Beans said:
When a player becomes an owner of a team because the team cant afford to pay the player (Lemieux),
the problem in PIT is all their own doing. Back in the 1990's they were the most popular team on the entire planet. They also had arguably the worlds 2 best players in their prime. AND they werent even using CASH to pay their players, they were using "future promises" (the reason Mario was owed so much money).
The owner decided to pocket every bit of cash that he was able to generate from that dynamic (which is his right of course). However, other teams like VAN, for example, used every bit of leverage they had to privatly finance a state of the art arena.
VAN would be in the same situation as PIT today if not for GM Place. PIT missed the ball and instead pocketed the coin. So be it, but dont cry for them. If this lockout is to save PIT, then we should even be more incensed at the owners, PIT doesnt deserve to be saved and neither does EDM. Peter Pocklington put over 20m in his pocket just by trading the core of the dynasty. Again, his right to pocket the money, but other owners, like Mike Ilitch. reinvested it in his club and look at the difference now between DET and EDM.
Dont tell me, as good a market as DET is, that EDM with all the Canadiana and Oil Money cant support an NHL team near the level DET can. EDM is in the heartland of Canada. Maybe Alberta shouldnt have two teams then ?
DR
? Now they follow Goodenow. What goes around comes around. I for one am with the owners on this one. Just my pucks worth on the best game in the world. 
