Brilliant Brooks

[Bicycle Repairman]

Don't Kid Yourself

A few shots at the Edmonton Oilers towards the end of the article.

Click to read more...

 

[edmontonoilers89]

...and so have the Rangers.

 

[codswallop]

At least you have to say that Brooks is consistent in his views.

But to be an ass, I'll say that I'm looking forward to the back-page news stories in England for objectivity.

 

[mudcrutch79]

For once the season is officially canceled, teams will be obliged to return all of the season-ticket money which they're holding and on which they're collecting far more interest than they're returning with monthly refunds.

I'm confused. The Oilers website says that they're paying prime+1%. Prime in Canada right now is 2.5%. A quick look at RBC's website suggests you'd be hardpressed to get more than 2% on a deposit. Do the Oilers have one of those magic banks that pays them higher interest rates? Or is this guy just too lazy to do his research?

 

[speeds]

I'm confused. The Oilers website says that they're paying prime+1%. Prime in Canada right now is 2.5%. A quick look at RBC's website suggests you'd be hardpressed to get more than 2% on a deposit. Do the Oilers have one of those magic banks that pays them higher interest rates? Or is this guy just too lazy to do his research?

He's not wrong on the drafting though. Man it stunk in the mid 90's

 

[mudcrutch79]

He's not wrong on the drafting though. Man it stunk in the mid 90's

Correct. It's a shame that it has nothing to with his point that the NHL is happily making money off holding on to season ticket money. It might be true in some places, but it's certainly not true in E-town.

 

[FlyersFan10*]

As horrible as the man is, his article is absolutely bang on. You know things are really bad when Larry Brooks' articles are true. Wow, get a deal done ASAP everyone.

 

[PecaFan]

What's brilliant? That he thinks the owners won't accept what is almost surely a deal that doesn't solve anything?

Most of us have been saying that all along.

There's nothing new there at all. Just the same old rhetoric: Cap "adoption would immediately destroy the fabric of the pro game". Give me a break.

 

[Pepper]

The same old Brooks rhetoric continues, everything is NHL's fault and NHLPA has tried everything to resolve this.

Only naive fools will actually take Brooks' crap seriously, just like Al Strachan he's just spewing NHLPA ******** propaganda in order to be able get juicy rumors from the agents in the future.

There's a reason why Brooks is widely regarded as the dumbest hockey journo around along with Strachan and Garrioch.

 

[Hasbro]

...and so have the Rangers.

At least Edmonton's horrible drafting didn't hurt anyone but them and teams benifited getting better prospects.

the Rag$ spending sprees screwed everyone over.

 

[YellHockey*]

I'm confused. The Oilers website says that they're paying prime+1%. Prime in Canada right now is 2.5%. A quick look at RBC's website suggests you'd be hardpressed to get more than 2% on a deposit. Do the Oilers have one of those magic banks that pays them higher interest rates? Or is this guy just too lazy to do his research?

Do you have a direct link to that info? I tried looking for it on their website but couldn't find it.

I know the Senators are doing something similiar except that they aren't paying that out in cash. They're giving you a credit towards your next set of tickets.

The interest rate is a lot lower if you just want your cash back.

 

[YellHockey*]

Only naive fools will actually take Brooks' crap seriously, just like Al Strachan he's just spewing NHLPA ******** propaganda in order to be able get juicy rumors from the agents in the future.

What has he made up?

A lot of it is his opinion on how he thinks things will go down. It will be easy enough to disprove later if a lot of his opinions are false.

There's a reason why Brooks is widely regarded as the dumbest hockey journo around along with Strachan and Garrioch.

If he's so dumb then why did the other hockey writer elect him President of the hockey writers association?

They must think he's one of the smartest amongst themselves. If so that means he's smarter then the writers who are eating up the owners' distortion of the facts.

 

[NYIsles1*]

If he's so dumb then why did the other hockey writer elect him President of the hockey writers association?

He's no longer President, it was a very short tenure. But here is a good story.

Brooks always uses his column to fight for things he wants to change.

But he never made public in his column once his protest to keep amateur writers out of the finals between Carolina-Detroit. He lobbied, lost, appealed and lost again. Not a word.

What's interesting here is Brooks did not use his column to give us the exclusives he usually rants about breaking. Red Fischer of the Monteal Gazette broke the story of what Brooks was quietly doing.

 

[Orange]

If he's so dumb then why did the other hockey writer elect him President of the hockey writers association?

Actually, the plan was to keep him so busy in administrative work that he wouldn't have any time to write ...

 

[SENSible1*]

Brooks is an idiot, but the basic premise of the article is sound. Hardly earthshaking news that the owners will reject a luxury tax scenario.

 

[SerbianEagle]

Flames, Rangers, Leafs, Habs, Canucks, Stars....

Brooks you morron mention all the teams guilty of bad drafting. Another thing, if Edmonton drafted, Iginla, Doan, Mclaren and all the other ones mentioned, how many of them would still be Oilers under the current CBA? How many, answer that question @$$.

 

[thinkwild]

Another great article from Brooks. I know you all hate him, and think because he proposes trade rumours in a daily hockey column he is an idiot. But you are going to have to start listening to what he is saying, or you arent getting the right perspective for examining the issues.

I'm confused. The Oilers website says that they're paying prime+1%. Prime in Canada right now is 2.5%. A quick look at RBC's website suggests you'd be hardpressed to get more than 2% on a deposit. Do the Oilers have one of those magic banks that pays them higher interest rates? Or is this guy just too lazy to do his research?

You cant be suggesting that these billionaires are reliant on a savings account interest rate from the banks. Why they can lend their hockey teams the money at treadmill to obscurity rates of interest, and then use that debt as a club to show how bad off they are and need lowered salaries.

 

[TonySCV]

Not all teams are holding season ticket holder money. The LA Kings only took a $100 deposit per seat, and will not charge STH's until the season is underway. If the season is cancelled, then the $100 is refunded. Not sure if any other teams are doing that as well.

 

[zamboni]

Flames, Rangers, Leafs, Habs, Canucks, Stars....

Brooks you morron mention all the teams guilty of bad drafting. Another thing, if Edmonton drafted, Iginla, Doan, Mclaren and all the other ones mentioned, how many of them would still be Oilers under the current CBA? How many, answer that question @$$.

Exactly.

There's really no excuse for the Oilers' poor drafting, but the entry draft can be such a crapshoot. Nobody has a crystal ball that can see into the future, and as a result, we have every team missing out on the Brodeurs, Iginlas, Sykoras, etc in favour of the Kidds, Kellys, and Riihijarvis. Should the Flames, Rangers, Leafs, Canucks, Stars, etc be contracted because of their poor drafting? No, because unlike Edmonton these teams have the money to stay in the league, right? What about the fact that, as stated before, the Oilers wouldn't have the budget to keep the Iginla, McLaren, and Kovalev they could have drafted?

Larry Brooks' shot at the Oilers is horribly flawed (surprise, surprise) and poorly reflects the reality of the lockout situation.

 

[thinkwild]

Well there is an excuse for it. At any one time, only half the teams can have developed ateam that can make the playoffs. The other ones are still in need of more drafting and developing. Luckily, there is an uneven playing field for these teams. They have first access at the top draft picks.

It is fair because all teams have to do it. No one can buy the top draft picks. Only half the teams can succeed.

 

[aspdad]

Smart guy that brooks....

ridicules the oilers horrible drafting, but fails to mention that same person who made those draft choices in now GM of the Rangers. Does that mean the Rangers deserved not to make the playoffs for last 7-8 years? I think so!

 

[Brent Burns Beard]

ridicules the oilers horrible drafting, but fails to mention that same person who made those draft choices in now GM of the Rangers. Does that mean the Rangers deserved not to make the playoffs for last 7-8 years? I think so!

huh ? whats your point ? the NYR have gotten everything they deserve and the NHL and their supporters are trying to bail them out so they can compete against OTT, VAN, CGY, TBY and the like.

its not good for TV contracts when markets like NYR, CHI, LAK, MIA, BOS and DAL cant compete for the cup.

this lockout is really a "save the big markets" lockout.

DR

 

[Hasbro]

huh ? whats your point ? the NYR have gotten everything they deserve and the NHL and their supporters are trying to bail them out so they can compete against OTT, VAN, CGY, TBY and the like.

its not good for TV contracts when markets like NY, CHI, LAX, MIA, BOS and DAL cant compete for the cup.

this lockout is really a "save the big markets" lockout.

DR

Jigga wha?

I can garuntee you the Canadian franchises, Boston, Chicago and Nashville would love nothing more than to stick it to the Rangers with this CBA. They want to stop the Rangers from becoming the Yankees where their checkbook can overcome their incompetence.

For all of Brook's finger waving about Edmonton not drafting Iginla, he waged a campaign for the Rangers to break the bank in order to "buy Iginla."

Larry was president of the writer's association. I can think of at least one more idiot in an executive office.

 

[YellHockey*]

Jigga wha?

I can garuntee you the Canadian franchises, Boston, Chicago and Nashville would love nothing more than to stick it to the Rangers with this CBA. They want to stop the Rangers from becoming the Yankees where their checkbook can overcome their incompetence.

Stop them? When? They've had a decade and they can't even make the playoffs, much less dominate the league?

For all of Brook's finger waving about Edmonton not drafting Iginla, he waged a campaign for the Rangers to break the bank in order to "buy Iginla."

So what? Since the Rangers haven't been able to draft worth a damn, why not give up the five first rounders to get the best player in the game?

Wouldn't that money be better spent on Iginla then on Jagr or Holik?

But the Rangers didn't do that since they figured, unlike Brooks, that Calgary would match. Those billionaire Alberta oil tycoons aren't going to let Iginla go that easily.

 

[Hasbro]

Stop them? When? They've had a decade and they can't even make the playoffs, much less dominate the league?

Yeah and they raise the bar on salaries for everyone.

So what? Since the Rangers haven't been able to draft worth a damn, why not give up the five first rounders to get the best player in the game?

Wouldn't that money be better spent on Iginla then on Jagr or Holik?

But the Rangers didn't do that since they figured, unlike Brooks, that Calgary would match. Those billionaire Alberta oil tycoons aren't going to let Iginla go that easily.

Which he would have been arguing for the Rangers to do if he were with Edmonton. He talks about the Oilers deserving their problems because of poor drafting, yet he wants to make that moot by busting the team.