorter this year, too: with so many players having spent the season on international rinks, they're used to the wide ice surface and the two-line passes by now, and can help their teammates adapt as well. Bottom line, as long as enough of these guys are interested in playing some more hockey before their seasons are over, Team Canada should boast their best lineup this side of the World Cup and Olympic tournaments. Earlier in the year, thoughts were that some of the non-NHLers from the Men's National Team would be included, but that was before so many guys decided to go to Europe. Don't be surprised if Hockey Canada decides those guys can't cut the mustard - sure, they could include a few and still be better than most other entries in the tournament, but they shouldn't be going for a 3-2 victory in the final; fans should be given no less than another juggernaut of a team, and that's what's available at this juncture.
Elsewhere, Sweden, who lost the gold to the Canadians for the last two years in a row, probably won't be back in the final. Mats Sundin, Markus Naslund, and Nicklas Lidstrom have all opted out, citing rust as the problem; they know they won't be in peak condition by the end of April. This isn't like Alexander Mogilny and Nikolai Khabibulin refusing to play for Team Russia because of disagreements with the government officials who control it; Sweden is a country of hockey fanatics who expect the best of their players, much like we do in Canada, and the players know it. These three guys aren't turning Swedish hockey down because they just don't feel like it; don't think for a second that they wouldn't love the opportunity to get revenge for their last two defeats. But they know they won't be ready to play the best they can, so they're unselfishly stepping aside for other guys who have been playing all year, and are ready for more.
Stephane Quintal's 'Roid Rage
Stephane Quintal spoke out yesterday about performance-enhancing drugs in the NHL, saying that up to 40% of its players take some kind of stimulant, and some have actually taken anabolic steroids - a statement that shouldn't have surprised many people. To suggest that no one in hockey is on steroids is nothing short of stupid; the league has a policy of random drug tests in place, but that policy is by no means foolproof, so it is apparently quite easy for some players to slip through the snare.
If you're worried that your favourite all-star is taken performance enhancers, then not to fear: if a player has played in a World Championship, a World Junior Championship, the Olympics, or last year's World Cup, then he's been tested for steroids, and they test extremely thoroughly, as everyone knows. Some of those drugs can remain in the body for some time, and although there are steps that users can take to flush the remnants out of their systems, it's unlikely that any honourable (and intelligent) player who knew he would get the chance to represent his country would take the risk...of course, we're all aware how uncommon common sense can be.
Most of the players who are likely using performance-enhancers are the lower-end guys who have less to lose: enforcers, fourth-liners, number-seven defencemen. Career minor-leaguer and tough guy Dennis Bonvie says that he's positive he has fought players who were taking some kind of growth-enhancement substance, which is no surprise; this calibre of player makes his money by getting in as many big-league fights as he can before he gets sent back down to the farm, so anything to give that guy an edge will be considered, if his morals allow it.
With regards to the question of stimulants, this concerns things like Sudafed and caffeine. The World Anti-Doping Agency has taken these both off the banned substance list, saying there's no proof that any amount of Sudafed enhances performance (Silken Laumann would have loved to hear that about ten years ago, I'm sure). With a few exceptions (such as marijuana), the NHL uses WADA's list of banned substances; it's encouraging that they're staying on the same page as the world's major governing bodies with regards to this kind of issue. Hopefully the NHL and NHLPA are proactive enough to include an even tougher drug policy in the new CBA, with regular testing for all players, as well as random tests throughout the year, even in the summer months...because the last thing hockey needs is to go through what baseball is right now, congressionally-issued subpoenas and all.
If you're worried that your favourite all-star is taken performance enhancers, then not to fear: if a player has played in a World Championship, a World Junior Championship, the Olympics, or last year's World Cup, then he's been tested for steroids, and they test extremely thoroughly, as everyone knows. Some of those drugs can remain in the body for some time, and although there are steps that users can take to flush the remnants out of their systems, it's unlikely that any honourable (and intelligent) player who knew he would get the chance to represent his country would take the risk...of course, we're all aware how uncommon common sense can be.
Most of the players who are likely using performance-enhancers are the lower-end guys who have less to lose: enforcers, fourth-liners, number-seven defencemen. Career minor-leaguer and tough guy Dennis Bonvie says that he's positive he has fought players who were taking some kind of growth-enhancement substance, which is no surprise; this calibre of player makes his money by getting in as many big-league fights as he can before he gets sent back down to the farm, so anything to give that guy an edge will be considered, if his morals allow it.
With regards to the question of stimulants, this concerns things like Sudafed and caffeine. The World Anti-Doping Agency has taken these both off the banned substance list, saying there's no proof that any amount of Sudafed enhances performance (Silken Laumann would have loved to hear that about ten years ago, I'm sure). With a few exceptions (such as marijuana), the NHL uses WADA's list of banned substances; it's encouraging that they're staying on the same page as the world's major governing bodies with regards to this kind of issue. Hopefully the NHL and NHLPA are proactive enough to include an even tougher drug policy in the new CBA, with regular testing for all players, as well as random tests throughout the year, even in the summer months...because the last thing hockey needs is to go through what baseball is right now, congressionally-issued subpoenas and all.
2005-03-19
Chris Cuthbert and the CBC aren't done quite yet.
Cuthbert is preparing to sue the network over an alleged breach of contract when he was fired; one of the sticking points is reportedly a guarantee that he would take the torch from Bob Cole as Hockey Night in Canada's number one play-by-play announcer, upon the latter's retirement (which is arguably overdue). "What a preposterous way of doing business," Cuthbert said about the whole fiasco.
One thing is for sure: he won't be back on HNIC. "There's going to be too many other opportunities to work someplace where people treat you like they appreciate you," said Cuthbert. Without a doubt this time, it looks as though CBC's loss will be someone else's gain.
Cuthbert is preparing to sue the network over an alleged breach of contract when he was fired; one of the sticking points is reportedly a guarantee that he would take the torch from Bob Cole as Hockey Night in Canada's number one play-by-play announcer, upon the latter's retirement (which is arguably overdue). "What a preposterous way of doing business," Cuthbert said about the whole fiasco.
One thing is for sure: he won't be back on HNIC. "There's going to be too many other opportunities to work someplace where people treat you like they appreciate you," said Cuthbert. Without a doubt this time, it looks as though CBC's loss will be someone else's gain.
2005-03-16
In yet another news item that seems a little bit too strange to be true, the AHL's Rochester Americans - the Buffalo Sabres' farm team - will be playing on some differently-coloured ice this weekend at the HSBC Arena. Blue ice, to be exact. "Electric Powder Blue" ice, to be even more exact; the word's still out on whether Crayola has copyrighted that phrase yet. The lines formerly known as blue - and perhaps headed for reference as unpronounceable symbols, or "The Lines" (Come on...Prince? Anybody?) - will now be fluorescent orange, and the red line will be dark blue.
It's just a publicity stunt, to be sure; I can't imagine that any pro league would seriously consider adopting this format on a permanent basis. You might have all kinds of people saying "Gee, it sure looks neat," but I'm sure they said that for the first few seconds of looking at Nashville's third jersey - immediately preceding the line, "Good Lord, that's ugly." Rochester goalie Ryan Miller had trouble seeing the puck, but selflessly said that he would support the switch if it helped sell hockey back to its increasingly disenchanted fans. Call me crazy, but I don't think that watching a goaltender searching for the puck is the kind of entertainment fans are looking for when they buy tickets to a hockey game. And honestly, what would be easier to see than a black puck against white ice? A lot of fans south of the border have trouble picking up the biscuit in the first place (remember that "FoxTrax" glowing puck experiment?), so by reducing the severity of that contrast, no one is being done any favours.
Plus, you get those kids who want to draw pictures of hockey players in art class...they're going to be wearing those Electric Powder Blue crayons right down to nubs. I'm going to go invest in any and all crayon manufacturers.
Check the story out at TSN.ca, or at the Toronto Star's site.
It's just a publicity stunt, to be sure; I can't imagine that any pro league would seriously consider adopting this format on a permanent basis. You might have all kinds of people saying "Gee, it sure looks neat," but I'm sure they said that for the first few seconds of looking at Nashville's third jersey - immediately preceding the line, "Good Lord, that's ugly." Rochester goalie Ryan Miller had trouble seeing the puck, but selflessly said that he would support the switch if it helped sell hockey back to its increasingly disenchanted fans. Call me crazy, but I don't think that watching a goaltender searching for the puck is the kind of entertainment fans are looking for when they buy tickets to a hockey game. And honestly, what would be easier to see than a black puck against white ice? A lot of fans south of the border have trouble picking up the biscuit in the first place (remember that "FoxTrax" glowing puck experiment?), so by reducing the severity of that contrast, no one is being done any favours.
Plus, you get those kids who want to draw pictures of hockey players in art class...they're going to be wearing those Electric Powder Blue crayons right down to nubs. I'm going to go invest in any and all crayon manufacturers.
Check the story out at TSN.ca, or at the Toronto Star's site.
2005-03-14
If the WHA was a person, he'd have had ample opportunities by this point to quip, "The reports of my resurrection are greatly exaggerated," Mark Twain-style. Nevertheless, the rumours have resurfaced. Investors Ricky Smith and Mark McKelvie are optimistic that a minimum of 10 teams could be scrambled by the time they started a season, which probably wouldn't be until 2006. The two have stated that starting this October would be their goal, but that seems extremely unrealistic, given that more investors must be found to begin their own clubs, players must be scouted, the identities of the teams themselves - and not to mention the league - must be established, and more...all in a matter of months.
They are also outlining plans for an invitational tournament held in the late spring of this year, which will see games played in Vancouver and Hamilton; the ever-vocal Jeremy Roenick has already started recruiting players to put together his own team, and it will be interesting to see if any other NHLers start phoning up their buddies. The money involved is not to be forgotten - each player will receive $20 000 for the tournament, which probably looks pretty good to a lot of those guys right now.
Am I going soft? Have I forgotten that the players' greed is a major part of what is facilitating the continuation of the lockout? Do my English professors tell me that asking rhetorical questions in essays is a compelling writing tactic? Maybe, No, and You Betcha. While I would love to see some NHL-calibre hockey right now, I always find it quite easy to grimace at pictures of Trevor Linden, who I admire as a player, but despise as the union president. If I could hop a bus to the Corel Centre and see the likes of Mats Sundin, Tie Domi, Vincent Lecavalier and - oh, please - Doug Gilmour, as long as I didn't have to pay an arm and a leg, I'd be happy. I don't care if they're playing for the Stanley Cup or the "If Today Was A Fish, I'd Throw It Back" Mug, but some top-quality hockey would be spectacular.
I suppose that at this point, I'm becoming numb to this whole lockout; it could be a phase, or it could be that I'm just too tired of this seemingly permanent impasse. I'm sure that people who accidentally stumble into meetings between the union and the league have to struggle with a healthy dose of confusion and mistaken identity at first: "Look! Over at the debating table! Is it Israel and Palestine? Is it India and Pakistan? No! It's the NHL and the NHLPA!" Would I pay to watch replacement players? No, unless the price was right - say, the same as a minor-league game. I believe it was Jerry Seinfeld who commented on the fact that people only cheer for the laundry and not the players, and I would have a hard time arguing that, were I to attend a game with replacements. There's something to be said for team loyalty, but if your team is essentially dismantled and repopulated by unrecognizables and nobodies, it's not "your team" anymore, anyway...but that's an issue for a whole other post.
Would you watch the WHA? Or is the NHL the way to go for you? Can you cheer for your favourite player in a new North American league, or are you going to hate him unless he plays for an NHL team? Don't forget that the last time the WHA saw some actual business before folding, it gave the NHL three more Canadian clubs, along with a certain "Great One"...so can it be seen as a potential usurper? Or is this the natural evolution of hockey on this continent?
They are also outlining plans for an invitational tournament held in the late spring of this year, which will see games played in Vancouver and Hamilton; the ever-vocal Jeremy Roenick has already started recruiting players to put together his own team, and it will be interesting to see if any other NHLers start phoning up their buddies. The money involved is not to be forgotten - each player will receive $20 000 for the tournament, which probably looks pretty good to a lot of those guys right now.
Am I going soft? Have I forgotten that the players' greed is a major part of what is facilitating the continuation of the lockout? Do my English professors tell me that asking rhetorical questions in essays is a compelling writing tactic? Maybe, No, and You Betcha. While I would love to see some NHL-calibre hockey right now, I always find it quite easy to grimace at pictures of Trevor Linden, who I admire as a player, but despise as the union president. If I could hop a bus to the Corel Centre and see the likes of Mats Sundin, Tie Domi, Vincent Lecavalier and - oh, please - Doug Gilmour, as long as I didn't have to pay an arm and a leg, I'd be happy. I don't care if they're playing for the Stanley Cup or the "If Today Was A Fish, I'd Throw It Back" Mug, but some top-quality hockey would be spectacular.
I suppose that at this point, I'm becoming numb to this whole lockout; it could be a phase, or it could be that I'm just too tired of this seemingly permanent impasse. I'm sure that people who accidentally stumble into meetings between the union and the league have to struggle with a healthy dose of confusion and mistaken identity at first: "Look! Over at the debating table! Is it Israel and Palestine? Is it India and Pakistan? No! It's the NHL and the NHLPA!" Would I pay to watch replacement players? No, unless the price was right - say, the same as a minor-league game. I believe it was Jerry Seinfeld who commented on the fact that people only cheer for the laundry and not the players, and I would have a hard time arguing that, were I to attend a game with replacements. There's something to be said for team loyalty, but if your team is essentially dismantled and repopulated by unrecognizables and nobodies, it's not "your team" anymore, anyway...but that's an issue for a whole other post.
Would you watch the WHA? Or is the NHL the way to go for you? Can you cheer for your favourite player in a new North American league, or are you going to hate him unless he plays for an NHL team? Don't forget that the last time the WHA saw some actual business before folding, it gave the NHL three more Canadian clubs, along with a certain "Great One"...so can it be seen as a potential usurper? Or is this the natural evolution of hockey on this continent?
2005-03-13
Picking at Scabs
I'm sure that all are aware by now that the deeper into 2005 the NHL goes without a new CBA, the taller the prospect looms of using replacement players. It's a notion that fits absolutely no one's ideals, but it's been thrown out there anyway, and the league has the gall to publicly consider it a possible solution, or at least the means to achieving one. I call this "gall" because they must know that fans are at best going to be split on whether to attend games played by minor-leaguers and lower-end players, so it isn't going to solve any monetary difficulties. This is especially true in places like Raleigh, where the Hurricanes have been losing less money by not opening the RBC Center for games at all, than if the season had been taking place right now. In addition, I can't even fathom the animosity that will develop between the players who cross the picket line and the locked-out NHLers - not to mention the sense of ultimate betrayal the NHLPA will feel towards the league.
Detroit goalie Manny Legace has said that he won't blame minor-leaguers who cross the picket line, and that's big of him to say. He acknowledged that there will be some resentment, but he knows that for a lot of those guys, it will be as close as they ever get to dreams of playing in the NHL, not to mention that a lot of them could probably use the money. He kept himself free and clear of 'PA reprimands, however, by adding that regular NHLers would be morally remiss in crossing the line: "We're all supposed to stick together as one big family." Well done, Manny.
Right back to the darker side of replacements, if that's the way the 2005-06 season will be played, then the Stanley Cup is going to be awarded to a bunch of guys who probably aren't even playing AHL-calibre hockey. Does this bother anyone else? I hope so. The league wouldn't free up the Cup this year to give to a national champion, or a North American champion, or what have you...the NHL could have been at the fore of organizing a massive - and potentially massively successful - tournament that pitted teams from any league against each other in order to find a continental Grand Champion. Hell, the NHL, as organizers, could have even invited teams from European elite leagues and made it a worldwide event, giving themselves invaluable exposure as the tournament organizers and advertising themselves to all four corners of the world. But no...there'll be no award ceremony this year, and without a new CBA, next year's award ceremony will be a complete and utter joke.
This is the state of our game. Depressed yet?
Detroit goalie Manny Legace has said that he won't blame minor-leaguers who cross the picket line, and that's big of him to say. He acknowledged that there will be some resentment, but he knows that for a lot of those guys, it will be as close as they ever get to dreams of playing in the NHL, not to mention that a lot of them could probably use the money. He kept himself free and clear of 'PA reprimands, however, by adding that regular NHLers would be morally remiss in crossing the line: "We're all supposed to stick together as one big family." Well done, Manny.
Right back to the darker side of replacements, if that's the way the 2005-06 season will be played, then the Stanley Cup is going to be awarded to a bunch of guys who probably aren't even playing AHL-calibre hockey. Does this bother anyone else? I hope so. The league wouldn't free up the Cup this year to give to a national champion, or a North American champion, or what have you...the NHL could have been at the fore of organizing a massive - and potentially massively successful - tournament that pitted teams from any league against each other in order to find a continental Grand Champion. Hell, the NHL, as organizers, could have even invited teams from European elite leagues and made it a worldwide event, giving themselves invaluable exposure as the tournament organizers and advertising themselves to all four corners of the world. But no...there'll be no award ceremony this year, and without a new CBA, next year's award ceremony will be a complete and utter joke.
This is the state of our game. Depressed yet?
2005-03-04
$3.5 billion, I've got $3.5 billion! Do I hear $4.9?
...I certainly hope not. But it looks like something that was little more than an interesting news story a couple days ago is about to get even more interesting...
Tuesday, a Wall Street consortium made an offer to the NHL's Board of Governors to take the league and all its teams off their hands, at a price tag to the tune of $3.5 billion. While the league took the time to hear the half-hour presentation put together by the corporations' representatives, the whole thing was largely regarded as far-fetched. On average, teams would have received just over $110 million, which might sound good to some - the Mighty Ducks sold for $75 million last week - but richer teams like those in Toronto and Boston won't be eager to sell any time soon.
The consortium currently consists of Bain Capital Partners and Game Plan International, and spokespeople indicated that they plan to bring a large Canadian buyer into the mix, which should assuage Canadian fans' fears that the game is becoming even more Americanized. The companies also stated that under their plan, Gary Bettman would remain in his current capacity - which means that either they like what he's doing, or they don't want to scare anyone off just yet. According to Forbes, the NHL's teams are worth a combined $4.9 billion at this point in time, so Wall Street has a ways to go before it can truly be taken seriously. That figure, however, reflects a study done in November, before the season was cancelled, so most teams - especially those in the United States that already have waning fan bases - will see a drop in their worth.
The deal is bad news for players perhaps most of all; the consortium's offer came with a warning that the longer the lockout continued, the worse off they will be. Although this is something the NHLPA has heard before, they are certainly intimidated by the prospect of a single entity holding central ownership over all 30 clubs - that ownership will strive for parity across the league, which means that the days of teams battling over their services and throwing huge dollar signs at them would be a thing of the past. If the lockout drags on too long, it bring this possibility closer to a reality, since the values of franchises will continue to decline, and many more owners will be interested in unloading. As I previously mentioned, teams with more wealth and richer traditions - the Leafs and the Bruins, for example - are uninterested in selling at this point, according to president/CEO of MLSE Richard Peddie, and Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs. But if these teams were somehow allowed to participate in the buyout from a purchasing perspective - not necessarily investing in other teams, but retaining their own, and dealing with Game Plan and Bain Capital as equal partners - they might be much more amenable to the deal.
These potential owners might be looking to trim the fat, meaning that teams like the Hurricanes would disappear, incrementally raising the NHL's talent level. This is just one of the probable changes they would be looking to make, both from a marketing standpoint and from changes in gameplay. Overall, though, I'm not a big fan of the idea...while I can't deny that a competitive team generates more revenue than a cellar-dweller, I also think that if these teams were in the right markets, they would sell tickets anyway. The Leafs' rough years from 1995-1997 didn't see a heavy decline in net worth, and the New York Rangers certainly still manage to sell tickets (and don't tell me that it's to see superstars; I'm not going to pay $70 to watch Jaromir Jagr pretend to care). The Boston Bruins have had trouble selling tickets for a few years now, but their position in the standings hasn't had much of an effect on that.
In general, I think that the idea of having 30 equally-talented teams overrated. The number of star players on a team doesn't necessarily mean that they'll go farther in the playoffs; just look at last year's Cup Final. Having a few powerhouses and a few punching bags in the league just seems like the natural order of things, and the teams at the top and the bottom don't stay the same forever; that's why the top draft pick goes to the worst team, after all. If this buyout idea continues for a little while longer, however, I wouldn't mind, and I doubt the owners would, either. Anything that puts more pressure on the NHLPA to strike a deal is fine by me.
Tuesday, a Wall Street consortium made an offer to the NHL's Board of Governors to take the league and all its teams off their hands, at a price tag to the tune of $3.5 billion. While the league took the time to hear the half-hour presentation put together by the corporations' representatives, the whole thing was largely regarded as far-fetched. On average, teams would have received just over $110 million, which might sound good to some - the Mighty Ducks sold for $75 million last week - but richer teams like those in Toronto and Boston won't be eager to sell any time soon.
The consortium currently consists of Bain Capital Partners and Game Plan International, and spokespeople indicated that they plan to bring a large Canadian buyer into the mix, which should assuage Canadian fans' fears that the game is becoming even more Americanized. The companies also stated that under their plan, Gary Bettman would remain in his current capacity - which means that either they like what he's doing, or they don't want to scare anyone off just yet. According to Forbes, the NHL's teams are worth a combined $4.9 billion at this point in time, so Wall Street has a ways to go before it can truly be taken seriously. That figure, however, reflects a study done in November, before the season was cancelled, so most teams - especially those in the United States that already have waning fan bases - will see a drop in their worth.
The deal is bad news for players perhaps most of all; the consortium's offer came with a warning that the longer the lockout continued, the worse off they will be. Although this is something the NHLPA has heard before, they are certainly intimidated by the prospect of a single entity holding central ownership over all 30 clubs - that ownership will strive for parity across the league, which means that the days of teams battling over their services and throwing huge dollar signs at them would be a thing of the past. If the lockout drags on too long, it bring this possibility closer to a reality, since the values of franchises will continue to decline, and many more owners will be interested in unloading. As I previously mentioned, teams with more wealth and richer traditions - the Leafs and the Bruins, for example - are uninterested in selling at this point, according to president/CEO of MLSE Richard Peddie, and Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs. But if these teams were somehow allowed to participate in the buyout from a purchasing perspective - not necessarily investing in other teams, but retaining their own, and dealing with Game Plan and Bain Capital as equal partners - they might be much more amenable to the deal.
These potential owners might be looking to trim the fat, meaning that teams like the Hurricanes would disappear, incrementally raising the NHL's talent level. This is just one of the probable changes they would be looking to make, both from a marketing standpoint and from changes in gameplay. Overall, though, I'm not a big fan of the idea...while I can't deny that a competitive team generates more revenue than a cellar-dweller, I also think that if these teams were in the right markets, they would sell tickets anyway. The Leafs' rough years from 1995-1997 didn't see a heavy decline in net worth, and the New York Rangers certainly still manage to sell tickets (and don't tell me that it's to see superstars; I'm not going to pay $70 to watch Jaromir Jagr pretend to care). The Boston Bruins have had trouble selling tickets for a few years now, but their position in the standings hasn't had much of an effect on that.
In general, I think that the idea of having 30 equally-talented teams overrated. The number of star players on a team doesn't necessarily mean that they'll go farther in the playoffs; just look at last year's Cup Final. Having a few powerhouses and a few punching bags in the league just seems like the natural order of things, and the teams at the top and the bottom don't stay the same forever; that's why the top draft pick goes to the worst team, after all. If this buyout idea continues for a little while longer, however, I wouldn't mind, and I doubt the owners would, either. Anything that puts more pressure on the NHLPA to strike a deal is fine by me.
2005-03-01
Lots of stuff to write about right now, and most of it stems from the NHL and NHLPA meetings that took place this afternoon. Unfortunately, there's been nothing to report along the lines of getting a deal done; if anything, an agreement is further away now than it was yesterday. Each group claims that they've got a newfound solidarity, and that they should take a step back from the bargaining table took take a better look at the big picture (read: "our demands are back to what they originally were, so there's no point in talking").
There's also been plenty of feather-ruffling, along with the usual BS. Bobby Clarke reamed out Bob Goodenow just a couple days ago, saying that BG has no respect for the game in Canada, if he has respect for the game at all. Now, it's great that Clarke's going to stick up for the teams north of the border - "...personally, I was sick when Quebec and Winnipeg moved," he said - and I'm certainly not one to stick up for Goodenow. But oh, Bobby. Want to see someone with a profound lack of concern for Canadian teams? Check out the guy who's running things on your end. Gary Bettman had no problem with helping bail Pittsburgh and Buffalo out of trouble recently, but the Jets and the Nordiques both flew south (in both the figurative and literal senses) faster than you can say "southern expansion." He undoubtedly saw two opportunities to take established and respected franchises and move them to untapped markets - like hockey-hungry Arizona (because really, who watches hockey in Manitoba) - and that's just what he did.
This being said, Clarke commented further on Goodenow, saying, "He's done nothing but take from the game...and now he's fighting for power. He doesn't want to lose power, he doesn't want to lose his control over the players. And he doesn't want to lose as much of the control he's had over the game over the last 10-12 years. But when he had that power, he ruined it." Well, that's absolutely true. Though after the 'PA meeting, BG stated that "I don't think (union) solidarity was ever gone," there were clearly several points where it looked like player support for their Executive Director was waning precipitously, beginning way back in the fall when Canadien fourth-liner Pierre Dagenais said that he'd accept a salary cap if it got him back on the ice. Goodenow has surely had a few sleepless nights since this whole mess started, and he hasn't done himself any favours by refusing to play ball with the league; he apparently thinks his bargaining position is better than it is, although his job is probably the least safe out of anybody involved in the CBA process, especially when the players start getting disgruntled again.
Moving right along in the "I Can't Believe You Just Said That" department, Blues defenceman Chris Pronger was approached by reporters after the meeting, and this is what he had to say: "The so-called splinter faction in the union that was supposedly going a different direction has been drummed up by a lot of media members and people hoping a deal gets done....Coming out of the meeting I can unequivocally say everyone is on board and understands the issues better." What? "The so-called splinter faction"??? Who called it that? I even ran a Google search for any pages containing that phrase along with "NHLPA"...nada. But way to make those players who broke ranks sound sinister and conniving! There's a headline for you: "Chris Pronger, Drama Queen." And shame on those "people hoping a deal gets done" who fostered the whole notion of evil anti-union rebels in the first place...I guess they were way out to lunch with that little hope, eh Chris?
...But I digress. All I have left to say right now is that the two people you can trust to know what they're talking about and maintain an objective viewpoint in all this mess are Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky. They're well-respected as two of the most intelligent hockey minds on the planet, and Lemieux is involved with the NHL as both a player and an owner, and while Gretzky doesn't serve simultaneously in those capacities, he still knows how to get things done down on the ice and up in the boardroom. Both the league and the Players' Association have realized this by now, too: to bring some sanity to these proceedings, it's essential that those two be present at as many bargaining sessions as possible. Maybe they can help find a solution to this whole debacle before it gets much worse.
There's also been plenty of feather-ruffling, along with the usual BS. Bobby Clarke reamed out Bob Goodenow just a couple days ago, saying that BG has no respect for the game in Canada, if he has respect for the game at all. Now, it's great that Clarke's going to stick up for the teams north of the border - "...personally, I was sick when Quebec and Winnipeg moved," he said - and I'm certainly not one to stick up for Goodenow. But oh, Bobby. Want to see someone with a profound lack of concern for Canadian teams? Check out the guy who's running things on your end. Gary Bettman had no problem with helping bail Pittsburgh and Buffalo out of trouble recently, but the Jets and the Nordiques both flew south (in both the figurative and literal senses) faster than you can say "southern expansion." He undoubtedly saw two opportunities to take established and respected franchises and move them to untapped markets - like hockey-hungry Arizona (because really, who watches hockey in Manitoba) - and that's just what he did.
This being said, Clarke commented further on Goodenow, saying, "He's done nothing but take from the game...and now he's fighting for power. He doesn't want to lose power, he doesn't want to lose his control over the players. And he doesn't want to lose as much of the control he's had over the game over the last 10-12 years. But when he had that power, he ruined it." Well, that's absolutely true. Though after the 'PA meeting, BG stated that "I don't think (union) solidarity was ever gone," there were clearly several points where it looked like player support for their Executive Director was waning precipitously, beginning way back in the fall when Canadien fourth-liner Pierre Dagenais said that he'd accept a salary cap if it got him back on the ice. Goodenow has surely had a few sleepless nights since this whole mess started, and he hasn't done himself any favours by refusing to play ball with the league; he apparently thinks his bargaining position is better than it is, although his job is probably the least safe out of anybody involved in the CBA process, especially when the players start getting disgruntled again.
Moving right along in the "I Can't Believe You Just Said That" department, Blues defenceman Chris Pronger was approached by reporters after the meeting, and this is what he had to say: "The so-called splinter faction in the union that was supposedly going a different direction has been drummed up by a lot of media members and people hoping a deal gets done....Coming out of the meeting I can unequivocally say everyone is on board and understands the issues better." What? "The so-called splinter faction"??? Who called it that? I even ran a Google search for any pages containing that phrase along with "NHLPA"...nada. But way to make those players who broke ranks sound sinister and conniving! There's a headline for you: "Chris Pronger, Drama Queen." And shame on those "people hoping a deal gets done" who fostered the whole notion of evil anti-union rebels in the first place...I guess they were way out to lunch with that little hope, eh Chris?
...But I digress. All I have left to say right now is that the two people you can trust to know what they're talking about and maintain an objective viewpoint in all this mess are Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky. They're well-respected as two of the most intelligent hockey minds on the planet, and Lemieux is involved with the NHL as both a player and an owner, and while Gretzky doesn't serve simultaneously in those capacities, he still knows how to get things done down on the ice and up in the boardroom. Both the league and the Players' Association have realized this by now, too: to bring some sanity to these proceedings, it's essential that those two be present at as many bargaining sessions as possible. Maybe they can help find a solution to this whole debacle before it gets much worse.
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