Chicago Blackhawks 2012 Offseason Thread

[kujay]

This has reached the absurd today. And I'm on the players side more than ever.

[UMFan83]

---quoted the wrong thing---

 

This is the same thing that happened in the NBA lockout last year. The sides would get together and talk nonstop for a couple of days, there would be leaks that both sides are determined to get a deal done, and reports that progress was being made an as soon as fans started planning how the season was going to look, there would be an abrupt stop to the negotiations with no further talks planned. The deal ended up happening a little surprisingly as they only started talking on the day before the deal was done and I think most fans were distracted by Thanksgiving to follow as closely.

Edited December 7, 2012 by UMFan83

[kujay]

I just listened to both press conferences. [expletive] Bettman.

[kujay]

Seriously this whole dance today, and really this whole week, has been another chapter in an organized effort to bend over the union. The owners do not mind losing the season. There are bigger objectives at stake for them. Bettman said as much tonight.

 

And Fehr took the bait. That's his mistake. But he has constituents that sincerely wanted to make a deal. The league does not.

[UMFan83]

If I didn't like the NHL so much, I'd root for the owners to get screwed over because of this and have the league fold.

[Guest]

honestly i'm about to the point where i don't really care if there's a season anymore.

[jersey cubs fan]

honestly i'm about to the point where i don't really care if there's a season anymore.

 

I almost feel that way as well. It's more of an annoyance than huge disappointment.

[Prizefight]

So the NHL wanted the players to accept a deal without the head of their union present. No offer has been put to a vote to all the players. There's starting to be dissension among the rank and file who seem to be 'folding' while the 'elite' players still seem strongly behind Fehr. Fehr encouraging them to keep holding out because they can get more.

 

The balls of the owners to sign players to crazy contracts days before the lockout and then complain about the contracts is astounding

 

They are all at fault and not one of them cares about the fans. We are infinitely replaceable in their eyes.

[kujay]

So the NHL wanted the players to accept a deal without the head of their union present. No offer has been put to a vote to all the players. There's starting to be dissension among the rank and file who seem to be 'folding' while the 'elite' players still seem strongly behind Fehr. Fehr encouraging them to keep holding out because they can get more.

 

The balls of the owners to sign players to crazy contracts days before the lockout and then complain about the contracts is astounding

 

They are all at fault and not one of them cares about the fans. We are infinitely replaceable in their eyes.

 

That's my thing. Is Fehr an egotistical [expletive] who doesn't care one bit about the NHL or the game of hockey? Yes.

 

But that doesn't absolve the owners of their outrageous behavior from the very start of this thing. I saw a few tweets last night suggesting the 3rd and 4th line type players are getting really frustrated. And like I said before, the owners knew this would happen.

 

One of the NHL Radio guys keeps saying there will be a deal when both sides are ready to make a deal. I honestly believe the PA was ready to make a deal this week, even if Fehr was arguing that they should hold out for a better deal. The owners issuing this take-it-or-leave-it offer and demanding that Fehr stay out of the room, and then ultimately breaking off talks shows they are not serious about getting a deal done. Simple as that.

[NewUserName]

Who cares if the 4th liners are getting antsy. I feel bad for them and all but it is not like they could go ahead and play with a bunch of 4th liners. As long as the top players are holding out for more, everyone will have to hold out. I think that is why the top players wanted Fehr, he understands that very well.

[Prizefight]

Who cares if the 4th liners are getting antsy. I feel bad for them and all but it is not like they could go ahead and play with a bunch of 4th liners. As long as the top players are holding out for more, everyone will have to hold out. I think that is why the top players wanted Fehr, he understands that very well.

 

There's a lot more 3rd and 4th line guys than the Crosby's (bitch) and Toews' of the world. If the rank and file players become unified and want to make a deal things can go south really quick for the players which will be to the detriment of all of them most likely.

[kujay]

Who cares if the 4th liners are getting antsy. I feel bad for them and all but it is not like they could go ahead and play with a bunch of 4th liners. As long as the top players are holding out for more, everyone will have to hold out. I think that is why the top players wanted Fehr, he understands that very well.

 

There's a lot more 3rd and 4th line guys than the Crosby's (bitch) and Toews' of the world. If the rank and file players become unified and want to make a deal things can go south really quick for the players which will be to the detriment of all of them most likely.

 

I agree, though I don't know how they go about that internally. If they go public again like Hamrlik did a few weeks ago, that's just blood in the water for Bettman and Jacobs and they'll only get more extreme.

[NewUserName]

Who cares if the 4th liners are getting antsy. I feel bad for them and all but it is not like they could go ahead and play with a bunch of 4th liners. As long as the top players are holding out for more, everyone will have to hold out. I think that is why the top players wanted Fehr, he understands that very well.

 

There's a lot more 3rd and 4th line guys than the Crosby's (bitch) and Toews' of the world. If the rank and file players become unified and want to make a deal things can go south really quick for the players which will be to the detriment of all of them most likely.

 

The top players still do not have to play. That is why they have all the power in the union as well

[kujay]

Who cares if the 4th liners are getting antsy. I feel bad for them and all but it is not like they could go ahead and play with a bunch of 4th liners. As long as the top players are holding out for more, everyone will have to hold out. I think that is why the top players wanted Fehr, he understands that very well.

 

There's a lot more 3rd and 4th line guys than the Crosby's (bitch) and Toews' of the world. If the rank and file players become unified and want to make a deal things can go south really quick for the players which will be to the detriment of all of them most likely.

 

The top players still do not have to play. That is why they have all the power in the union as well

 

Apparently the "rank and file" can call for a vote so long as there is a proposal on the table. Which right now there is not. Someone asked Alfredsson about the possibility of such a vote, and all he would say is that he "hopes that does not happen."

[NewUserName]

I think back in the 90s the elite NBA players basically quit the union and formed a different union. Or something of that nature. I do not remember the details, but I do remember it was basically because the owners were trying to influence the rank and file. So the star players just did a counter move. I think one thing that Fehr understands well is that he doesn't need everyone, he just needs the top guys who have probably been paid well enough to be able to hold out longer.

 

I remember saying a couple of years ago when Fehr was hired that this was not going to go well for the fans.

[kujay]

Well, if they can get a deal worked out, this is great news:

 

@ChrisKuc: According to a source, #Blackhawks winger Marian Hossa has been medically cleared by team following recovery from concussion.