Lionsfan

November 2nd, 2012 at 2:34 PM ^

That doesn't really mean this is all Bettman's fault. That just supported what is already known. A few teams (BOS, ANA, CLB, FLA, NYI, PHX, STL, WSH and DAL) are driving this thing and Bettman is just a puppet for them.

jsquigg

November 2nd, 2012 at 5:43 PM ^

Stop it.  Bettman is the worst commish by far, and it will be laughable when all the talent signs in comparable Euro leagues.  The players have tried to bring reasonable offers only to be immediately shot down.  If I was a top player I'd sign in another league.  Bettman will kill the NHL or die trying.

Canadian

November 2nd, 2012 at 4:22 PM ^

I follow college hockey a lot closer than I do the NHL. All I cared about was going to see the two days of the GLI and being able to bring my mother over to see her fav team (Toronto) play in an aMAIZEing venue with what was expected to be just crazy atmosphere

Adrian

November 2nd, 2012 at 1:50 PM ^

I dont get why they keep coming out and putting a deadline on when it will be canceled. We all know that no deal is going to be done anytime soon

M-Wolverine

November 2nd, 2012 at 3:23 PM ^

They could be wrong, but-

 

If it doesn’t do so by Friday, the league will be stuck with a $250,000 bill from the University of Michigan.

After Friday, the next payment deadline for the NHL is December 7 at which point the league will owe Michigan another $1 million.

http://www.annarbor.com/sports/nhl-owes-michigan-additional-250000-if-winter-classic-not-canceled-by-friday/

I guess it depends on how much "out of pocket expenses" would have happened by that point.

http://www.annarbor.com/2012/02/20/NHL%20AGREEMENT.pdf

But I wouldn't put it past AA.com to have the contract and misread it.

MaizeAndBlueWahoo

November 2nd, 2012 at 2:14 PM ^

It's truly amazing how the NHL is the only league that can't fucking figure out how to play a fucking season in a bargaining year.  It's not like the other leagues don't have basically the same labor issues.

LSAClassOf2000

November 2nd, 2012 at 2:29 PM ^

Supposedly, this would have brought $75 to $80 million in mainly tourism revenue to the I-94 corridor between Detroit and Ann Arbor, but revenue all the same for the area, so there's that as well. Thanks, NHL...the fact that you and the NHLPA haven't spoken in two weeks but have "tenatively agreed to resume bargaining" gives me so much hope.

Fairly soon, "to lock out" will be "to Bettman". For example - I left my keys in the car and Bettmaned myself.

bluedog10

November 2nd, 2012 at 2:30 PM ^

I had tickets to the Winter Classic...so seeing as how now I don't plan on spending any money on the NHL again any time real soon I would love to purchase a Michigan hockey jersey.  I've been a fan for a while (since starting undergrad in 2006) but have never put my meager (now medical student) funds towards a nice jersey. Anyway, the problem is that I really do not like the "block M" Michigan jerseys that have been worn recently. Is there anywhere I can find a regular men's large/XL of the older maize with a giant blue Block M hockey jersey? I will buy it today with my now recouped winter classic funds if anyone knows where to get one online. Help me mgofriends!

MikeCohodes

November 2nd, 2012 at 2:34 PM ^

on hockey altogether.  Second major workstoppage in recent years is just frustrating as all hell.  This is annoying because I'm a Blackhawks fan and they've finally seemed to have gotten great again, it had been hard to root for them from 1995-2007.  I'm used to hating the owners though, because former team owner Bill Wirtz was a cheap douche much hated in the city for being a cheap douche (seriously, the fans booed at the moment of silence after his death).  I'm not surprised that the owners are being greedy (not that the players aren't as well) but I wish they could just get their crap together like the other sports and avoid major labor issues for a change.  Oh well.

 

WingsNWolverines

November 2nd, 2012 at 3:25 PM ^

while now because of all this. Also FYI I have two NHL jerseys left. Both size XL one LA Kings black mid 2000s and Carolina Hurricanes red. Both CCM and in great shape. Drop me a message at [email protected] if interested.

mstier

November 2nd, 2012 at 7:16 PM ^

Donald Fehr: 6 labor stoppages
Gary Bettman: 3 labor stoppages

Let's stop pretending the NHL is 110% at fault. The writing was on the wall when the players hired Fehr.

The reason the owners walked out of the last meeting is because while the plans were "reasonable" from a percentages stand point, the players association was attempting to redefine what constituted hockey related revenues. Essentially, they said sure we'll do 50:50 if we can redefine revenues such that 50% new revenues > or = 57% old revenues. HRR had already been agreed upon by the NHL and PA and the owners refused to start from scratch with those negotiations.

The owners certainly aren't perfect, far from it, but the players aren't giving a fair effort either. So can we stop with the Gary Bettman sucks worst commishoner ever? NHL revenues doubling over the past 7 years and unanimous support from the owners (i.e. his boses) would strongly suggest otherwise.

phork

November 3rd, 2012 at 8:48 AM ^

Blow the whole thing up.  Have the players make their own teams, then they can keep 100% of the money!

Seriously though, get rid of PHX, Tampa Bay, Florida, Anaheim.  Fold 2 of them, move 2 to Canada.

93Grad

November 3rd, 2012 at 11:11 AM ^

The NHL is on the verge of another cancelled season while the NBA resolved its dispute last year just in time for the nauseating Heat to win it all. There is no God