Driftwood said:
What exactly is the NHLPA thinking? What are they waiting for?
If they don't make a deal this week, are they expecting to make a better deal next September after the owners have already cancelled a season?
i could argue the owners will be in worse shape next september than the players. the war chest will be almost gone.
they will have sold zero season tickets and there merchandise sales will be next to nothing.
diehard hockey fans will have had a whole year to find other things to do.
they will take a huge pr hit for not awarding a stanley cup
the best young prospect of the last ten years will be making a kings ransom in europe
hockey markets in the southern united states will be DEAD.
hockey markets in the northern united states will be close to dead
the good players will be playing in europe making a decent buck. yes its not nhl money but to some guys its pretty close to what they were making in north america.
the nhl is treading on dangerous ground right now if they cancel this season because they are betting the players will cave at some point next season. my question is what if the players don't cave in? what if the players say screw this we went this long i'll go another year without hockey? what happens than? do you think even the diehard hockey fan will care if the nhl restarts again in 2006-2007? i have news for you they WILL NOT.
i look at myself. i never watched network or cable tv before this season. I have discovered some pretty well written and entertaing tv shows over the past few months. I spend quality time with my wife (although she is pregnant so i think i would be anyway even if there was a season)
my point is the players have less to lose than the owners. the players will find jobs in europe while the owners will lose a billion dollar business. i know somebody is going to argue "not all players have jobs in europe?"
my reply is to that is the good ones do or will by next season.