Bettman and MLSE

[KB in Kelowna]

Should be an intresting meeting, and the first test of Bettman persuasive powers and the so called solidairity of the Owners

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=121575

[bluemeanie]

Gary Bettman will reportedly ask the Toronto Maple Leafs to give up their opposition to greater revenue sharing when they meet on Friday.

Well... OK, anything for you Gary.

[Rusty]

Gary is the man!

I am hoping that the Leafs do not have to refuse to use replacment players due to the fact that there will be a regular season and we have put all of this crap behind us!!!!

[a4l]

Sounds interesting. I want to be a fly on that wall.

[KB in Kelowna]

I am hoping that the Leafs do not have to refuse to use replacment players due to the fact that there will be a regular season and we have put all of this crap behind us!!!!


Thats the part I find most intriguing. For months the mantra of ownership solidarity has been chanted, and there are some in other places who say bring on the replacements, but I wonder how many teams that are not so hard line would really want to use them? I think it may be opening for some compromise around which a deal could be struck. Or I could just be naively optomistic again.

[The Insider]

This is kind of hard for me to decide who is right and who is wrong here. The Leafs, are one of the highest revenue grossing teams and also one of the highest spending teams, so I can see why they'd be reluctant to want to get on board with the revenue sharing. I mean if you think about, this is a team who spent almost a century building a fan base and now they have probably one if not the most loyal fan bases in the NHL, as the fans will to anything to watch their Leafs. Then you've got a team like Carolina who went to the finals 3 years ago, yet they can't draw more then an OHL regular season game. So in that case, is it fair that the Leafs should have to give charity money to this team because it is a weak market, one of which should probably have never been there. But on the other hand, you've got a team like Edmonton who is clinging to life in the NHL, yet drawing decent crowds, just not having the money to compete with the big teams. This is a situation where you've got a passionate fan base who unfortunately get the short end of the stick when it comes to money and talent. In the Oilers case I can see Bettman fighting for help, but as it comes to the 'Canes, forget about it. The problem here, folks, is that there are far too many teams like Carolina that need help and too few teams like the Oilers that need help and that is why a team like Toronto will not be on board for revenue sharing(Well, that and the fact that they lose a lot of money themselves ;) )

[KB in Kelowna]

I think the real test of revenue sharing will be the Chicago's, Boston's and Philly's of the league (or at least thier hardline ownerships) if they are to be receiving they'll be all for it, if they have to be contributing they'll find a million reasons to be against it. Then there is the rumoured reluctance of MLSE and replacement players.

What is interesting is MLSE are (is?) the owners of the Raptors and there has been a suggestion that Bettman and the NHL are a stalking horse or test case for the NBA who face a CBA expiration in the next few years.

[The Insider]

I think the real test of revenue sharing will be the Chicago's, Boston's and Philly's of the league (or at least thier hardline ownerships) if they are to be receiving they'll be all for it, if they have to be contributing they'll find a million reasons to be against it. Then there is the rumoured reluctance of MLSE and replacement players.

What is interesting is MLSE are (is?) the owners of the Raptors and there has been a suggestion that Bettman and the NHL are a stalking horse or test case for the NBA who face a CBA expiration in the next few years.

MLSE are indeed the owners of the Raps, or as I call them these days, Clipper's North ;)

And it is and interesting thought that Bettman is a test case for the NBA, I do not think it is that true, but I can see the thought into it. Bettman of course being an executive in the NBA years back, I believe he still has some strong ties to some of his former NBA partners, The NBA's CBA ends this summer and if they cannot get things in order, imagine that, 2 major sports organizations out on collective bargaining. But realistically Bettman is now faced with having one of the most influencial teams in the sport against the views of the majority of the league and if the Leafs refuse to use replacement players if the NHL wishes to go that direction, sparks could definately fly. I do not think that they would, but if the Leafs refuse to ice replacement players and the NHL tries to force them to, we could very well see no Toronto Maple Leaf team next year :eek: (Longshot but not impossible)

[lapniappe]

Why are the Leafs refusing to ice replacement players? Before they said they would want to, to give Toronto back some hockey. In a way I understand why the MLSE (and other very very rich organizations) would be ticked off; but I also see why they have to toe the line (i'm not that evil :)).

I'm sure at the end of the day, the leafs will toe the line just like everyone else.

[Leafs_Pam]

MLSE are indeed the owners of the Raps, or as I call them these days, Clipper's North ;)


LOL!! :laughing:



I do not think that they would, but if the Leafs refuse to ice replacement players and the NHL tries to force them to, we could very well see no Toronto Maple Leaf team next year :eek: (Longshot but not impossible)

Last week I made a similar (but round about) comment about this. Asking what happened if the NHL forced Replacment Players if a new CBA wasn't in place and the Leafs refused to use Replacements. "What would it do to our Leafs?" I don't even want to think about that right now. One season without the Leafs was very painful. I think I would be irate if I lost another season with the Leafs.