vanlady said:
There are not enough American kids in the AHL to fill 26 rosters. You would be seeing a lot of guys a step above beer league in the US. The Canadian teams would be loaded though. Is that competative balance?
I really think that replacement players could work. The NHL can draw talent from:
1. European teams: You don't think the Euros would jump here in a second to triple their salaries and at the same time take the jobs away from the NHL bigwigs that did the same thing to them?
2. NHL Players crossing the line. I have no doubt that their are a lot fo players who would cross
3. The minor leagues, not the greatest talent, but enough to fill out the rosters.
The first year might be kinda sketchy hockey-wise, but I think it wouldn't be a whole lot better if the NHL resumed and all the NHLers came back after having saty out so long. At least everyone else has been playing hockey for the last year. Next year and the year after, the NHL would start gathering eleite talent again through the draft. If a player like Crosby truly realized that the NHL was serious about using replacements, I think he would allow himself to be drafted. In fact this could be the NHL's ace-in-the-hole. If it was a regular draft year, with no clearcut superstar in waiting, it would be a lot tougher on the NHL. If Crosby decides to play, the NHL immediately has one of the highest media-touted players in the world again.
After 1 season with replacements, I think you'd see even more NHL'ers cross the line. I honestly don't think the quality of hockey would suffer that much. Sure we'd be missing the elite players, like the Prongers et al, but after their brilliant comments in the news, I think most fans would be glad to keep the stars locked out, and watch heart & soul guys.
I have no animosity towards the players for getting the best deal they can thus far, anyone else would do the same. But you have to be realistic and look at the disconnect this creates with the fans. When fans see players turning 6 mil down as chump change, they can't be expected to realize that theyw ould do the same in their workplace. All they see is the bills piling up, never quite catching up, and seeing those who live the dream snubbing the game.