NHL player: 'We're almost a joke'

True dat..

Basic premise of this article is incorrect. To say the owners always win is ridiculous. Under the last CBA, players recreived 57% of revenues, a much higher percentage than in the other pro sports. Players were offered and signed ridiculous deals all summer. How can they say they have "lost"?

Yes, players have always cared more about the sport than owners. But that is not unique to hockey.

QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 08:54 AM ET  09.19 by BGDave

Basic premise of this article is incorrect. To say the owners always win is ridiculous. Under the last CBA, players recreived 57% of revenues, a much higher percentage than in the other pro sports. Players were offered and signed ridiculous deals all summer. How can they say they have "lost"?Yes, players have always cared more about the sport than owners. But that is not unique to hockey.

I agree with this, exceot for the last sentence. I don't see the same "love of the game" in other sports as I do in this one. Yeah, there are some guys in the other sports...but this is different. And I made the paralell yesterday, but I look at it like baseball used to be here in the US. It's woven into the fabric. Are there idiots? Yeah, of course there are. I have a particularly bad taste for anyone going to play overseas because they really don't need to (financially) and they are taking a gig from someone that does need it.

I wonder what he means by "almost" a joke? No almost about it Andrew. Owners too.

It is pretty obvious that Gary Bettmen is strictly a businessman. He has no love for hockey. Or, hockey fans.

NHL player: 'We're almost a joke'

"The Aristocrats" comes to mind.

QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 08:54 AM ET  09.19 by BGDave

Basic premise of this article is incorrect. To say the owners always win is ridiculous. Under the last CBA, players recreived 57% of revenues, a much higher percentage than in the other pro sports. Players were offered and signed ridiculous deals all summer. How can they say they have "lost"?Yes, players have always cared more about the sport than owners. But that is not unique to hockey.

They may have gotten the 57% last time around, but it came with the salary cap and drastic cuts in salary. Just using the numbers from a recent THN article, Detroit was the highest payroll before the lockout at $77.8 million; after the lockout the salary cap was set at $39 million. That's lots of millions of dollars lost in salary over the last seven years. The extra 7% didn't make that up. It certainly helped spread it out among the rank and file of the players, but they didn't win last time.

QUOTE(#7):

Originally posted 09:51 AM ET  09.19 by Canuck eh?

NHL player: 'We're almost a joke'"The Aristocrats" comes to mind.

If you liked that watch his "dirty jokes".

Andrew Ference said, "We're getting into this rut where we're almost a joke."

It sounds like Andrew Ference is talking about his hockey skills.

QUOTE(#10):

Originally posted 10:06 AM ET  09.19 by roamer

Andrew Ference said, "We're getting into this rut where we're almost a joke."It sounds like Andrew Ference is talking about his hockey skills.

Ha Ha - agreed

QUOTE(#8):

Originally posted 09:56 AM ET  09.19 by santapig

They may have gotten the 57% last time around, but it came with the salary cap and drastic cuts in salary. Just using the numbers from a recent THN article, Detroit was the highest payroll before the lockout at $77.8 million; after the lockout the salary cap was set at $39 million. That's lots of millions of dollars lost in salary over the last seven years. The extra 7% didn't make that up. It certainly helped spread it out among the rank and file of the players, but they didn't win last time.

+1

QUOTE(#3):

Originally posted 09:02 AM ET  09.19 by Spiny Norman

I agree with this, exceot for the last sentence. I don't see the same "love of the game" in other sports as I do in this one. Yeah, there are some guys in the other sports...but this is different. And I made the paralell yesterday, but I look at it like baseball used to be here in the US. It's woven into the fabric. Are there idiots? Yeah, of course there are. I have a particularly bad taste for anyone going to play overseas because they really don't need to (financially) and they are taking a gig from someone that does need it.

Agreed esp with respect to Baseball. But I think football players love the game as much as hockey players love hockey. Sure there are primadonnas in football that get a lot of notoriety, but most of the players have a deep passion for football. At least it sure looks that way here in the SE USA.Hockey players passion takes a back seat to no other NA sport, to be sure

QUOTE(#11):

Originally posted 10:09 AM ET  09.19 by Harry Crack

Ha Ha - agreed

You've enjoyed his skills up close and personal in Calgary, didn't you. Must've broken your heart when he left.

QUOTE(#10):

Originally posted 10:06 AM ET  09.19 by roamer

Andrew Ference said, "We're getting into this rut where we're almost a joke.

"It sounds like Andrew Ference is talking about his hockey skills.

Whadda ya mean? Last season he had 6 goals and 18 assists for his best year in the last 7. ;-)

QUOTE(#13):

Originally posted 10:10 AM ET  09.19 by BGDave

Agreed esp with respect to Baseball. But I think football players love the game as much as hockey players love hockey. Sure there are primadonnas in football that get a lot of notoriety, but most of the players have a deep passion for football. At least it sure looks that way here in the SE USA.Hockey players passion takes a back seat to no other NA sport, to be sure

you're right, and I daresay Texas also (for football)

No almost about it, but the real losers are the average joes: the fans, the staff and employees of the arenas, etc...Gary Bettman is definitely the worst thing to happen to hockey

It's not a joke until a wild bear comes out of the woods and asks Ference if S--- sticks to his jersey.

QUOTE(#3):

Originally posted 09:02 AM ET  09.19 by Spiny Norman

I agree with this, exceot for the last sentence. I don't see the same "love of the game" in other sports as I do in this one. Yeah, there are some guys in the other sports...but this is different. And I made the paralell yesterday, but I look at it like baseball used to be here in the US. It's woven into the fabric. Are there idiots? Yeah, of course there are. I have a particularly bad taste for anyone going to play overseas because they really don't need to (financially) and they are taking a gig from someone that does need it.

You know my feelings on this too Spiny...and I agree...particularly in the case of the other Rumor today about the German Teams and how it won their Championship last season...and so, now the NHL players want to play for that team...and what?
Take those guys jobs...that were getting it done?
Yes...inconsiderate idiots that are just ....well, inconsiderate idiots.

I agree with Ference if he is the one that said this...to an extent...
Except for one part...
ALMOST...a joke?