It was interesting to read the statements of Trevor Linden, head of the NHL Players Association after attempts to discuss the current lock-out collapsed:
With commissioner Gary Bettman out of the way and hardline owners like Boston’s Jeremy Jacobs and Carolina’s Peter Karmanos out of the picture, Linden was hoping to make some headway. He says what he found out was — regardless of who’s in the room — the NHL is as determined as ever to get a salary cap. “Their pursuit of a team-by-team hard cap, NFL-style model, is crystal-clear,” Linden said. Linden believes the players want to find a solution and are willing to examine new ways of getting there. But to his mind the league road map is fixed, always leading to a salary cap. “If we can’t sit in a room and have a mutual discussion and work around each other’s problems to get to an agreement, then what are we looking at?” he asked. “I think players really get their back up when they understand what’s going on here.”
Here are the things Bettman does not understand:
- Canadians do not like NHL hockey like Americans like NASCAR or the NFL. They like hockey;
- Whatever happens with the NHL, Canadians – whether resident in Canada or the USA – are your audience. The 1,000,000 Canadians in Los Angeles are the only reason the Kings exist;
- Canadians are quite content to watch other hockey like AHL, junior and, now, on sports TV Swedish league. We have learned all the funny Finnish and Latvian names and are happy to watch them;
- Most of the NHL is still populated with Canadians from small towns or with small town ethics. These people for better or worse were not brought up in hockey to aim for millions but for hockey glory. This is not an innane comment but compared to the NBA, NFL or baseball the point of all the years of 5 am practices was not to earn you celebrity and was not the only route available to comfort for the players growing up. It is for the most part about being the best. These are boy scouts gone mad, lunky Dudly Do-rights…that is all. If you screw them, they are as likely to go get another job – because there is nothing your average Canuck likes less than a dumb boss;
- The best opportunity for fan pressure in support of the league are already past. There is nothing a Canuck respects more than someone who will walk on a pay cheque – think freelance lumberjacks. Not that we are that but we like to think that we are that. Even the guys in their 50s in their suits on the 67th floor. They are prouder of their canoe and the edge of their axe than their retirement savings. That pride is at stake. The players have walked after they found the arenas locked. How many will come back? Wherever they go, Canadians will follow. To watch hockey. The NHL is ultimately irrelevant; and
- Canadians have never liked Gary Bettman.
My best guess is the puck will next drop on the 2006-2007 NHL season with another Commissioner, 80% of the teams, 60% of the audience, 80% of the wages and 60% of the current owners. And it will be a good thing.