Browsing the "Hockey" category...
A Pox on Hockey's House
A pox on the NHL league office. A group of incompetents who have allowed an exciting game to become a endless sequence of clutch and grab.
A pox on the NHL owners. A group of spendthrifts whose inability to keep their wallets zipped has demolished the economic viability of their own teams.
A pox on the NHL players. A group of foolish athletes who didn't realize their salary demands were driving teams to bankruptcy.
A pox on them all. A foolish trinity who saw a cliff looming ahead and insisted on driving off the cliff to spite each other.
NHLPA Throws Down
Wow, the NHLPA proposes a 24% salary rollback and a luxury tax in an attempt to break the current impass. I have to say that I started this brouhaha on the side of the owners. I was convinced that the owners were losing money and I knew drastic measures were required to save the NHL. But with this offer, the onus is on the owners.
The NHLPA has compromised by proposing a luxury tax, now it's time for the owners to compromise on cost certainty. I have two problems with their current stance. First, it's a very fine line between cost certainty and guaranteed profit. And I'm not guaranteeing any profit until they guarantee winning seasons. Second, I didn't need to see the books to believe that the owners had lost money. But if they're going to be hardnosed on cost certainty, then they're going to need to show us the books – each and every year.
The NHLPA has a proposal that rescues the owners from past mistakes (24% rollback) and adds a strong incentive to avoid future mistakes (luxury tax). It may not be perfect, but it's a big step in the right direction. The owners need to take a big step in the right direction as well.
Changing of the Guard
The last nine Stanley Cups have been won by four teams: the Red Wings (3), Devils (3), Avalanche (2), and Stars (1). Over the past 10 years, those four teams have started the NHL season on the short list of Stanley Cup contenders. And now all four are out of the playoffs before the Conference Finals. With the collective bargaining agreement expiring, a lockout/walkout looming and time moving on; this was probably their last harrah. We have likely seen the last NHL games of Stevens, Forsberg, Yzerman, and Shanahan. I'm sure that all of them would have liked to ended hoisting the Cup over their heads. Now all of them will be watching someone else on TV.
You Gotta Believe
With a second overtime goal by Joe Sakic, the Av's are right back in this thing. The Av's sunk pretty low while falling behind 3–0. Now they're flying high with 2 OT wins under their belt. I wonder if I can get to the Pepsi Center for game 6?
Unfortunately, I was unable to watch the game. The Red Wings–Flames were televised here in Connecticut. That's a great series as well, so I don't begrudge them their choice in regulation. But going to regularly scheduled programming instead of overtime? ABC is making a statement, and it's not good for the NHL.
Av's Extend Series
Av's finally score a goal to beat the Sharks 1–0 in overtime. Nabokov had the force fields up, but Aebischer matched him save for save. I'll pay for it later today, but this was too big a game to watch on tape delay.
Avalanche in a Big Hole
The Av's now find themselves in a deep, dark hole. Down 3-0 to the Sharks, they need to sweep the remaining four games to advance. After a good first round win over the Stars, the Av's seem to have fallen back into their late-season funk. It may be a long off–season, I hope that they leave everything out on the ice before they leave.
Congratulations DU Pioneers
Belated congratulations to the University of Denver Pioneers for their first NCAA Hockey Championship since 1969. It was a furious finish, with Maine attacking 6 on 3 at the end of the game (DU penalty at 2:09, 2nd DU penalty at 1:34, goalie pulled at 1:13). I didn't blog at the time, but I've been given a second chance.
My brother is pictured at the right with the Championship Trophy. The picture was taken at the Denver Chophouse, where the team was celebrating after being honored at an Avalanche game.