It's all over /o\

[archibalduk]

The National Hockey League announced today that, because a new collective bargaining agreement has not been realized, it no longer is practical to conduct an abbreviated 2004-05 season.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman issued the following statement:

"Every professional sports League owes its very existence to its fans. Everyone associated with the National Hockey League owes our fans an apology for being unable to accomplish what is necessary for our game and our fans. We are truly sorry.

"Five months ago, I stated that the National Hockey League could not function without an economic system that will bring our League into the 21st Century. I said that our 30 Clubs were united in their dedication to an economic system under which the teams and players, sharing common objectives and a commitment to our fans' satisfaction, would work together as partners.

"The time since then has been devoted to the pursuit of that goal. Today, I can tell you that our determination remains every bit as strong as it was in September to secure the partnership required to protect and ensure the future of the League ... for the benefit of the Clubs, the Players, and our devoted fans.

"When I stood before you in September, I said NHL teams would not play again until our economic problems had been solved. As I stand before you today, it is my sad duty to announce that because that solution has not yet been attained, it no longer is practical to conduct even an abbreviated season. Accordingly, I have no choice but to announce the formal cancellation of play for 2004-05.

"We profoundly regret the suffering this has caused our fans, our business partners and the thousands of people who depend on our industry for their livelihoods. We will continue to explore and pursue all available options in order to achieve a successful resolution to this dispute and to get the best game in the world back where it belongs -- on the ice, in front of the best fans in the world.

"As I also said in September, what we must do now is not about the present or the short-term needs of this season. Rather, it is about the future of our League and 30 teams.

"The National Hockey League was formed in 1917, and it has played a season through to a championship in every year but 1919. Through the decades and the generations we have faced a variety of crises and challenges -- some of which seemed catastrophic at the time. The League persevered through all those adversities and the League will persevere through this one, as well -- to emerge with a framework for the future, one that is fair to everyone -- where our players are fairly paid, receiving what we can afford -- no more, no less.

"This is a sad, regrettable day that all of us wish could have been avoided."

Linkage

[Tasku]

I blaim the NHLPA with their greed.

I mean c'mon! Even the worst players in NHL make at least $500,000 per year. Two years on the bench in NHL, and you're set for life!

And nobody plays for only two years, there's plenty of work for good players in Europe, even if you drop out of NHL.

[Octavian]

UNBELIVEBLE, AM I DREAMING?!

f*ckin player association :evil:

[Terva]

I´m not complaining with Thomas Holmström, Justin Williams, Steve Staios, Niclas Wallin, Manny Fernandez and Branco Radivojevic in Luleå Hockey

[leotfatu]

Since i'm from Montreal, Canada. I was wondering how you treated theses NHL'ers in Europe? I mean, they are basically stealing a guys job just to play while they don't give a darn about the issue at hand. I mean, if I was on strike and I could basically just work somewhere else, taking a guys job on the process, while they negociated... that would be dumb.

So, are people harsh with them? Are they liked?
Or is the prospect of seeing these "better" players to hot and so they dont care?

I would be so widdled off. =) But that's my view.

[Tasku]

I don't think there's any bitterness, since they all know the NHL:ers are here only for one season max, and when the NHL starts again, they'll have their position back.

And I wouldn't say they don't give a darn, many have helped their team tremendosly. For example Dwayne Roloson has played virtually every game for Rauman Lukko, and he's been really serious about it, sometimes heating up to boiling point if the team lost.

But then again there's been some bad attitude among the NHL players as well. Some players just leaving home, without even letting the team know, despite a legally binding contract.

Actually Roloson was one of those players. He bolted, because he wanted more - guess what? MONEY!!

Bryzgalovs me off...

[Terva]

Eeeh. The swedish elite league has never held as high standard than under the lockout and is probably the best league in the world alongside with the Russian league, so people here are not harsh with them. But I guess the situation would change if the lockout would continue over next season.
The issue is not NHL-players stealing other players jobs. The big issue here in sweden is the lack of icetime our hot prospect juniors get due the lockoutplayers and in a long term it can harm swedish hockey.

[Terva]

And I wouldn't say they don't give a darn, many have helped their team tremendosly. For example Dwayne Roloson has played virtually every game for Rauman Lukko, and he's been really serious about it, sometimes heating up to boiling point if the team lost.

Yeah. Like Justin Williams in Luleå. He´s our best forward and has helped his teo linemates Per Ledin and Jonas Norquist to take a step furher in their development. Thoma Holmström who is a Luleå player is very loved here in Luleå and is invaluable in powerplay for us. Niclas Wallin and Steve Staios are great defenceman and I think our youngsters like the big talent Johan Fransson will develop alot only by practising with these players.

[frosty]

Just to confirm something, the Player's Association is stating that because their membership is 'locked out' (they're not on strike) they are entitled to go seek employment elsewhere.

A couple of weeks ago, Chris Chelios, Derian Hatcher and Kris Draper signed with a tier 2 minor league team in Detroit. These millionaires are taking the jobs of guys that make $500 a week (about 400 euros).

These tier two minor leaguers are the guys who play hockey for the love of the game. All of these minor leaguers are forced to work summer jobs in the off-season....and now NHLer's are starting to replace them.

Disgusting.

[leotfatu]

The lockout is set to continue even after 2005-2006. The big talk here are replacement players. Unless the player comes back on their knees pleading, there's no such hope for hockey next season. So without a big dramatic change in the philosophy of NHLPA'ers, i doubt hockey will resume.

The reason I asked was mainly because here it's a big issue.
Overpriced players playing overseas. Wanting to continue the way it was, while some are playing in leagues with a cap, other playing for 100.000$, which was their strong point. No cap, no linkage to revenue.

And knowing they have NHL release clause bind to their contract... do you think it will destabilize the whole system? Like if one of your team is hot because of NHL'ers. But then, an agreement is done. The NHL'ers leaves, your team goes back to oblivion.

[Terva]

I think that most of the clubs here wants the NHL to start next season because it is a very unstable state with the lockouts, knowing that a solution might be around the corner draining the teams from players. Especially when the european leagues have systems with "transfer windows" where the clubs only can assign ne plyer during these windows. In sweden for example the window is every month and it is 7 days long. The las window for the season closed january 31 and a lot of clubs bevcame a bit nervous when the NHL and NHLPA was negotiating again. Suddenly a scenario where players were leaving the teams jsut before the playoffs and withou any chance of getting new ones. But the teams were more or less sure that the NHL-season would be canceled when no deal was settled by new year.

My guess is that the leagues (at least the swedish) will limit the amount of lockout-players if the lockout continues next season too.

[Tasku]

It's not really a problem here, since we don't have so many NHL players in SM-Liiga. I'd say average 1-2 players per team.

It had something to do with taxes and the flexibility of the system concerning "foreign workers" coming to Finland, that drowe them all away to Sweden and Russia (even many of the Finnish players).

[Terva]

Well. In sweden there´s a luxury tax based on your posessions. If you have posessions over 1.5M skr you pay a 1.5% tax on it and you have to pay the tax if you live more than 180 days a year in sweden.
Many clubs solved the problem by signing players in october-november.
But some players like Holmström and Wallin have chosen to live in sweden the whole year and are paying this luxury tax. Like Peter Forsberg who is out of an NHL-contract and will stay with Modo even if the lockout ends.

[Tasku]

Roloson is back at Lukko, so he wasn't after the money afterall, he just went back home to see if NHL would continue.

Roloson is forgiven!

(He's prolly not reading this forum, but just in case, so there's no bad blood between us, m'kay Rolo? )