Players talk relocation

by James Mirtle on Nov 3, 2008 12:04 PM CST Comment 7 comments

There's quite a bit of CBA talk lately as NHLPA head honcho Paul Kelly makes his way across the league asking players if they want to reopen the agreement.

Almost everyone thinks they'll be standing pat, especially with the economny the way it is now. And, in opening the agreement, one imagines the owners would be looking for concessions of their own.

Michael Russo, at the Star Tribune in Minneapolis-St. Paul, has been following this story, and talks to Kelly and some of the players about what exactly they'd be looking for if the CBA was reopened. Here's Wild defenceman Nick Schultz:

"Now that we're getting a percentage of the revenue, I think we strongly have to look at relocation. If there are better places for certain markets, we have to look at that and make sure we're getting all the revenues possible."

It's a pretty incredible idea, if you think about it. In what other pro sport would you have the athletes advocating for some of the basketcase franchises to be shipped somewhere else? And how does this work if the NHLPA's advocating for, say, Nashville, Phoenix or Florida to be moved when there are 80-some members there who would be villified for calling for the plug to be pulled on their own market?

I'm not sure how exactly an NHLPA-initiated relocation would work, but it's certainly an interesting idea. Especially in a league where the majority of the players are Canadian.

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If Its Broke, Fix It

There seems to be a sentiment with the fans, some owners and now even the players that expansion to some non-traditional markets was ill conceived and needs to be remedied. I think there have been some great franchises in warm weather markets but if Bettman is going to actually do something for this league in terms of relocation and/or contraction, he needs to go to the strongest possible markets (and that does NOT include Kansas City). If the players can lead the discussion (no way they get a say in the actual process) then I think that is a very positive thing.

The population of Pominville keeps rising!

by Blackcapricorn on Nov 3, 2008 12:39 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Irony

Greed drives the NHL to seek out non-traditional markets in the 1990s.
Greed drives the NHL to seek out more traditional markets in the 2010s?

by Doogie2K on Nov 3, 2008 2:13 PM CST reply actions 1 recs

NHLPA

Are the employees not partners. Yes they share in the revenue.
But they don’t share in the risk. I am all for more teams in traditional markets
but NHL players should stick to what they do best, play hockey. Is their input
refreshing to hear, sure is. Will the owners care one bit, nope!

The owners will do whatever they want with running( ruining) their league without the input from the PA, media, hockey fans and local gov’t officials.

Leafs selling hope to the hopeless since 1967

by Toe Blake Hockey on Nov 3, 2008 2:32 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

The workers seem to think that they already control the means of production, I guess…

Actually, thanks to the escrow provisions in the CBA, I’m pretty sure that the players do share in the risk.

I've been looking at the sky

by Back In Black on Nov 3, 2008 2:45 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

1) Its Bettman that constantly talked about their “partnership” with the players. This cuts both ways, and the players insisting on where franchises are located is a legit part of that partnership dialogue.
2) Along those lines the players may also insist on getting their ‘share’ of the expansion fee pie. After all they are partners, right Gary?

by Fauxrumors on Nov 3, 2008 2:49 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Back away from my Coyotes NHLPA… Just back away and everything will be okay… :)

by OdinMercer on Nov 3, 2008 4:10 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I think the NHL and the NBA should be contracted.

There are too many franchises in each league. Why does New York need 3 hockey franchises? Why does LA need 2 franchises?

The Anahiem Mighty Ducks?
Florida Panthers?
Tampa Bay Lightning? (oops won a Stanley Cup more recently than my Bruins).
Atlanta Thrashers?
Nashville Predators?
Columbus Blue Jackets?
Phoenix Coyotes?

In the NBA, I would get rid of Oklahoma, LA Clippers, the Sacremento Kings, Charlotte Bobcats, Memphis Grizzlies, and the Toronto Raptors. Take the Nets and move them to Kansas City. 24 teams is plenty.

Boston Celtics - 2008 World Champions

by QuinielaBox on Jan 24, 2009 10:46 AM CST reply actions 0 recs