All -Star Game determining SCF home ice advantage? I wouldn’t dream of it
Dream a little dream with me Thrasherville.
Let’s say all of the wheeling, dealing and signings that Rick Dudley has done so far…and will do before October…nets the ultimate result that can be imaginable. He puts together a squad that makes all of our wildest dreams come true in the Thrashers community.
Imagine if you will, even if just for grins and giggles, Dudley and Co. put together a roster that works it’s way not only to just a playoff birth…not only to just a playoff win…not only to just one playoff series victory, but three playoff series triumphs… and they find themselves in the Stanley Cup Finals next spring.
Can you even get that kind of visual tuned into your noggins?
Uh-huh…Trixie will be handing out paper bags for those of you so overwhelmed with this thought that you’re now hyperventilating.
Now, just which team might the Thrashers be facing off against in this hypothetical scenario? Oh I don’t know…let’s just say for the sake of this fantasy that it’s the Nashville Predators… a team whose fans I like a lot. And besides, it’s only 3-1/2 up the road from the palatial Rawhide Estates in north Cobb County.
Or maybe it’s the Los Angeles Kings, complete with an Ilya Kovalchuk who would be finishing up his first season with that organization. Oh, and he’s playing with them only after settling for a couple million dollars less per season than the Thrashers tossed under his nose last winter. Just sayin’…
Either way, it doesn’t matter… because in our little far-fetched daydream, the Thrashers enter into the SCF with the better record. This would mean, of course, that Atlanta would host the all-important, do-or-die, there-is-no-tomorrow, it’s-now-or-never, deciding game-seven. And whether you’re a player, a coach or a fan…you want that seventh game of a series in your barn, don’t you?
However… like a cold bucket of water taken to the face, you realize that any game-seven won’t be in played in Philips arena. Instead, [insert name of hypothetical Western Conference Champions her] will get to host it.
Why? Well… because four months prior, the Western Conference team defeated the Eastern Conference in an All-Star Game that was played in Raleigh, North Carolina. Thus won home ice advantage for that conference’s eventual champion.
Even more irritating, the game was decided by one goal. That game-winner was scored by Edmonton’s Dustin Penner who slipped one past Toronto’s Jonas Gustavsson…two players and teams that didn’t even make the playoffs.
sigh…
OK…naptime is over. It’s time to wake up and re-join the real world again.
Now, the reason I spun that little dream sequence for you was to illustrate just how baseball fans of American League teams must be feeling this morning…specifically fans in Texas, Chicago and New York whose teams are currently leading their respective divisions. This is because last night, the National League squad beat the American League 3-1 in Anaheim, CA, thanks to Atlanta Braves catcher Brian McCann’s bases-clearing double in the seventh inning. It was the NL’s first victory since 1996.
I doing so, they also secured home field advantage for the team that wins the National League pennant this fall. So it doesn’t matter if the Rangers, White Sox or Yankees…or any other AL team…finishes with the best record in all of baseball or not. They won’t get home field advantage should they reach the World Series.
Should the NHL All-Star Game decide who gets home ice advantage in the SCF?
- Absolutely! Putting something of value on the line will add an edge to the game. (12%, 16 Votes)
- No way! It's only an exhibition game...nothing more. (88%, 114 Votes)
Total Voters: 130
Loading ...Nope…it’s already been decided because, as many of you already know, MLB determines who gets home field advantage in the World Series by whichever league wins that year’s All-Star game.
This has been the case since 2002 after that mid-summer classic ended in a 2-2 tie.
It ended a draw because both teams ran out of pitchers.
They ran out of pitchers because both managers managed the game to get all players into the game, not necessarily to win the game.
Both managers did so because…well…that is how the MLB All-Star game had been played for decades.
It created such an uproar that commissioner Bud Selig and MLB scrambled to find a way to ensure this embarrassment would not visit their sport again. Their conclusion… to make the All-Star Game actually “mean something” again by putting home filed advantage in the World Series on the line in future All-Star Games.
Overreaction? Eh…maybe just a smidgen.
Since that time, the debate has raged as to whether placing such importance on what ultimately is just an exhibition game is the right thing to do. Those in favor of it argue that it has been successful in placing a competitive edge back into it. Players and managers, they’ll tell you, once again show up with the intention of winning the game…not just to going through the motions for the show.
Opponents of this rule insist that it’s not a real game…it’s just an exhibition for goodness sakes! As such, it shouldn’t be given the same weight of a “real” game by dangling home field advantage out there as an incentive. Besides, that is something that should be earned and should simply go to the team with the better record.
With that said…and as we await further news of signings and/or trades by Dudley and Thrashers… I throw this question out to you to chew on and debate. Should the NHL adopt the same policy as MLB and have the All-Star Game winner determine which conference champion gets home-ice advantage in the Stanley Cup Finals?
How would I answer the question? Simple. I would say, “No…I wouldn’t dream of such a thing”.
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107 comments Add your comment
R. Stroz
July 14th, 2010
10:58 am
FIRST (Pounding chest like an undisciplined athlete)
Alan R.
July 14th, 2010
11:03 am
Imagine if you will, even if just for grins and giggles, Dudley and Co. put together a roster that works it’s way not only to just a playoff birth…not only to just a playoff win…not only to just one playoff series victory, but three playoff series triumphs… and they find themselves in the Stanley Cup Finals next spring.
And then, I wake up. It’s Hell, July, 2010. The temperature outside is in the 90s. The preseason is still two months away. And I WANT MY COFFEE.
The Smooth Spark
July 14th, 2010
11:04 am
Bad idea. The game should mean nothing and goalies’ egoes checked at the boards in a 12 – 10 scoring fest. The game is supposed to be a fun show-case of talents and skill.
Re-posting for interested parties:
Just for reference, here are the dates on which we announced the re-signing of our RFA’s last summer:
7/15 – Lehtonen, 1 yr $3.0 M
7/16 – Armstrong, 1 yr $2.4 M
7/17 – Lehman, Lewis & Stapleton (all RFA’s) re-signed to 1 year deals
7/20 – Evander Kane signs his ELC (we can prolly expect Burmie to sign his sooner as he is slated to return to Russia after camp)
7/21 – Valabik re-signed a 2-year deal worth an avg of $762.5 K per
R. Stroz
July 14th, 2010
11:10 am
The losing team should have the choice to do 30 minutes of suicides after the game or be forced to sign autographs for three hours after the game.
glovesave29
July 14th, 2010
11:14 am
Bud Selig…don’t get me started!
Having the All Star game decide home field advantage in the World Series is a dumb idea. Hockey adopting it is even dumber.
Here’s a novel idea Bud…how about the BEST TEAM gets more home games. Novel idea, I know! It still makes the AS game worth nothing to the vast majority of the players. Do you really think players from Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Milwaukee (or any of the other teams that spend less than 25% of what the Yankees do) are motivated by the fact that they are playing for home field in the Series? They don’t. There is no incentive for them, other than professional pride, and to play for the next contract that will get them the hell out of there.
Dwayne
July 14th, 2010
11:15 am
RStroz….right after you did a 360 windmill 2 fisted double pump off a springboard slam over Herve Villicheave….DA PLANE DA PLANE
rob
July 14th, 2010
11:15 am
Hell no. All Star games are for showing off. No real defense, no real “effort”, just glam and glitz for the fans
Tony C.
July 14th, 2010
11:24 am
Having the MLB All-Star game determine home field for the championship is a horrible idea. Even worse than the DH! Because at least the DH is something that happens all season long as opposed to a one-game exhibition. I hate the DH but taking away home field from a team that has played at the highest level for six months, survived a best-of-5 AND a best-of-7 series with the best teams in their league-to take away from that based off of the results of a one game exhibition is retarded.
The DH sucks too.
Spud Webb
July 14th, 2010
11:32 am
Bettman vs Selig…interesting debate.
Selig is useless to me, ITS AN EXHIBITION GAME. Good flipping lord. Dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb, Yet he gets away with this??
I love baseball, but I won’t watch the all-star game because it decides home field advantage. I generally don’t watch any of the 4 sports all star games. They’re boring, BORING. I don’t care whats on the line.
Tony C.
July 14th, 2010
11:37 am
As for the NHL all-star game…I don’t like it. Most of the guys are just kind of gliding out there…. I actually enjoy the skills competition much more. I hear they’re thinking about a “trick shot” competition this year-basically a hockey version of H.O.R.S.E.-which I think would be badass-imagine what we’d see from the likes of #17, St. Louis, the Sedin SIsters, Gaborik and that big sumbitch from Anaheim.
ew11
July 14th, 2010
11:49 am
I agree that having the All-Star game decide the home team is a horrible idea in any sport. However, I think you’re forgetting how MLB used to do it. It wasn’t the best team/record that got it, they alternated every year.
Russ
July 14th, 2010
11:51 am
If you’ll remember, before letting the all-star game decide home field advantage, it was simply alternated between AL and NL regardless of records. So, they went from one stupid idea to another. Personally, I think the NFL should have home field advantage for the team with the better record up to and including the Superbowl. They are going to have a Superbowl in New York in a few years, so the cold weather argument is out the window. Obviously, the NFL would never do this because it is such a huge money-maker they wouldn’t want to risk having a Superbowl in Green Bay with only two weeks to prepare for it. It would be nice to see sports not be all about money for a change, but alas I am just dreaming.
Rawhide
July 14th, 2010
11:53 am
ew11 & Russ – You are correct regarding the way MLB alternated home field advantage between the two leagues prior to 2002. Thanks for pointing that out.
hip czech
July 14th, 2010
12:01 pm
Having been burned twice by the Minnesota Twins winning every home game and losing every away game… once in ‘87 as a Cards fan (which I was before moving here) and then ‘91 as a Braves fan the baseball format was not ideal before the ASG deciding it.
I think baseball ought to go to a best 2 out of 3 to determine home field….the 3 being:
1) the home run derby
2) the ASG
3) resurrect the old ABC superstars series and have a superstars competition on Wednesday after the ASG
A far more equitable way to determine it.
On the hockey side, slightly off topic…wasn’t it not too many years ago the NHL re-seeded the playoffs after each round?
FormerIslesFan
July 14th, 2010
12:07 pm
HC,
The NHL still reseeds after the first round with the highest remaining seed in each conference getting the lowest remaining seed. Honestly, I’m not sure how home ice for the Finals is determined, but I think it is more total points during the regular season.
Unless you are referring to the even older days when the NHL just took the top 16 teams no matter what division/conference they were in. That was fund (and as an Isles fan back then, the possibility of playing the Ranger$ in the SCF was always an intriguing possibility).
hip czech
July 14th, 2010
12:10 pm
FIF, yeah, I guess I was thinking about when they just took the top 16 teams regardless….that was pretty interesting.
True confessions..I’ve never admitted this but back in my youth in upstate NY I was an Islanders fan (from the get go)…hated the Rangers (still do) so I’m with you there.
hip czech
July 14th, 2010
12:13 pm
just to add….my first NHL game I ever attended was a NYI-Edmonton game back in ‘81 at the old Nassau Coliseum (it’s even OLDER now…still can’t believe it is in use). Bossy, Trottier, Potvin, etc. and the beginning of the Edmonton dynasty…I think the game wound up something like 6-5.
hip czech
July 14th, 2010
12:19 pm
…wearing my Bob Bourne #14 Islanders jersey
World Be Free
July 14th, 2010
12:34 pm
Not sure we even need all star games anymore. Why play the game if the product isn’t going to resemble the quality expected in regular season games? This is why NBA, NHL and MLB have various skills competitions; they know the game product will not attract the fan support needed to justify the games itself. Name your all star teams, celebrate the players and just deep six the games themselves.
The only all star game that means anything to me is the MLB Game, because of how much I enjoyed them when I was younger. The 1971 MLB All Star game in Tiger Stadium may be the best all star game of all time, in any sport.
World Be Free
July 14th, 2010
12:50 pm
Spud-100% agreed!
Selig is totally useless, I have no idea how the modern day version of Shemp Howard keeps his job. He has contributed nothing to baseball, a statue, which is probably how the owners want it!
Badger Bob
July 14th, 2010
12:54 pm
Best record should win home advantage in every sport at every level. I don’t watch any all-star games except MLB because of lack of effort / doesn’t resemble regular season quality. At least in MLB, you are seeing best efforts in most of the pitcher-batter match ups. But they didn’t need to make the game “meaningful” to make it entertaining – that was a stupid knee-jerk reaction.
Possibly stupider playoff format is the “2-3-2″ format of NBA. You telling me those ball bouncing prima donnas can’t handle one extra round trip on a private jet while pursuing the ultimate prize? The team that earned home court advantage actually doesn’t have the advantage in the oft-pivotal Game 5. Stupid and lazy.
Brendan
July 14th, 2010
1:05 pm
An All-Star game is a meaningless exhibition game where the best players gather to appreciate that fans voted them there. The idea is … to play a fun game, without anyone getting hurt. And to promote the league and stars of the game. It’s a fun weekend, usually.
To make that game determine where Game 7 of the Finals is … just seems misplaced. That stabs the purpose of the season right through the heart. Let’s take the results of this year’s playoffs. If the East won the All-Star game, then the 7th seeded Flyers would have HOSTED the Stanley Cup Finals, depite only having 88 or 89 points, in a very weak Conference. Meanwhile, Chicago was one of the very best teams all season long, finishing well over 100-points, with a 2nd seed. But because Atlanta’s Ilya Kovalchuk scored an overtime winner on Edmonton’s Nicholai Khabibulin, (Edmonton) the Flyers get to host?? Atlanta and Edmonton weren’t even playoff teams, as Rawhide’s blog makes reference.
I’d never want the fate of home ice for Game 7 of the Finals for my team to be in the hands of players on a different club. Nobody washes a rental car, if you feel what I’m saying.
rob
July 14th, 2010
1:19 pm
hip,
took me a minute to figure out what the owners of the Thrashers (ASG) had to do with your post…all this talk of baseball is zzzzzzzzzzzzz
glovesave29
July 14th, 2010
1:26 pm
The NHL ASG is fun to go to because the players have fun. They try new things, interact with the fans in the arena during the game. It is what it is. MLB is the same, but to a lesser extent. The NFL is the truly useless game. No one works hard because no one wants to get hurt. And I cannot say that I blame them one bit.
I cannot give an opinion on the NBA, because it is not worth my time, and as I have said before – when I am elected president, I will abolish the NBA.
kracker
July 14th, 2010
1:41 pm
tweet – SpectorsHockey Ominous Rumor: the NHL will seek to lower the salary cap ceiling in the next CBA to $48 million.
Oh no! I don’t want another strike/lockout!!
kracker
July 14th, 2010
1:44 pm
Another tweet – BenThrashers Re: salary cap space- the Thrashers have 8 RFAs who made a combined $8 million last yr. Will likely make closer to $15 million this yr.
Hockey Biltong
July 14th, 2010
1:45 pm
It all depends on when they stop serving the BEER!
Buzilla in CT
July 14th, 2010
1:51 pm
I think they should play the all star game in a non traditional hockey market (within reason). Take for instance, Hartford. They had a team, lost a team and are trying to get a team back. An all-star game in a city like Hartford could do wonders for revitalizing the game in that area. Play the AllStar game in the oversea’s market like they started doing in the beginning of the year. Do it in Hamilton, so they will shut the F up.
This will never happen, and to answer your question, the all star game should be what it is intended to be. A display of the best players in a non meaninful game that is…here is the key word…FUN. Fun for the players and the fans. I don’t agree with the MLB or even the NFL moving there all star (all pro) game. It’s not necessary. They are trying to put more emphasis on these game to generate more money. Not more fun.
Buzilla in CT
July 14th, 2010
1:57 pm
…oh and congrats to Hokie on his daughters birth.
glovesave29
July 14th, 2010
2:03 pm
kracker – the the NHLPA elects Don Fehr as their leader, I think we can all expect to see a work stoppage in the not too distant future.
Stempniak, Ponikarovski, Afinogenov, Frolov still out there…how long it too long to try and wait them out? We need some scoring! I know many are either waiting on Kovy, or wait until traning camp to fill out the roster…let’s beat them to the punch for once. That group of 4 are good for at least 80 goals next season.
Jack
July 14th, 2010
2:08 pm
It s sad to say that potentially 3 of the major sports could be striking within the next 3 years(NHL,NBA, and NFL). that truly stinks
rob
July 14th, 2010
2:13 pm
glovesave for president
World Be Free
July 14th, 2010
2:33 pm
Badger-right on with the NBA 2-3-2 format. What’s up with that format? Never liked it, good call.
That format calls for a good old John Anderson W-T-F?!
kracker
July 14th, 2010
2:43 pm
WBF, lol on the Anderson immatation! And yes, the 2-3-2 is lame.
kracker
July 14th, 2010
2:44 pm
BenThrashers Not a bad piece on Byfuglien from The Hockey News. http://bit.ly/a9a43P
Red Light
July 14th, 2010
2:52 pm
Hokie: Congrats. I’m sure it’s a great day for you and you should be all smiles until you get up for the 2 a.m. feeding!
“An All-Star game is a meaningless exhibition game where the best players gather to appreciate that fans voted them there. The idea is … to play a fun game, without anyone getting hurt. And to promote the league and stars of the game. It’s a fun weekend, usually.” Brendan.
It also has become a clever ruse to up-sell current or would-be season ticket holders, the fatted calf as it were. Yes, it’s fun and entertaining but it’s a BS exercise and the modern-day player for the most part doesn’t want to be there. Comments like: “It’s an honor to be named by the fans, blah blah blah have been replaced by, “Well, it’s a little inconvenient, I have a lower body injury and could use the rest.”
When guys were holding down jobs at a clothing store or selling tires in the off season, it might have been more meaningful, but today it’s just a senseless interruption to the regular season. If you don’t use regular season records, then what good is the regular season in the first place?
glovesave29: What price do you want to pay for those 20 goals? That’s the key question!
Smoothest of Sparks: Thank you.
Bill: I like Paquette, a lot!
litz
July 14th, 2010
3:06 pm
*ouch* …
“In Atlanta, the only chip they know is barbequed bitterness”
World Be Free
July 14th, 2010
3:21 pm
kracker-WTF is the one thing I will miss from Anderson.
Of course we all know, he was a better “reactor” than he was a planner.
I don’t we will hear WTF from Rammer or Duds, though I am sure Dudley could rattle the locker room walls if properly motivated.
Tony C.
July 14th, 2010
3:46 pm
Yeah, I’m going to be really really excited if Byfuglien scores more than 12 goals this season. The guy is clearly nonplussed AT BEST about being here. I don’t think we’re going to get anything close to the dominating player we saw in the playoffs for Chicago. Instead I think we’re getting a bored guy that was a 4th-liner most of last season. I love my hometown, but harbor no illusions as to the way we are perceived throughout the league and in Frostbackland in general. “It is what it is” was his response when asked about the trade-dude sounds thrilled to be a Thrasher. This is why I’d like to see us re-sign Afinigenov or get a Gagne/Svatos somebody that’s a proven scoring forward.
Dwayne
July 14th, 2010
3:54 pm
Baseball players will tell you after the first one, they could care less. The game itself is ok they say. It’s all the media crap they have to do leading up to the actual game. As far as selig, we was an embarrasment to baseball during those steriod hearings. As far as that 20 goal scorer, I can not see anyone one doing anything until Kovy signs. Why would they? Evidentally no one is blowing them away with an offer. Look at the first rounders in the NFL?? One signs and they start falling like dominoes
Dwayne
July 14th, 2010
4:01 pm
Didn’t Bergie and Oduya say the same thing? It is what it is? I wonder if they still feel that way? Who knows. Maybe Duds has talked to the new players, and I wonder if he did, did it do any good. I guess they hear and read the same crap about the Octotards as we do. I’d be depressed too. Maybe there is motiation to build something good in Atlanta that lights a fire in there hearts, put some people in the seats. Time will tell.
Badger Bob
July 14th, 2010
4:43 pm
Don’t put too much stake in player’s reactions or quotes about being somewhere. In terms of hockey and lifestyle, Ottawa is everything Atlanta isn’t. But no one, even Canadian players, seem to want to be there either. And no one was thrilled about being a Blackhawk 5 years ago. Start winning, and everyone is glad to be there. Keep losing, and they all want out of town.
Step5555
July 14th, 2010
4:54 pm
kracker – The cap ceiling is a floating number – the league is likely looking to change how that number was calculated, but to say that they’re “reducing it to $48 million” isn’t at all accurate.
For instance, imagine leaguewide revenues fell by about 20% this year. Under the current CBA, that would reduce the cap by approximately that amount, to $48 million. Conversely, if they grew by that same amount, the cap would be in the mid-60s.
glovesave29
July 14th, 2010
5:04 pm
Remember, the players have to put a large amount of their salary into an escrow account should the league not have the revenues to support the cap level that is instituted prior to the season. Should revenues fall short, the owners get the escrow money. If the numbers are met as to the projections, then the players get the escrow money. Seems silly of the owners to risk bad publicity, both in the eyes of the players and of the fans to attempt to lower the cap when they know the escrow money is heading their way if revenues fall short of projections.
Mark
July 14th, 2010
6:04 pm
Baseball is different then the other professional sports. You cant play a NHL/NFL/NBA allstar game and compete at the same level as a regular season game soley because guys will get injured and its not worth it. However, in baseball, every player can play at 100% and not risk anything to their career or respected teams (maybe the pitcher) in an allstar game. The allstar game in hockey is a joke right now, and would be even if it decided homeice advantage. However, could you imagine in an awful 9-9 game, with 5minutes left, Patrick Kane gets the puck in his zone…what is he going to do>? Dance around and like a 4year old and cough up the puck doing circles like the players do for the entire game or is he going to grip his stick and try to get that goal so that his team does get home ice advantage? I think the NHL needs to make the allstar game worth something instead of a waste of time.
World Be Free
July 14th, 2010
6:26 pm
No game is more worthless than the NFL ProBowl, add the way that the players are selected, the number of them who do not participate for whatever reason.
Brendan
July 14th, 2010
6:30 pm
I just want to see an “honest” cap. I don’t buy that “the average team” could spend anywhere near the $59.5 million cap limit. Or whatever it is. Okay, stop.
Just stop right there. Let’s suppose that all 30 clubs spent to the MAX. How do the NHL accountants even begin to fix that kind of operating loss? And yet, they’re perfectly willing to set the cap limit to this artificial, “cooked books” figure, to help out the Detroits, Montreals, and Bostons of the league. When the truth is, markets like Anaheim, Phoenix, Carolina, Atlanta … struggle to meet the floor of the cap. And quite literally need the revenue-sharing dollars (Atlanta’s is between $14 and $17 million, depending on attendance level) to survive.
Well, call me whatever suits you, but if 19 of the 30 NHL franchises CANNOT spend to the max, period the end, then the cap limit is too high. Gary Bettman, Commissioner of the NHL, said his top stated goal of the lockout was to create “30 healthy franchises.” Every year of this CBA that I can remember, there’s been 2-3 clubs literally on the verge of bankruptcy. The NHL is doing all it can to prop up the Phoenix market. Edmonton, Minnesota and Tampa Bay, along with Buffalo and Pittsburgh prior to the lockout, have literally had to be rescued by new ownership and/or the NHL, itself. We can certainly look to stats like 12 of the possible 20 Conference Final slots have gone to different teams over the past 5 seasons to say, “See, the wealth is being shared. The CBA is working. (Only Detroit has been the CF three times during this CBA.) But I think the reality is … the best markets will always be able to attract the Tier I free agents, and be able to afford them. It’s not okay that the Florida Panthers stay at or near the bottom of league, year after playoff-less year.
I understand why Bettman does what he does. I do. I get it. Look at the TV-ratings for Chicago vs. Philadelphia in the SCF. They were the best in 36 years! Bettman needs his Detroits, New Yorks, Bostons, Phillys, etc., to be in the showcase event. These traditional markets bring in the viewership. If you asked Gary Bettman privately, how he’d view a Final Four (Conf. Finals) of Phoenix vs. Nashville and Carolina vs. Atlanta, he’d probably have a heart attack on the spot. And after regaining his composure, he’d say, “How about Boston vs. Toronto … and Detroit vs. Chicago, instead?” If the Predators and Thrashers were to actually ever meet for the Stanley Cup, I’m not even sure the ratings throughout Georgia and Tennessee would that great for the Finals. My point? Well, lowering the cap to a plateau on which everyone could compete … would allow Nashville to potentially face Atlanta, one fine day, for the Stanley Cup. At that point, it would only be about “good decision making/risk taking. And luck.” I long for that day. That’s an “honest” day. And ticket prices would be lower, too. But, we can’t have the Red Wings outside of the playoff picture. Their spillover revenue props up the Phoenix Coyotes and Atlanta Thrashers. And we’re supposed to be grateful for that. For, as Ranallo10 might say, “Be lucky the NHL forces teams to have a cap payroll within $16 million of the cap limit. Or you wouldn’t even have the roster that you do.” Sadly, he’s right.
Hockey Biltong
July 14th, 2010
6:39 pm
Urrrrrrrrrrrrrp! Tasty!!!!!
Barry
July 14th, 2010
8:14 pm
Glad you created this blog because I’ve been wanting to vent about this thing about the MLB Allstar game for a while.
Having the Allstar game determine home field advantage is a complete and absolute JOKE! Are you kidding me? A bunch of players from different teams determines who gets home field advantage for ONE team in the World Series? Home field advantage is just that…an advantage. The home team gets last at bat. So what’s the point in having a better record between the two teams if it means absolutely positively *bleeping* nothing! It punishes the better team having an exhibition game determine which side gets home field advantage. The Allstar game is an exhibition game that is showcasing some of the best talent in the game of baseball today. It’s a fluff game. A time for players to have fun. Did you see the at bat between that Cubs player and Valverde? They were both smiling and having fun having a cat and mouse battle seeing who could get the better of each other. That’s what the Allstar game is about. Having good sportmanship fun and having elite players face off against each other. Why can’t MLB League go back to having whoever has the best record gets home field advantage. Otherwise what’s the point of winning all those ballgames if it means jack squat if the other league is already awarded home field advantage anyway.
World Be Free
July 14th, 2010
8:42 pm
Hey Barry, I totally agree. But that’s what baseball gets for having an idiot like Selig as it’s commissioner. Selig is a human testpattern (for those of you who remember what a testpattern is). Such a tragedy that Bart Giamatti died, he could have been what the game of baseball needed in the modern era.
HookyBob
July 14th, 2010
8:47 pm
One thing that caught my attention in the above posts is that the salary cap could go drop precipitously in a year or two,…and we could be looking at a strike or lockout. Folks, there is a new reality since the lockout 5. The NHL is no longer the monoply it once was, there is now the KHL, who would like nothing better than a strike of lockout. It is a ture wild card and in the players hand.
Glovesave was dead on when talking about the owners not dropping the cap too much. It could be the end of the NHL,..and dare I say, the Stanley Cup. What was that cosmonaut’s name again? Call me out if you think I’m off base here.
What do you say we limit Bettman’s salary to 10% or 8% of the team salary cap (as if had a say)? That might keep the league from dropping the cap too much.
HookyBob
July 14th, 2010
8:48 pm
English teacher,..please overlook the grammar of that last post.
World Be Free
July 14th, 2010
9:25 pm
I think everyone in the media’s imaginations are running wild with the thought of Don Fehr running the NHL “union” (snicker, snicker) until a new “union leader” (snicker again) can be groomed. Or, as noted in Star Wars, until someone will move the “dark side”. This isn’t a union it’s a million dollar boys’ club.
The Grim Reaper aka Red Light
July 14th, 2010
9:33 pm
The Cap was to create more balance among teams, which it has in some regards, since Carolina, Anaheim, Detroit, Pittsburgh and Chicago have won since the lockout, and Edmonton, Ottawa and Philadelphia also have appeared in the finals. Of course, no one can say that it has benefited teams like Atlanta and Florida just yet, but what is was not supposed to create was an artificially-high cap that has now escalated nearly $20 million in four seasons in a less than friendly economic climate. Who thought that was a good idea?
So, the owners were supposed to learn a lesson, but some gave out long-term deals to lock up star players in direct opposition to why the cap was created in the first place. Like fans and the media, owners and their managers got sucked in by star power, and are now trying to correct the market for their own imbecility.
Ilya sits and waits, not because he’s a cancer or simply a one-way player, but because the knuckleheads manning the wheel of the Morris Titanic finally figured out there is a jagged iceberg underneath the surface of that once crystal clear water, which has now turned surprisingly murky. Grossman also overestimated the market, which is why his client has no contract. The final days of the 10- to 15-year deals are thankfully past, and in two years we’ll find out how badly guys want to play in North America, when this nonsense also will come to an end.
Red Light
July 14th, 2010
10:21 pm
All current day players after their entry-level contracts are up, should be made to put 5 percent of their salaries and bonuses into the “I got screwed by Alan Eagleson Fund for NHL Veterans” before they pay their greasy agents one cent.
Speaking of cents, flip a coin to see who gets home ice advantage and be done with it.
Brendan
July 15th, 2010
12:19 am
Red Light, I really enjoyed that post at 9:33PM. Good job. I think a strong indicator that GM’s are being cautious can be found in the fact that the current CBA was extended by just one (1) year, to 2012. (And not say, six more years.) It was orginally set to expire at season’s end. With that in mind, if there is a work stoppage, via lockout, the players can go to leagues all throughout Europe, and it will be 2005, all over again. I seem to recall that Bobby Hull was trying to organize an 8 team league to take its place in those days. And then, there was the hardcore hockey fan in Toronto and Montreal who insisted that the roots of the Stanley Cup were in crowning an amateur hockey club in Canada, and wanted it to be awarded thusly. Of course, that’s not permitted. The Stanley Cup is property of the NHL, and has been for six decades or so. Only the NHL can say how and when the trophy is to be awarded, since 1926.
Another thought occurs to me. The concept of “NHL Europe” is not entirely dead. That’s why we’ve been having these games in Europe to start the season, that count in the NHL standings back here, in North America. I think the intent was for the NHL to create its own branded farm league. Gee, doesn’t that make the AHL happy? *crickets* Of course, I could be entirely incorrect. Maybe the intent of “NHL Europe” is to slowly create league of equal value/footing in the top European markets, putting the Swiss, Swedish, Finnish, and Russian leagues out of business, or at least rendering them less relevant, while stealing in their players. On both sides of the pond. With the whispered, but unspoken intent to eventually have an “undisputed World Champion” whereby the Champion of NHL Europe plays the NHL (North America/Stanley Cup) Champion, to determine the greatest team on the planet. Interesting concept, really. But is it really necessary to dismantle the existing hockey infrastructure in Europe to create this “Summit Series” on fine day? Talk about a power grab. The NHL would own most of the European hockey revenue and practically all the North American hockey revenue. It would sort of render irrelevant the “World Championship” of hockey, competed for with eliminated NHL players from the playoffs, every year. Kovalchuk has won some titles for Russia in this fashion.
For people who simply adore this concept of NHL Europe vs. NHL North America, for the “undisputed World title” of hockey, who gets “home continent advantage?” Don’t tell me, “It shall be decided by an Super Summit All-Star game,” where the Superstars of NHL Europe play the MegaStars of NHL North America? “C’mon, guys! We gotta win this All-Star game for our home league/continent.” Geez, if the NHL thinks they have travel budget problems now, wait ’til the Super Series Finals arrives. Hypothetically. Then the debate will rage, “Should they play 2-2-1-1-1 or a 2-3-2 format, to save travel money?” Then someone raises their hand, “How about 3-3-1? That’d really make winning that Super Summit All-Star Game important! Imagine 3 home continent games in-a-row!!” Look, this post just gets worse and worse. So, I’m gonna bail on it, right now, thanking my lucky stars that the NHL is the greatest league in the World, and is right here in North America.
R. Stroz
July 15th, 2010
12:32 am
I think the winning team in the MLB All-Star Game should get to throw balls at Bud Selig in a “dunk tank” for two hours after each game.
The player who puts Selig in the “dunk tank” the most wins a new award:
The Cy Young Selig Award.
Acer
July 15th, 2010
4:34 am
Why can’t you respect the uniqueness of each sport? I’m not a fan of baseball but I respect the system in place. Hockey has changed a lot since the lockout and I think it’s time to stop altering with the NHL.
World Be Free
July 15th, 2010
7:59 am
The common feeling here is that all star games should not be used to determine post season seatings. As a baseball fan, I think it is a bad idea to use the MLB All Star game to determine who gets home field advantage in the WS. That distinction should go to the team with the best record of the 2 team playing in the series. Ratings reports show Tuesday’s game as one of the lowest ever, so the concept having the game mean something isn’t drawing more fans.
I am a huge baseball fan and I am here to tell you that the game has changed dramatically since I was a kid, largely because the players are so far removed from the fans. Back I the day, you could go to spring training and meet the players, get autographs and even chat with them for awhile. That does not exist anymore; I took my son to spring training for his birthday this year and we could not get close to the players. I believe this disconnect is one of the things hurting the game. The players and management are so far removed from the fans, they just don’t see it.
The NHL is different in this regard. Players are more accessible, it is easier to get to know them as people. The NHL (and players’ assoc) have not removed the players’ personalities from the game yet. Hockey can’t afford to. So if we are going to have an NHL All Star game, keep it for the fans. Don’t make it a part of the playoff structure and make up an excuse to make the game more meaningful. It’s an exhibition game, leave it at that.
Adam
July 15th, 2010
9:06 am
F baseball.
Anyone have any info from Tuesday’s Prospect Camp activities?
Red Light
July 15th, 2010
9:13 am
Valid points World Be Free, although I will say I saw very few autographs being signed at prospect camp the two days I was there. It’s interesting to point out to the young players, if they play and practice 180 days out of the year, and spend five minutes a day signing autographs on those days, that’s a total of just 15 hours per year of their time and means the world to fans and kids.
I know they’re involved in other PR things like hospital visits, etc., but is it really a lot to ask?
World Be Free
July 15th, 2010
10:12 am
Adam-no need to F baseball, they are doing it to themselves.
Red Light-overall, hockey players are much more accessible than most atheletes. I cannot speak for camp, but I hope this openness between players and the fans in general, continues.
kracker
July 15th, 2010
10:29 am
Cough it up, Levensen!
Tweet – dchesnokov Afinogenov: “I wouldn’t mind staying in Atlanta but the current offers from the team are not satisfactory.”
kracker
July 15th, 2010
10:42 am
Previous comment continued…..Cough it up, Levensen!
Tweet – BenThrashers Pollstar has Philips Arena the #2 concert and event venue in the USA, #5 in the world. http://bit.ly/dCadTt
Which means they are making money, yes?
R. Stroz
July 15th, 2010
10:43 am
kracker – Call and email your ticket reps and let them know.
Money talks or customers walk.
R. Stroz
July 15th, 2010
10:52 am
Afinogenov should be offered a contract that runs concurrent with the remaining three years on Antropov’s contract.
Hockey Biltong
July 15th, 2010
11:09 am
It really is all about the beer.
glovesave29
July 15th, 2010
11:12 am
I’d love to see the NHLPA and NHL partner together work out a base salary for ALL players and a bonus structure put in place based on statistics, ice time, team success, all star appearances, playoff success, league profitability etc…
This way we don’t have moronic owners bidding against each other for FA’s and getting silly contracts like Yashin, Redden, and Campbell. No more dumping players and dismantling teams due to cap restrictions. There is no need for agents, so players need not spend their money on them. The base salary could be based on seniority, but the bonus percentages would remain in place for all players…no matter if a rookie or a 10 year vet.
Would certainly alleviate the perception that players dog it in the middle of a contract and they turn it up a notch during the last year of a deal. You would have to structure it slighly different based on position…but either way, you compare each player to similar position players at the end of the season, and then dole out the bonuses. If they are all stars…give them the check the day they are announced. After each round of the playoffs…ditto. If the league average for a RW is 15 goals, a certain player has 20 – bonus…if he has 30 – bigger bonus. The average SP for a goalie is .906…a player has a .910 – bonus, .915 – bigger bonus…you get the picture.
The owners control costs. It is a performance driven system. The players have more of a vested interest in the success of the team. Management and players would have to agree to the accounting principles, agree on the audit agency, etc. It would take a lot of work and cooperation between the two entities, but it would set up the league for success for decades to come.
rob
July 15th, 2010
11:23 am
glovesave,
your idea makes sense, and therefore, cannot be implemented, now or ever.
Red Light
July 15th, 2010
11:26 am
I like the way you’re thinking glovesave29, but I’d rather take individual performance out of the equation. Why not a system that rewards for tenure and then team bonuses for games won in true Musketeer fashion: one for all…?
Maybe that’s a trifle too Obamian (socialistic).
rob
July 15th, 2010
11:32 am
Everyone that wants Max back has to understand there must be a reason for the offer that was made him. Yes he scored some pretty goals last season. How many bad decisions did he make with the puck? He isn’t the most defensively responsible guy and if that is the system they are trying to start here and want the young guys to see played, then it is understandable that they may not want to resign Max but offered him a contract anyway out of respect for him since no one else gave him a chance last year. And I haven’t heard a lot of noise about other teams talking with him, has anyone else?
R. Stroz
July 15th, 2010
11:33 am
Maybe that’s a trifle too Obamian (socialistic).
No, that would mean every team wins the Stanley Cup due the redistribution of wins and losses so every team has a 40 wins and 40 losses regular season record. All playoff games would end in a tie, so everyone gets a trophy.
kracker
July 15th, 2010
11:44 am
I like it Stroz…it’s all about unearned self-esteem
The Smooth Spark
July 15th, 2010
11:49 am
Stroz – interesting idea perhaps. Should we start a blog petition to help get Afinogenov re-signed? However, I would caution against the 3rd year and give him 2 due to injury history. How about 2 years and $5.5 M?
Rawhide – can we take an informal poll on the next blog to see how many want Fins back versus don’t? I would assume the majority of folks who post and read here are at least partial STH. And the folks who only lurk / read would likely vote in the poll at least.
World Be Free
July 15th, 2010
11:56 am
rob-you sound like a Sabres’ fan, so you have seen Max’s act before. It is tough to forget but I have tried to put his Buffalo time behind me. Give him a 2 year deal here, because he earned such a deal with last season’s performance. I thought I would be the last one to say that!
We could spend the rest of the summer talking about Obama and his band of Socialistic, idiotic thieves or we can just wait to vote them out and hope we have a country when they are gone. Guess I have an opinion and don’t get me going any further.
Biltong-it is always about the beer!
Flagstaff
July 15th, 2010
12:26 pm
I am glad that the NHL has not chosen to implement Selig’s hare-brained idea. However, to play devil’s advocate, there is a flip side to this: Say that, in the fantasy that you just described, the Thrashers were to sweep the Predators/Kings. The sweep would complete here at Philips, and we could chant “Sweep! Sweep! Sweep!” just as Rangers fans did in ‘07.
rob
July 15th, 2010
12:37 pm
Smooth,
What are we basing the 5.5M on? Is there another team talking with him now? What is the offer he turned down? If we have a poll it would be good to have more than just “do we want him back?” I’m not anti-Max, I just am curious about both sides thought process here. He is good no doubt but is the fit right? Last season he was just what we wanted. JA didn’t have any defensive scheme that I could see and while Ramsey is saying forecheck forecheck, I hazard a guess he will ecpect the guys to work just as hard in our zone.
Viking
July 15th, 2010
12:46 pm
Guys, leave politic’s out of the hockey blog.
game on
July 15th, 2010
12:49 pm
Well said stroz
World Be Free
July 15th, 2010
12:50 pm
Viking-just a spill over from current events.
Another subject-has anyone heard anything about Chelios? I assume he is not coming back to Atlanta or even Chicago.
Philly is over the cap, but they just signed another defenseman for depth. They must be certain that they can trade Gagne and/or some other asset. I would take Max over Gagne for 2 reasons 1) he wants to be here 2) he’s free from a compensation standpoint 3) we are not helping Philly (cap relief) by signing him
steve
July 15th, 2010
1:04 pm
HELL NO!!!!
The Smooth Spark
July 15th, 2010
1:15 pm
rob – just throwing out a number that is fair relative to the several players who have scored over 60 pts and are also overpaid in the mid to upper $3 M. Considering Afinogenov’s production last year and his potential when healthy (50-70 pts), I think $2.75 M per year is reasonable. Perhaps he’s looking for less and the 3rd year. I have no idea. There has been no leak about what his asking price is.
Jack
July 15th, 2010
1:16 pm
Are you sure Max wants to be here??
glovesave29
July 15th, 2010
1:25 pm
RL – You gotta give incentives for people to be at their best. You need to reward individual excellence in addition to the team related goals when you are considering salary. I’d be a combination of both. I think it would also lessen the stress a player feels to live up to his bloated contract…just go out there and play the game.
Stroz – we could go so far as to model the NHL after those “touchy feely & sensative” parent run leagues that do not allow keeping score…can’t dare have anyone lose a game! That could hurt their poor little kids’ ego! Funny thing about that is, while the parents don’t keep score, I can bet ya every kid on that field knows EXACTLY what the score is and who got the goals!
Won’t touch the politics here, let’s just all be hockey fans. I do have to say that with the passing of Billy McKinney, we do have one less bigot around, and that is always a good thing.
rob
July 15th, 2010
1:35 pm
Smooth,
maybe we could ask CVivs if he could ask for us? A long shot I know but maybe Duds will be a little more candid as he is trying to get people back to the arena to watch???????? Or maybe his agent would speak about it? Seems like as much time as we spend talking about him we should be able to get A LITTLE more info anyway???
The Smooth Spark
July 15th, 2010
2:06 pm
Yeah, it would be nice if we could get C-Viv to ask a couple of questions regarding Max’s situation on our behalf. But I’m not sure how much Meehan is going to divulge, but if we show enough support for Max, perhaps Dudley will take notice and put more pressure on the owners.
To me, Max is a better alternative to Pavol Demitra, if that is the sort of veteran player we’re supposedly looking at in free-agency.
Alan R.
July 15th, 2010
2:36 pm
Sorry guys, I’m with Viking: Leave the politics out. Wanna talk politics? I’m pretty sure Bob Barr has an AJC blog.
Game On
July 15th, 2010
2:41 pm
Amen Glovesave, the world is a better place.
Tony C.
July 15th, 2010
2:42 pm
Ye gods yes! Give me Max of 2K9-2K10 over 2K9-2K10 NHL Demitra now if we could get 2K10 Olympic Demitra-not sure sure I’d still go with Afinegenov…
Spud Webb
July 15th, 2010
2:46 pm
Max=1 million, thats it! No way would I give him anything close to 2.5 and it appears nobody else in the league will either.
World Be Free
July 15th, 2010
3:37 pm
Sabres fans have long memories
Red Light
July 15th, 2010
3:57 pm
Petitions are a political activity and therefore should not be mentioned on this blog.
Red Light
July 15th, 2010
3:58 pm
Pavol Demitra has signed a one-year contract with Yaroslavl of the KHL, agent Matt Keator confirms to ESPN.com
Hockey Biltong
July 15th, 2010
4:15 pm
WBF-you got brudda.
Joey Crabbe has been picked up by Tronna!!!!
Congrats Hokie. I aint breedin’ so you can pick up my slack!!!
Hockey Biltong
July 15th, 2010
4:17 pm
WBF- you got it, brudda.
Ahh, but for proofreading…
English Teach will be fit to be tied…
Hockey Biltong
July 15th, 2010
4:18 pm
Time to sing the beer song…
glovesave29
July 15th, 2010
4:31 pm
Former assistant Todd Nelson just got a head coaching gig with the AHL Oklahoma City Barons, the top farm team for the Emmintin Oilers. The big club added Kelly Buchberger and Steve Smith as assistant coaches. Perhaps Smith can help the team do more of this…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mg1kG-q2wIk
This will put a smile on the face of all fellow Flames fans!
Alan R.
July 15th, 2010
4:57 pm
Depends on what you’re petitioning. Let’s not be obtuse.
lola
July 15th, 2010
5:28 pm
WBF: I was a happy girl Tues afternoon at prospect camp. Got my #36’s autograph!
A27
July 15th, 2010
5:47 pm
I love beer to… So it is all about the beer!!! Yahoo!!
Red Light
July 15th, 2010
5:56 pm
Mikko Koivu Signs Seven-Year Extension with the Wild!
Red Light
July 15th, 2010
6:03 pm
Koivu’s deal is 7 years, $47.25 million. $6.75 million per year, no-trade, 5 signing bonuses throughout. Richest deal in Wild history according to Russo.
kracker
July 15th, 2010
7:56 pm
Get his phone # too, lola?
kracker
July 15th, 2010
7:57 pm
Wow! What a Wild deal!
kracker
July 15th, 2010
7:58 pm
Btw, just kidding, lola
Rawhide
July 15th, 2010
9:17 pm
Rawhide – can we take an informal poll on the next blog to see how many want Fins back versus don’t?
The Smooth Spark – Ask and ye shall receive.
World Be Free
July 16th, 2010
5:07 am
lola-made your week, maybe even your year! I expect a #36 jersey when I see you next.