Larry Brooks lockout column 9/19

[RangerBoy]

Gary Bettman and his stooges are going to destroy this league.

We first wrote 27 months ago of the league's intent to hold a dispersal draft in conjunction with implementation of a hard cap. Now, wait until you read what we've learned from a team executive is the outline of another plan floating through the league that might be adopted in conjunction with the NHL's plan to bust the union and unilaterally implement.

Seems that the league is exploring a transition plan under which teams would be permitted to keep all of its current players on the roster, but only permitted to dress a lineup with an aggregate payroll of up to $31M. Yes, you read correctly. Meaning that if the Rangers wanted to use Jaromir Jagr, Bobby Holik, Michael Nylander, Darius Kasparaitis and Kevin Weekes on the same night, they'd have to supplement that five-man core with 15 players making a total of $2.475M.

Sounds like a well-conceived plan to us.

Hope Bettman and company are happy when the NHL is no longer recognized as a major sport in U.S. which is where their assault on the players will take this league

http://www.nypost.com/sports/28845.htm

Click to read more...

 

[Brent Burns Beard]

Seems that the league is exploring a transition plan under which teams would be permitted to keep all of its current players on the roster, but only permitted to dress a lineup with an aggregate payroll of up to $31M. Yes, you read correctly. Meaning that if the Rangers wanted to use Jaromir Jagr, Bobby Holik, Michael Nylander, Darius Kasparaitis and Kevin Weekes on the same night, they'd have to supplement that five-man core with 15 players making a total of $2.475M.

Sounds like a well-conceived plan to us. [/B]

How is it that in the last couple of weeks, teams have signed players to minor-league contracts that defy explanation? Why in the world would the Sabres have given Jason Botterill, who's played all of 88 NHL games in a seven-year pro career, a $140,000 deal to play in Rochester? Why would the Wild have given Ray Giroux a $200,000 AHL guarantee? Why would Atlanta have given Travis Roche a two-year, $350,000 guaranteed AHL contract?

Oh, don't tell us: It's because the players are greedy.

ya. those greedy players ! well, i guess its one way to deal with the current payrolls within a new cap enviroment.

dr

 

[hockeytown9321]

Gary Bettman and his stooges are going to destroy this league.

We first wrote 27 months ago of the league's intent to hold a dispersal draft in conjunction with implementation of a hard cap. Now, wait until you read what we've learned from a team executive is the outline of another plan floating through the league that might be adopted in conjunction with the NHL's plan to bust the union and unilaterally implement.

Seems that the league is exploring a transition plan under which teams would be permitted to keep all of its current players on the roster, but only permitted to dress a lineup with an aggregate payroll of up to $31M. Yes, you read correctly. Meaning that if the Rangers wanted to use Jaromir Jagr, Bobby Holik, Michael Nylander, Darius Kasparaitis and Kevin Weekes on the same night, they'd have to supplement that five-man core with 15 players making a total of $2.475M.

Sounds like a well-conceived plan to us.

Hope Bettman and company are happy when the NHL is no longer recognized as a major sport in U.S. which is where their assault on the players will take this league

http://www.nypost.com/sports/28845.htm

This is among the stupidest ideas I've ever heard.

 

[thinkwild]

Slap Shots has learned that the league has instituted a policy under which its teams are expressly prohibited from communicating with or publicizing any player within their organizations — signed or unsigned, playing in the minors, in junior leagues, in Europe or in college — for the duration of the lockout. The policy, first communicated by memo in late summer and then reinforced in a conference call with club PR and marketing executives last Monday, forbids teams from featuring any players in charity fund-raising events or from promoting players through the media.

Yes its true, even the charities and sick kids must make their sacrifices for the greater good of the struggling billionaire owners. Oh yes, they are such princes just trying to save the game.

 

[Oilers Ent]

Is Larry Brooks in bed with Goodenow by any chance. He's so anti-league. It's like he's on an island all to himself compared to most of the Hockey journalists out there.

 

[190Octane]

Larry Brooks is also a Rangers homer.. we all know the Rangers are the bastion of conservative and wise spending.

Larry Brooks is hardly an objective voice on this matter.

 

[RangerBoy]

Larry Brooks is also a Rangers homer.. we all know the Rangers are the bastion of conservative and wise spending.

Larry Brooks is hardly an objective voice on this matter.

Larry Brooks has not written a nice thing about the Rangers since 1996 when they signed Wayne Gretzky.Next time,please have an idea about what you are talking about before you write such stupid things

Brooks has been covering the NHL for the New York Post since the late 1970's.During that time,he left the Post to work as Director of Commincations for the DEVILS before returning to the paper in 1994.He has been the beat writer for the Islanders,Devils and Rangers at the Post.

When it comes to CBA issues,Brooks scoops every writer out there.Watch.Brooks had terrific info during the first lockout ten years ago.He has been extremely accurate in everything he has written about this lockout.That is why the NHL office in New York can't stand him

Sorry Larry is not a trained seal who believes everything put out by the NHL and refuses to drink Gary Bettman's Kool-Aid

 

[Russian Fan]

Larry Brooks has not written a nice thing about the Rangers since 1996 when they signed Wayne Gretzky.Next time,please have an idea about what you are talking about before you write such stupid things

Brooks has been covering the NHL for the New York Post since the late 1970's.During that time,he left the Post to work as Director of Commincations for the DEVILS before returning to the paper in 1994.He has been the beat writer for the Islanders,Devils and Rangers at the Post.

When it comes to CBA issues,Brooks scoops every writer out there.Watch.Brooks had terrific info during the first lockout ten years ago.He has been extremely accurate in everything he has written about this lockout.That is why the NHL office in New York can't stand him

Sorry Larry is not a trained seal who believes everything put out by the NHL and refuses to drink Gary Bettman's Kool-Aid

That's what I called a good post !!!

Funny how someone who think like the OWNERS is a knowledgeable person & the opposite, he must be eating in Bob Goodenow's hand.

 

[Sotnos]

Larry Brooks is hardly an objective voice on this matter.

His whole reason for being is to sling mud at small-market teams and write about how much he covets their players. He rarely writes anything worth reading, and this article is no exception. I swear he makes up half his stuff to support his own position.

 

[190Octane]

Sorry Larry is not a trained seal who believes everything put out by the NHL and refuses to drink Gary Bettman's Kool-Aid

Who is Larry Brook's audience? The number one media market in North America. Maybe I'm off on his shilling for the Rangers, but how much do you think the Ranger and Islander fans who read his trash on a daily basis really care about the teams in Pittsburgh, Calgary and any other small market team that can't compete with the money bag Rangers?

The Rangers have quite possibly done more than any other team to put the NHL in the place it is right now. (see: Sakic, Holik and any other big name free agent they've overpaid for)

 

[Hasbro]

Larry Brooks has not written a nice thing about the Rangers since 1996 when they signed Wayne Gretzky.Next time,please have an idea about what you are talking about before you write such stupid things

Brooks may disagree with the Rangers on day to day details, but he had the gaul to anoint them "the most important team in hockey." Everyone of his articles is geared around the notion that the Pittsburghs Calgarys, Colorados and everyother team should give unto the Rangers.

He works for the worst paper in the country and I've seen his batting average on trade rumors so I'm not impressed with his "sources."

 

[Brent Burns Beard]

Rangers ... "the most important team in hockey."

NEWSFLASH

The Rangers are the most important team in hockey. If they had dominated the last 10 years, there would have been no need for a lockout, the owners would have so much revenue, they wouldnt even think of trying to tell us otherwise.

DR

 

[free0717]

Rangers ... "the most important team in hockey."

NEWSFLASH

The Rangers are the most important team in hockey. If they had dominated the last 10 years, there would have been no need for a lockout, the owners would have so much revenue, they wouldnt even think of trying to tell us otherwise.

DR

Larrys point is not far from the truth. In 1994, when the Rangers won the cup,
hockey in the USA was at its all time high. The Rangers missed the playoffs 7 years in a row and where is the league in popularity?

 

[Bruwinz37]

Rangers ... "the most important team in hockey."

NEWSFLASH

The Rangers are the most important team in hockey. If they had dominated the last 10 years, there would have been no need for a lockout, the owners would have so much revenue, they wouldnt even think of trying to tell us otherwise.

DR

Oh my god, there is still someone out there that believes this??

 

[Brent Burns Beard]

Oh my god, there is still someone out there that believes this??

whats not to believe ? if the Rangers were winning games and cups, they would be dominating the media which in turn would have led to bigger sponsership deals and TV contracts for all teams.

dr

 

[NYRangers]

Larry Brooks is a crackhead. If you think hes a Rangers homer your either insane or sharing the pipe.

The Rangers being sucessfull wouldnt have avioded a lockout. Theres no way one team can generate enough money for the entire league. It would have helped in the fact that more interest would be generated for hockey meaning more fans, more money. The Rangers might be cellar dwellers but the garden is always packed, no matter what. So its not like theyve been loosing money and going bankrupt - The NHL as a whole has to chip in. Its not one teams fault, everyone involved in this process is to blame, even down to the vendors selling hot dogs at 7 bucks a pop. The Rangers arent the problem, the Rangers arent the sollution. There a puzzle peice, maybe one of the biggest ones. But you cant finish the puzzle even if the smallest of pieces are missing.

 

[Brent Burns Beard]

Larry Brooks is a crackhead. If you think hes a Rangers homer your either insane or sharing the pipe.

The Rangers being sucessfull wouldnt have avioded a lockout. Theres no way one team can generate enough money for the entire league. It would have helped in the fact that more interest would be generated for hockey meaning more fans, more money. The Rangers might be cellar dwellers but the garden is always packed, no matter what. So its not like theyve been loosing money and going bankrupt - The NHL as a whole has to chip in. Its not one teams fault, everyone involved in this process is to blame, even down to the vendors selling hot dogs at 7 bucks a pop. The Rangers arent the problem, the Rangers arent the sollution. There a puzzle peice, maybe one of the biggest ones. But you cant finish the puzzle even if the smallest of pieces are missing.

i am simply saying the Rangers have the power to elevate the profile of the NHL accross the entire United States, while Tampa Bay and Ottawa do not.

dr

 

[Sotnos]

i am simply saying the Rangers have the power to elevate the profile of the NHL accross the entire United States, while Tampa Bay and Ottawa do not.

dr

Why do people (particularly those who aren't even from the US) think the Rangers have some kind of mystical sway over the whole country? I find it hard to believe that hockey's popularity in the US rests solely on the shoulders of the Rangers, you'd really have to prove it to me with some facts, either that or plainly state that this is only your opinion.

 

[Brent Burns Beard]

Why do people (particularly those who aren't even from the US) think the Rangers have some kind of mystical sway over the whole country? I find it hard to believe that hockey's popularity in the US rests solely on the shoulders of the Rangers, you'd really have to prove it to me with some facts, either that or plainly state that this is only your opinion.

hey believe what you want. however, New York is the media captial of the world and if the Rangers were dominating the NHL, the NHL's profile would be raised on a national level. How can you fail to see that as fact ?

dr

 

[oilers_guy_eddie]

Why do people (particularly those who aren't even from the US) think the Rangers have some kind of mystical sway over the whole country? I find it hard to believe that hockey's popularity in the US rests solely on the shoulders of the Rangers, you'd really have to prove it to me with some facts, either that or plainly state that this is only your opinion.

The idea that the whole of the US is fascinated by what goes on in New York is very popular...

...in New York.

hey believe what you want. however, New York is the media captial of the world and if the Rangers were dominating the NHL, the NHL's profile would be raised on a national level. How can you fail to see that as fact ?

Well, we're not sure it's a fact. It's an interesting theory... perhaps we could look at some other sport to see how well a dominating New York team has paid off in national viewership. How about baseball?

5 of the 6 all-time worst-rated World Series featured the dominant New York Yankees.

1999 Yankees/Braves averaged 16.0
2001 Yankees/Diamondbacks averaged 15.7
1998 Yankees/Padres averaged 14.1
2003 Yankees/Marlins averaged 13.9
The 2000 Mets-Yankees "Subway Series" was at the time by far the worst-ever rated World Series, drawing 12.4. (It was surpassed by the 2002 Angels/Giants World Series, which drew 11.9... although, time zones may have been a factor there.)

Prior to 1998, the lowest rated World Series had been the Giants/A's series in 1989; the one that was overshadowed by the earthquaked.

Has a dominant New York team been good for ratings in baseball? There may have been other factors, but the evidence doesn't seem to suggest the Yankees have been much of a boost to MLB... and maybe the opposite.

 

[me2]

whats not to believe ? if the Rangers were winning games and cups, they would be dominating the media which in turn would have led to bigger sponsership deals and TV contracts for all teams.

dr

I would have lead to better deals for NYR. Their cable company would be doing a roaring trade. At the end of the day, I doubt it does much for the rest of the NHL. Lets say the Rags won this year, knocking out Tampa early, that's not good for anyone but the Rangers.

The Rangers spent like drunken sailors with an unsuccessful team, God help the rest of the NHL if the started winning cups on a regular basis. We'd need an every bigger lockout to get things back under control.

 

[me2]

Gary Bettman and his stooges are going to destroy this league.

We first wrote 27 months ago of the league's intent to hold a dispersal draft in conjunction with implementation of a hard cap. Now, wait until you read what we've learned from a team executive is the outline of another plan floating through the league that might be adopted in conjunction with the NHL's plan to bust the union and unilaterally implement.

Seems that the league is exploring a transition plan under which teams would be permitted to keep all of its current players on the roster, but only permitted to dress a lineup with an aggregate payroll of up to $31M. Yes, you read correctly. Meaning that if the Rangers wanted to use Jaromir Jagr, Bobby Holik, Michael Nylander, Darius Kasparaitis and Kevin Weekes on the same night, they'd have to supplement that five-man core with 15 players making a total of $2.475M.

Sounds like a well-conceived plan to us.

Hope Bettman and company are happy when the NHL is no longer recognized as a major sport in U.S. which is where their assault on the players will take this league

http://www.nypost.com/sports/28845.htm

I hope he remember to flush after consulting his source.

 

[coolguy21415]

North/South... real tough idea...

I just found it amusing that he made references to South Korea possibly being a nuclear capable country. If he can't get North or South Korea right, what kind of sources is he using?

 

[Sotnos]

The idea that the whole of the US is fascinated by what goes on in New York is very popular...

...in New York.

Thank you, that's my point exactly.

Well, we're not sure it's a fact. It's an interesting theory... perhaps we could look at some other sport to see how well a dominating New York team has paid off in national viewership. How about baseball?

5 of the 6 all-time worst-rated World Series featured the dominant New York Yankees.

1999 Yankees/Braves averaged 16.0
2001 Yankees/Diamondbacks averaged 15.7
1998 Yankees/Padres averaged 14.1
2003 Yankees/Marlins averaged 13.9
The 2000 Mets-Yankees "Subway Series" was at the time by far the worst-ever rated World Series, drawing 12.4. (It was surpassed by the 2002 Angels/Giants World Series, which drew 11.9... although, time zones may have been a factor there.)

Prior to 1998, the lowest rated World Series had been the Giants/A's series in 1989; the one that was overshadowed by the earthquaked.

Has a dominant New York team been good for ratings in baseball? There may have been other factors, but the evidence doesn't seem to suggest the Yankees have been much of a boost to MLB... and maybe the opposite.

Good job! Now let's see the other side come up with some stats that back their viewpoint. Think I'll be waiting a long time for that...

Bottom line is, the rest of the country isn't as enamored of NY teams as some (especially those who don't even live here) might think. People care about their own local or regional teams, or they care about whatever team is driving the biggest bandwagon right now (still the Red Wings IMO).

 

[YellHockey*]

People care about their own local or regional teams, or they care about whatever team is driving the biggest bandwagon right now (still the Red Wings IMO).

But the team with the biggest region is the Rangers. Hence, they would draw more fans and revenues if they were successful.