Jumptheshark
Rebooting myself
Three things will force the NHL and the NHLPA to get a deal done sooner
1) ESPN saying goodbye--Both sides realize what this means and the impact it will have on both sides and the finacial stakes involved. What little TV coverage there was in the states--just went out the window. Poker and bowling get higher ratings then the NHL is most US states---this is the least powerful thing to get them talking
2)June 1st(today) and July 1st--- Draft picks will needed to be signed(june1st) and Q-offers to current nhlers--so teams can keep their rights-- IMG is already looking at the draft picks from 2003 and are saying they believe that the picks should be free agents--July 1st---when the VETS come up--You will see the water get murkier and what little control the NHL and the NHLPA over their underlings will start to be reduced. Neither side wants outside powers involved, because both sides could lose big time.
3) Splinter groups with both parties. Cracks in the NHLPA started showing a few weeks ago. The NHL has some owners that are getting upset at the slow pace fo the talks and there is talk from both sides about getting an outside party involved to settle things.
I think we will see a deal by July 1st
1) ESPN saying goodbye--Both sides realize what this means and the impact it will have on both sides and the finacial stakes involved. What little TV coverage there was in the states--just went out the window. Poker and bowling get higher ratings then the NHL is most US states---this is the least powerful thing to get them talking
2)June 1st(today) and July 1st--- Draft picks will needed to be signed(june1st) and Q-offers to current nhlers--so teams can keep their rights-- IMG is already looking at the draft picks from 2003 and are saying they believe that the picks should be free agents--July 1st---when the VETS come up--You will see the water get murkier and what little control the NHL and the NHLPA over their underlings will start to be reduced. Neither side wants outside powers involved, because both sides could lose big time.
3) Splinter groups with both parties. Cracks in the NHLPA started showing a few weeks ago. The NHL has some owners that are getting upset at the slow pace fo the talks and there is talk from both sides about getting an outside party involved to settle things.
I think we will see a deal by July 1st