Nobody is asking you or anyone else to feel sorry for Dallas fan or any other large market team, but to take it out on the fans of team is just....well childish. You can hate Tom Hicks or Doug Armstrong for signing those players, but as a fan I had nothing to do with the signings. And as a fan I don't consider myself selfish or shortsighted, but passionate. I was unaware that I need to be a fan of a small market team in trouble to be considered passionate.
I cheer for whomever they put on the ice whether they pay them $9M or $900,000, that what fans do. I haven't supported all those signings. I hated when they signed Guerin. I thought it was a waste of money and I still belive that. Nothing would make me happier than have Tom Hicks ship Guerin out of town, gee maybe Edmonton will take him back. Nothing made me happier then when the Stars refused to ante up to Derian Hatcher last summer. Perhaps that was the beginning of their smarter ways. Although they do still have some big names signed, I think they planned for the new CBA better than Detroit, Toronto and Philadelphia who just seem to sign and sign not caring about the new financial landscape of the league.
I admire players like Jere Lehtinen who last summer signed a contract extension and when the Stars asked him what he wanted he said all he wanted was a no trade clause. They gave it to him, along with a slight raise, afterall he is a 3 time selke winner, nominated 5 times, I think he deserved the no trade clause.
I admire players like Don Sweeney, Stu Barnes and Rob DiMaio who take pay cuts to play for the team, yet play their heart and soul out every night. I think you would be hard pressed to find a night that any of those players did not earn their paycheck. I hate players like Marty Turco who think they are better then they are and hold out for more money when they are not worth it.
So if it was my choice I would take a team made up of Jere Lehtinens, Rob DiMaio's, Don Sweeneys over a team of Bill Guerin, Jason Arnott and Marty Turco any day of the week.
I don't blame the fans in Edmonton for the team they put on the ice, so why do you blame the fans in Dallas for the team they put on the ice? Do you think Tom Hicks cares what I think about his Guerin signing or any of the signings? And I truly believe that if Hicks has won by spending all that money he wouldn't be singing the salary cap tune, but he lost and wasted his money. There is no easier way for him to stop spending the money than to jump on the salary cap bandwagon.
And if you back and read some of my posts you will see that I have always said that this league needs a salary cap. I think the players should have taken Bettmans $42.5M offer and I think they should take the $37.5M because it may not be a great thing for the players, but its the best thing for the health of this league. I want this league around today, but I also want it around in 10 years. I want all the teams to compete. But I think there are things in the prosposals that are too pro-owner that I don't like. I think the owners want to make their proposal risk free on their part and yet reap all the benefits. The owners not only don't trust the players, they don't trust each other. They may all be on the same page right now, but just wait until the CBA is signed and FA signings start and you will see the backstabbing start up once again. You have owners like Bill Wirtz who won't spend a dime and doesn't care if he wins or loses, he only cares about how much money he makes. An owner who could give a crap about his fans. An owner who won't even televise the home games . he's not alone there are a lot more like him and I think the NHL should force owners to spend a certain amount on players, TV, etc so this game grows. As long as there are owners like this, this game will never move forward and grow.
I think they are just bullying the players and that is why I a more pro-player than pro-owner.