Buffaloed said:
I don't see the logic in this statement. Are you saying that teams have a chance to make a profit during the lockout? My understanding of your post and the article you cited is that some teams may be lost if the lockout is prolonged. That is what I'm addressing.
NO I was refering to teams making a profit during the regular season
Show me the profit cycle for the Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, Carolina Hurricanes, NY Islanders, Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning etc.. You have to go back a decade to find when some teams last made money. It's absurd to expect any normal investor to tolerate that. The Canucks were so profitable they looked to sell the team. Would anyone in their right mind want to sell a profitible business? They could just as easily lose millions, and that will surely happen when their fans grow disenchanted with their playoff failures. It happened in Buffalo when the fans got tired of the team being knocked out every year in the 1st or 2nd round for 5-6 years. It amazes me how many Canuck fans have forgotten the bad times and think the old CBA was a panacea. The bad times are right around the corner if no reasonable way to tie revenues to expenses is agreed to by the NHL and NHLPA>
I'm not sure what you mean by this. If the situation is really bad, how would that give the players leverage? The last article I read that had a statement by an owner was from the Oiler's Cal Nichols. He basically stated that if there's no cap the team will relocate or become a dormant franchise.
The Buffalo Sabres made money before the Rigas disaster.
Pittsburg was profitable in the early 90's however even the bankruptcy trustee agreed that the biggest factor in the Pens not making money was a rediculous lease for Melon arena.
Tampa and Florida are both struggling thanks to rediculous arena debt as well, but with the recent refinancing of Florida's arena this should help.
Carolina never should have been placed where it was.
The Islanders have one of the worst leases in Hockey, ranks right up there with the Pens lease.
As for the Canucks, John McCaw is the owner that never wanted to be. John McCaw to ownership of the team as a favor to a freind and has been looking to get out of it ever since.
As for profitability, well as well published in the Vancouver media the Canucks have made over the last 3 years 10 million, 20 million and last year 25 million. Trust me anyone who knows the Aquilini family knows they never invest unless they can see a steady profit and potential for growth.
As for leverage, in 94 the PA used the losses for teams as leverage against the owners to get a deal done. The likelyhood is not even each of the owners doesn't know how bad it is getting for each of them.