NHL Lockout

Get Involved

2004-11-08T14:25:00.000-08:00

Who do you believe is more to blame for the ongoing NHL Lockout?

A. The Players
B. The Owners
C. Both are Equally Responsible

Let me know what you think at hayes_p@denison.edu

Join the Club

2004-11-07T01:41:00.000-08:00

As all hockey fans agree that hockey season is something that needs to happen, one dedicated fan has designed an online petition. Every vote counts, so if you or anyone you know are truly saddened by the current strike, please join the rest of us in our fight for hockey. You can sign the petition here.

Put your dukes up

2004-11-05T09:36:00.000-08:00

I say that the NHLPA and the league officials throw down and fight it out like real hockey players do when they dont like someone. Someone get the Hanson brothers and bring them to the next meeting, theyll sock League Commissioner Gary Bettman just like this and bring back hockey.

No Forward Movement

2004-11-02T23:04:00.000-08:00

Earlier today, over 70 player representatives and the NHLPA commisioners met in Toronto. Many players spoke in order to display their anger about the salary cap, however Vancouver Canucks player Nolan Baumgartner spoke with a different attitude by stating that most of the players who are voicing their negative opinions are the higher paid players. "It's the guys who were making $300,000 or $400,000 and are now making nothing. It's tough for them. They have families and houses and car payments and are trying to make ends meet." It has now been 48 days since the season has been locked out, there were supposed to be 5 games today and there have been 438 games cancelled this season. So since the meeting did not work out as planned, we hockey fans will have to stick to video games and ESPN classics.

The Average Salary Cap

2004-11-01T22:27:00.000-08:00

The average salary cap in the 2003-2004 season was 1.83 million. This proved to be a dramatic increase from the mid 90's when it once averaged $572,000. Right now most of the players are happy under their current situation when dealing with what is known as a “market system.” In a market system, players are paid whatever the team is willing to pay. Although they are happy with this system, the league is trying to place a salary cap among the players. This would force every player to earn similar earnings per season and the players wont have any of it.
The Players Association and the League will meet on Nov. 2, today, and hopefully come to some form of agreement that will bring the fastest game on earth back.

No Hockey This Year

2004-10-22T08:14:00.000-07:00

Since September 9th, the NHL officials and NHL Players Association have not met in regards to getting the 2004-2005 hockey season underway. The reasoning behind this is simple, professional hockey players are some of the lowest paid atheletes. It is true that their ratings have dropped very signifigantly over the past couple of years, and yes it is true that the WNBA has almost equal ratings, but you play sports because you love them.
Like most little kids it was my dream to become a professional hockey player, however, kids today dont have the luxury of watching NHL greats like Wayne Gretzgy score 50 goals in 42 games or Mario Lemiuex come back after fighting Hodgkin's Disease. These moments in sports history are why kids play sports and why adults spend their nights drooling over the world's most elite group.