NHL Strike/lockout over

by **Rob Graff** on Wed Jul 13, 2005 1:26 pm

WHile the major news outlets are telling you the strike is over, a little birdie told me the following ... 8-)

Cap at $39M, inclusive of benefits and insurance. Floor of $24M. Salary rollback of 24% on all existing contracts. Free agency will go from 31 years down to 27 years over the life of the six-year pact. Major rule changes will be announced.

Draft will be around the end of the month in Ottawa.
Just kidding about the inside info;;

Go to http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?id=2106921

for a detailed description.
Not sure how teams over the cap will deal with this....

**Sponsor**

by **Sonny** on Wed Jul 13, 2005 1:49 pm

Finally! It will be good to see some pro hockey this Winter.

thanks for sharing Rob.

by **ZagGrad** on Wed Jul 13, 2005 3:06 pm

Honestly, with what Roenick said, I am done with hockey. I didn't miss it that much anyway...the only thing that sucked about not having hockey around is that Sportscenter is like another Baseball Tonight. Boooorrrinnnngggg....

by **bste_lax** on Wed Jul 13, 2005 3:22 pm

The only good thing I can see of this is that zamboni business will start to pick up again........

by **DanGenck** on Wed Jul 13, 2005 3:38 pm

ZagGrad wrote:Honestly, with what Roenick said, I am done with hockey. I didn't miss it that much anyway...the only thing that sucked about not having hockey around is that Sportscenter is like another Baseball Tonight. Boooorrrinnnngggg....

I couldn't agree more.

by **onpoint** on Wed Jul 13, 2005 4:01 pm

I don't understand everyone being mad at Roenick. In many ways he is right. The owners spoiled the players by giving them ridiculous salaries and then wanted to take them away when they realized they weren't making as much money as they thought they should. Then the owners expect to gain the favor of public opinion by painting the players as greedy when they were the ones who perpetuated that to begin with! Both sides were in the wrong, but of course the media and fans take Roenick to be saying, "I hate all fans and shut up about my money," when really he was probably just as frustrated as the rest of us were that he wasn't playing. Why is it the players' fault that now the owners want to change things around after the fact?

by **ZagGrad** on Wed Jul 13, 2005 5:03 pm

The owners can do anything they want (within legal reason) as far as I'm concerned. They sign the pay checks so whatever they say, goes...and if someone doesn't like it, they can get out. There's thousands of other players that would jump at the opportunity to go pro. Any pro player is a dime a dozen.

I did not hear the whole interview with Roenick and I don't want to. Never rag on the fans...or non fans...for that matter--I don't care what sport you play. Fans are the ones paying these guy's salary anyway, whether it be by watching on TV, attending the games, or purchasing merchandise.

by **DanGenck** on Wed Jul 13, 2005 7:37 pm

onpoint wrote:I don't understand everyone being mad at Roenick. In many ways he is right. The owners spoiled the players by giving them ridiculous salaries and then wanted to take them away when they realized they weren't making as much money as they thought they should. Then the owners expect to gain the favor of public opinion by painting the players as greedy when they were the ones who perpetuated that to begin with! Both sides were in the wrong, but of course the media and fans take Roenick to be saying, "I hate all fans and shut up about my money," when really he was probably just as frustrated as the rest of us were that he wasn't playing. Why is it the players' fault that now the owners want to change things around after the fact?

For the record, I was agreeing about Sportscenter being like Baseball Tonight. I find very few things in life more boring than Baseball, and I can only watch "Top Diving Catches" I mean, "Top Plays" so many times with only Baseball highlights...

by **mholtz** on Wed Jul 13, 2005 8:41 pm

Sonny wrote:Finally! It will be good to see some pro hockey this Winter.

thanks for sharing Rob.

Sonny,
Ya'll southerners know what hockey is?

Go Wings!!!

by **Sonny** on Wed Jul 13, 2005 10:15 pm

mholtz wrote:
Sonny wrote:Finally! It will be good to see some pro hockey this Winter.

thanks for sharing Rob.

Sonny,
Ya'll southerners know what hockey is?

Go Wings!!!

Go (Atlanta) Thrashers! Peck em!

by **Brent Burns** on Wed Jul 13, 2005 11:21 pm

Geaux New York Rangers! 8-)

by **Danny Hogan** on Thu Jul 14, 2005 10:50 am

DanGenck wrote:
onpoint wrote:I don't understand everyone being mad at Roenick. In many ways he is right. The owners spoiled the players by giving them ridiculous salaries and then wanted to take them away when they realized they weren't making as much money as they thought they should. Then the owners expect to gain the favor of public opinion by painting the players as greedy when they were the ones who perpetuated that to begin with! Both sides were in the wrong, but of course the media and fans take Roenick to be saying, "I hate all fans and shut up about my money," when really he was probably just as frustrated as the rest of us were that he wasn't playing. Why is it the players' fault that now the owners want to change things around after the fact?

For the record, I was agreeing about Sportscenter being like Baseball Tonight. I find very few things in life more boring than Baseball, and I can only watch "Top Diving Catches" I mean, "Top Plays" so many times with only Baseball highlights...

i dont' understand how anyone can watch baseball. i'm not impressed with a sport where the world champion has 70 losses every year.

although attending a game in person is a great experience.

by **DanGenck** on Thu Jul 14, 2005 11:19 am

I am always miffed by the fact that players can be so ridiculously out of shape. Everytime I see Eric Gagne pitch, I feel like I am watching a bloated frat boy on the mound.

by **jessexy** on Thu Jul 14, 2005 11:43 am

DanGenck wrote:I am always miffed by the fact that players can be so ridiculously out of shape. Everytime I see Eric Gagne pitch, I feel like I am watching a bloated frat boy on the mound.

agreed, its the only major sport where you dont have to be an athlete to play it. race cars drivers and jockeys are better athletes than these guys. even John Daly has to walk 18 holes (what is that, 5 miles?)

who cares about hockey coming back? im hoping that MLS has taken over as the 4th major sport. I dont even watch Sportscenter anymore, cuz the FSW Report is more interesting. i hate to admit it, but i check on who is battling on the Iron Chef before i peak at SPortscenter (they both come on at 10 in Dallas).

by **byualum** on Thu Jul 14, 2005 3:26 pm

Family has had season tickets to hockey at the University of Denver for 38 years...not about to switch over to the pro game. Roenick can kiss my...