Each
week, Sports Online will turn the tables on Scott Oake, who's used
to peppering others with questions.
Do you think Gary Bettman will use replacement players next season?
It's not clear if replacement players can be used in a couple of provinces.
Beyond that, I believe the use of replacement players will do great damage to the game. Significant damage has already been done with the cancellation of the season, but I think the game can recover from it if there's negotiation and a settlement.
I'm not sure if the game will recover from the use of replacement players. I say this because hockey players are raised from the age of 5 or 6 to believe in the team concept.
The combination of NHLers who cross the line and replacement players would be no sort of a team. I'm not sure if fans would watch that brand of hockey.
The last point is that the use of replacement players would be a serious gamble. It could well end up to the advantage of the NHLPA. Hockey in front of empty buildings would give the NHLPA more bargaining power.
All that said, Tuesday's message from the Board of Governors meetings
was that 'if it takes replacement players to get next season started
on time, that's what we'll do.'
I just hope for the sake for the game it doesn't come to that.
Do you agree with GM Bob Clarke's opinion that Bob Goodenow has ruined the NHL?
Let's just consider what Bob Goodenow's mandate as the head of the NHLPA is – it's to get his members the best possible deal.
Thus, no one can argue he didn't do a wonderful job in the last collective bargaining agreement. It was great for the players and bad for the owners.
But the owners have only themselves to blame for that. Now the owners seem intent on getting everything back in whatever deal is being reached. Fine. That's their right. But I don't blame Goodenow for the economic ills of hockey. Blame the owners who spent themselves into this mess.
To an extent, I understand Bob Clarke's frustration. The players prospered so much under the old CBA, but don't blame Bob Goodenow. He was only doing his job.
Do you think the NHL allowing its general managers and coaches to participate in the world championships is a good idea?
Initially, when it looked like NHL GMs and coaches wouldn't be allowed to take part in the world championship, I thought it was petty. Thankfully, the matter has been clarified.
The world championship doesn't have anything to do with linkage or salary caps or any of the issues that caused the cancellation of the NHL season.
Our good ol' national hockey pride will be at stake because with the cancellation it looks like it will be a best-on-best tournament, maybe just as good as last fall's World Cup of Hockey.
The NHL GMs and coaches will help make it a best-on-best affair and it's a good thing that they will be allowed to participate.
What do you think of Casey Printers's demand for a new contract before the start of training camp?
The Lions could take the hard-line approach and force Printers to play under his old deal, but this is a future great we're talking about here. It's pretty clear he's going to lead the Lions for awhile and I think it would be impractical to have him disgruntled.
It would be in the best interest of the Lions to have Printers happy, within reason. And it does appear Wally Buono is ready to negotiate accordingly.
What about the Stampeders' wave of signings? Are the Stamps legitimate West Division contender now?
Well, I just came back from 10 days in Calgary for the world bobsleigh championships and there's a very popular buzz about the Stampeders.
Seems fans are in love with the way the new ownership group is proceeding – they know what they want and they're moving with authority.
Compared to the circus the organization had become in the last few years, the new direction can only be seen as good.
The Burris and Copeland signings say a lot about the new group's commitment to reestablishing the franchise as a solid one. Although I would say, I do feel sorry for Khari Jones. He's a class guy and it's unfortunate he's become the odd-man out. Overall, the new owners are doing everything right.
I know I'm not in the minority when I predict the Stamps will be vastly improved this season.
Lightning-round questions:
Yes or no: Jennifer Jones' shot to win the Tournament of Hearts was the best clutch shot in the history of the women's national curling championship?
Yes.
Best-looking Olympic gold medallist: Jenny Finch or Amanda Beard?
Amanda Beard.
If you ran a fantasy baseball team, what would you call it?
The Overpaid Losers.
How long will take the average sporting fan to refer to the SkyDome as the Rogers Centre?
Years.
Wow! Upon reading your answers to the 'Viewpoint Q&A', I had to
double-check that you do not work from the NHLPA!!
Die-hard fans will watch replacement players, albeit at reduced prices, and
it will quickly lead to a collapse in the NHLPA position. Rationale:
I would categorize myself as a hockey die-hard, having grown up in Buffalo
and playing organized hockey for around 30 years. Having conversed with fans over
the last two years on this and related subjects, I couldn't disagree more on
your version of replacement player scenario. I believe 99 per cent of current
hockey die-hards will absolutely watch replacements, acknowledging that it
is temporary, merely biding time until the first stringers return.
On that
note, the replacements will run over anyone in their way to get a chance to
try-out/get a foot in the NHL door. These will be the top-tier minor
leaguers, as well as Europeans. Think about it, you've grown up playing
hockey, busting your butt in the minors, etc., with the continual dream of
playing in the NHL. Quite frankly, most of these guys (and a large percentage of
current and under-represented lower-class NHLPA) can't believe how players
would rather sit out from the game they supposedly love, than take a
reasonable pay cut from their current $1.8 million a year!
Anyway, everyone I've spoken to blames the players for the current
stalemate, and can't believe some of the nonsense coming out of Goodenow's
mouth. This consensus is not only made up of dozens of friends and
acquaintances, but also I just got back from Whistler, B.C., and 100 per cent of
conversations with Canadians on chair lifts, in hot tubs, etc. all lead to these
same conclusions.
Of course, no one disputes the owners got themselves in this mess, but now
the league has to be fixed. The NHLPA's lame dispute of the team losses is
proven by their turning down the league's, and later, Levitt's repeated
invitation to review the accounting books. No objective person wants a
useless 'luxury tax' a la MLB (Note: I'm a Yankees fan and I still think
MLB would be better off with a hard cap ... Like the NFL. Who would dispute
that the NFL does not have the best model?) Sure, the owners have control of
their investments, but shouldn't they?!? Every year as the
league strengthens, the salary cap is increased proportionally - so everyone
wins. And why does it strengthen? Good marketing, yes, but mostly because of
parity. Yes, that is the key - ensuring every team can compete 100 per cent equally. And that is the only way the NHL can grow beyond the die-hard fan
base.
Russ Kadziolka
P.S. Why the heck don't they get rid of the red line, i.e. no two-line pass
rule? I think the NHL is last league on the planet that still has that
suffocating rule.
