Official NHL 2012 Off-Season & Lockout Thread

[philou21]

It supposed to be in the theaters in MTL and QC but not in my city. Too bad I would LOVE to watch it, looks awesome IMO.

[batdad]

Yeah...it is on very limited showings here in Vancouver. I am going to have to try and find it though.

[archibalduk]

You know Canadian sports guys are struggling to fill their slots when they file a report on this.

No its not a rickroll. What do you think gang? Any interest. This is ridiculous.

Crikey! Very impressive!

I bet the majority of players are clowns!

[batdad]

LOL. or Shriners. I nominate you, Getzlaf and Calv to go to a game.

[archibalduk]

I would, if I knew what the Modano a shriner is!

[batdad]

Google is your friend.

[archibalduk]

Google is your friend.

Ha! I was being too elaborate and looking for a definition on Urban Dictionary. None of their definitions seemed to make sense in the context of your post: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=shriner

[philou21]

Lighting a cigarette the wrong way haha! That's something the little frenchie didn't knew.

[nino33]

Shriners to me has always connected to guys in small cars/funny hats & hospitals for children...I've never heard anyone use any of Urban Dictionary definitions! HaHa

[batdad]

But the car driving one fits. Small cars do not go too fast. And I believe they are generalized as being cheap as a group. Never heard the cigarette one. Ha

[philou21]

Pascal Leclaire was at a RDS show tonight and he announced his retirement at only 30 years old. That's got to be one of the most weird retirement announce I've heard of. Not a surprise though is that he took his retirement because of his recurring hips problems.

By the way congrats to the new four HOF. Especially captain Joe!

[philou21]

After Ian White now it's Versteeg's turn to open his mouth. I doubt it's a good thing but still funny to see.

[Manimal]

We all know the Leafs are a pants team but this?http://www.torontosun.com/2012/11/20/ba ... t-purchase

[philou21]

Wow.....I don't know what to say.

[batdad]

Yeah heard that the other day. Gives a whole new meaning to "The Leafs are plugging up the middle"

[philou21]

.......And I thought we might get somewhere the past few days. How silly am I.....

[batdad]

Is that a rhetorical question? Never seen Bettman so emotional. Usually when he tries to show emotion he gets red in the face and he has a nervous twitch where his head bobbles. Nothing like that last night. He is widdled. FYI: The union wanted the mediator because Fehr is incapable of dealing with the owners and Bettman..... the rest of the guys are 20-30 somethings and they need the help of someone who understands legalese to work the negotiation? I think it is hilarious that the NHLPA player hardliners (Hainsey in particular) are saying that they needed the mediator because ...... their own gun could not get the job done? Wow. That says alot.

Never seen Bettman so passionate. Of course some of it was probably an act...but wow.

[philou21]

Well there is alot of rumors that the NHLPA could dismantle at any time now. Wouldn't surprise me. Players are starting to get frustrated of that stubborn Fehr.

[CeeBee]

The day they hired Fehr I said to my wife that it's a lock that there will be a lockout next negotiations. After what he did in baseball it was pretty obvious to me anyway.

[B. Stinson]

Usually when he tries to show emotion he gets red in the face and he has a nervous twitch where his head bobbles.

Probably my favorite part about the on-ice trophy presentations. He's just standing there twitching as he gets booed by all 20,000+ fans in attendance.

[philou21]

I don't know if I find that funny or I pity him....

[batdad]

CeeBee---Cannot blame Fehr for the lockout. That was owners decision. Players Union said they would play under the old system while negotiating a new deal. Players Union (according to Agent Never Shut Up Alan Walsh) says that they would have signed a NO STRIKE Letter of Understanding that would have lasted through the entire 2012-13 season including playoffs.

So....in spite of this Bettman and the owners decided to lock em out anyway. That is on them. The owners. The fact that the lock out has dragged on and on...that is on both parties.

[philou21]

The fact that the lock out has dragged on and on...that is on both parties.

There's a part that's true in this but I don't like the fact that the NHL is always running away the second they see that there's no improvements in the negociations. That just proves that they don't care if the lock out drags on and mostly now it's their fault. Stubborn Fehr probably doesn't help though since he won't change his mind.

[CeeBee]

I'm not necessarily blaming it all on Fehr though I do think he's a big reason. My reasoning is that when Fehr and Bettman butted heads...... well, you know. Lockout, strike, fist fight.... something big anyway. It does take 2 to tango and the league is as much to blame but the players have by far the most to lose.... and they surely will.

[batdad]

Meh. Both sides have done stupid stuff. Fehr late for meetings, Bettman changing CBA lengths what 3 times? Bettman saying no deal if Fehr in the room. Fehr going hardline after all the main points were negotiated on by the players and owners. Bettman losing his marbles in the press conference. Fehr outright lying in his, knowing very well the owners had just walked out widdled. Two sides to tango. Both sides are killing the game.