Lockout Talk: Ovechkin Threats

Leave it to Ovechkin to drop the bomb we've all been waiting for: You don't like it? I go home to play, suckers.

"I said it before, before I sign a contract, if the league decides to cut our salaries and cut our contracts for what they want, I don't know how many guys will be coming back. We signed contracts before so why do they have to cut our salaries and our contracts right now? They signed us, [now they] want to cut it. I think it's a stupid idea and a stupid decision by the NHL, [commissioner Gary] Bettman and the guys who work there."

Meanwhile, TSN roundtable fools laughed at Ovechkin's idle threats. Sorry, guys. But I completely agree with Ovechkin on this. The fact the owners allowed their teams to throw huge money to players with this malicious intent to rollback salaries 24% is complete and utter crap AND WE DON'T HAVE HOCKEY NOW BECAUSE OF STUFF LIKE THIS. How can anyone legally offer contracts knowing full well they don't intent to fulfill them? Especially in the high profiled entertainment business of professional sports.

Owners crying poor 'cause their hobby venture is sucking money? Cry me a fucking river. Maybe you're losing money on your fancy toy 'cause your team is in a shit place? (Don't forget, these owners are billionaires who make their money from other ventures like beer and Comcast. For the most part, these hockey teams are really just one giant penis contest).

Funnily enough, if Ovechkin decides to "fuck you NHL", he will be in violation of his contract and will be sanctioned by the IIHF. No owner will face any sanctions by violating the contract of the players though.

And I don't care how much money Ovechkin makes. You don't pay superstars 500 000 anymore. Maybe the owners need to get out of the 70s when they were allowed to screw their players left, right, and center. And you know which owners I'm talking about...

That's right. Suck it, Ted. We go to watch him, not you or your rich fat friends.

Because the NHL says so

Not to be outdown by some basketball twerps who were obviously most likely going to end up in Miami, the NHL set about their arbitrator to solve Lou Lamoriello's experimental in-your-face-and-up-your-CBA contract, taking a few days to say "this be bad". Meanwhile, those other nefarious contracts that were under investigation a year ago but quietly forgotten about, were remembered, and are now apparently also under investigation. Pandora's Box is opened. This was the whole point behind Lou's experiment! And the NHL fell for it.

In other news, the KHL likes The Kovalchuk Contract Conundrum. *Thumbs up*

Home is where the heart is...

...and where the bills must be paid.

I'm frightened to look at my account to see if said bills were automatically paid while I was playing with baby horseshoe crabs on a beach and hiding them from evil little children. But I'm home now, resting from a long day of driving and ready to start cleaning. Work tomorrow. Stanley Cup game Friday. The weekend better be sunny-ish.

So Heater wants out of Ottawa. This is why I frown upon the extremely long-term deals of high monetary kind. If a young stud signs for a reasonable price at 3-5 years, it doesn't hurt as much and to trade him isn't a heavy burden on both teams involved. But when a player's salary might possibly strap a team with 15% of it's cap space dedicated to one guy (especially when that cap space is going down), you got the home team scrambling and the buying team uneasy. Of course, it's Heater so I don't really care. I hear he's aiming West. Is beer and pizza involved in helping him move?

I think I'm in love with the judge that's dealing with the circus over the Coyotes. How can you not love a man who deadpans how wrong Bettman and the League in general are? For that matter, has anyone read this so-called Constitution of the NHL? Hail Kommissar? And was I the only one who cracked up laughing when Bettman appeared in court while the Pens/Wings were playing their lives out? "This warrants my personal attention" like someone was adopting his only child after a bitter divorce. Oh right. Well there was another Fuck You Winnipeg, eh guys?

I understand Bettman though. You can't get the guy to admit he was wrong. My father is like that. He'll find every possible angle and every possible excuse to refute against any accusation of being wrong regardless of how apparent it is.

So Alexei Emelin decided to stay again in Russia. Well...that sucks. Not much you can do about it, as disappointing as it is and as disappointed Trevor Timmins must be after hearing from the kid how annoyed he was being an NHL-style player in the KHL where he would be in the box more than he'd like. But the mysetrious circumstances leads one to wonder... Was it Emelin? His agent seemed rather surprised by him signing again. Or did he get the old "my dad signed me this contract" like Tank? Either way, it's an unfortunate blow but the idiots blamming Gainey are well, idiots. Blame the KHL and the rules of the NHL regarding entry contracts. Either way, it gives more room for Subban, Weber, Carle, Belle, Mcdonagh, Fisher, and the whole squadron of Dmen we have, one more extra shot to move in. (Though I don't think Weber needs to worry). With the draft coming in, I can't see them going for another Russian unless he's a player in the various North American junior leagues, but those that are will probably be snatched up before they get a chance to do so if they haven't already been drafted.

Time to do some work. Today we find out if GG is selling and if Quebecor will ruin our lives forever. Oh and Flyers, good luck with that basketcase Emery.