s7ark said:
I am shocked that you as a sens fan are such a vocal supporter of the NHLPA. Do you not remember your team going into bankruptcy a few years back? Yeah you have a rich owner know but do you really think you'll be able to pay all your superstars the contract's they would get under the NHLPA's proposal? he won't want to lose THAT much money
Alfredson, Hossa, Havlat, Spezza, Chara, Redden.
These are all 5+ milloin dollar players under the current CBA
And the rest of your guys aren't chopped liver.
4 years from now you'll likely be looking at
Alfredson - 7+
Hossa - 7+
Havlat - 6+
Spezza - 4+
Chara - 6+
Redden 5+
And what happens if you guys actually get a goalie? these salaries are not a far reach by any stretch. They are actually conservative
35 million for 6 players? Assuming the average salary stays the same and doesn't go up (1.8) - that is 30.6 for the other 17 players. you really think ottawa can handle a 65+ million salary in the next few years?
The reason this CBA battle is being fought right now is specifically to keep teams like yours together and not have you have to sell off your best players in a few years for picks and prospects.
Can you please explain why you are so behind the NHLPA?
I don't think most of us are behind the PA. I think most of us - myself at least - think the owners are full of it.
Owners - especially in Canada - have fed fans of small market teams a load of half truths to benefit themselves. Ottawa fans have been through small market drama more than any team as far as I can tell.
We've heard from owners " fans have to come to the rink to show they want hockey in Ottawa". Where are they going to move an NHL franchise? Nobody wants these teams. Try finding a better market for hockey than Ottawa that doesn't already have a team. I don't buy the threat that my team may move for money reasons.
Would anyone fold the Sens? It's more likely than a move but not by much. The Corel Centre, which is owned by Melynk, makes money with the Sens as it's major tenant. Without the Sens that arena doesn't do nearly as well. I'm not worried about anyone folding the team.
Ottawa went bankrupt because the first group of owners and then Bryden had no money. The team and arena were financed and the were the source of a massive debt load. When the team went bankrupt that debt went away. That's why Bryden wanted the team back. Sens without the debt = big bucks.
I don't want to hear about the owners needs at all. It's their business. All this lockout is about is guarenteeing profits for franchises. The current system doesn't prevent them from doing that at all. They sign the cheques and agree to contracts.
As for keeping the team together - it ain't happening with or without a cap. In this debate, Ottawa fans maybe amongst the most unbiased around. The upper end of the salary cap numbers being floated is $38 million which is less the Sens payroll for last year. But Ottawa has to be close to it's limit so a cap wouldn't hurt the Sens much.
Elite players get elite level contracts. In the current system that will mean that Ottawa will lose players. Under a cap, they will still lose guys. Once you hit the cap level, players have to go. At least in the current system, in theory, the Sens could keep all their players. Fans would have to pony up massively on ticket prices but it could be done.
I'm missing a year of hockey for what? My team is a Cup contender. It has done well under the old system. The owner proposed new system does nothing to help my team. My ticket prices won't be lower and my team is going to lose players for salary reasons just the same. Let's not even think about any lowering of the UFA age that seems to go along with hard caps.
So the owners are good guys looking to benefit me and the players are driving up costs through the roof and that makes them bad guys?
In my city, owners have threatened fans with moving the team. They scammed for tax breaks. They tried to get the federal government to give them tax dollars to line their pockets. Nice guys. Of all the rich people in the world, I'm least inclined to see these guys get guarenteed profits.
At least the players make public appearances at hospitals. I'd much rather share a beer with Wade Redden than with John Spanos or that crook that owned the Sabres.
Why exactly am I supposed to support this owner lockout? So rich guys get a bigger share of the pie? If they are losing money they can stick to a budget. I'd rather watch hockey.