In The Crease

No blackout for NY

OLN does not have the contractual right to blackout Cablevision customers in New York, according to the New York Post. Last week, I blogged that subscribers could be blacked out in areas where OLN is on a digital tier. OLN would have been the exclusive rights-carrier, while the local broadcast would be blacked out. NY Post:

"According to sources with access to the contract between OLN and the NHL, the specific language granting the right to black out games that do not appear on basic extended cable applies only "on a going-forward basis."

This is terminology in the cable business legally understood to mean any future agreements that might be struck between OLN and new cable system carriers.

Beyond that, the contract explicitly gives the NHL the right to approve the telecast of any game over any cable system.

That's regardless of whether the game would or would not appear on a subscription sports tier package.

"Unless the NHL otherwise approves, rights to exhibit OLN games . . . may not be granted on a going-forward basis by OLN/Comcast to any . . . distributor [that carries the games] . . . on a sports-tier . . ." the contract reads."

There is still no official statement from the league or OLN that they won't be blacked out. Still, this is good news for hockey fans not only in the NY area, but also Buffalo, Phoenix and Dallas who would have faced similar blackouts.

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Emerick joins OLN: Phil over at The NHL Is Back reported that OLN has added a big name, Mike (Doc) Emerick, to be the network's lead play-by-play announcer. Emerick will also share broadcasting duties with John Davidson at NBC. Davidson is reportedly negotiating with OLN, per The New York Post. (Note: In the article, The NY Post referred to Emerick as a "play-by-player." Sounds funny, doesn't it?)

It's great to see OLN signing veteran hockey talent to its broadcasting crew; it adds instant credibility. But personalities alone won't sell the broadcast. OLN/Comcast must search out the best cameramen and crew to give great angles of the game. No more goals missed because of a long commercial or poor angles cutting the view, which was commonplace on ABC and ESPN, and still is on some of the Fox Sports Networks.

ESPN fails to match, Comcast gets NHL

The NHL will be on a new network, OLN, this fall as ESPN failed to match Comcast's $135 million offer for NHL broadcasting rights. AP:

"The league finalized a two-year deal with Comcast Corp. -- the owner of OLN -- late Wednesday night after ESPN declined to match the agreement that will pay the NHL $65 million this season and $70 million in 2006-07.

The agreement between Comcast and the NHL was approved by the league's board of governors last week. ESPN, which resumed regular broadcast of NHL games in 1992, had until Wednesday night to match the contract but decided to pass.

"Over the years, thousands of great NHL moments were presented to our fans through the lenses of ESPN cameras,'' NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said. "ESPN was a supportive partner, and both the National Hockey League and ESPN enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship. We wish ESPN continued success.''

The new deal can be extended up to six years. For the 2007-08 season, Comcast would pay the NHL $72.5 million but that number could go higher based on contingencies."

So it's done. I blogged about the possibility of Comcast getting the deal last week, quoting the reasons that the NHL would benefit from sticking with ESPN. D-lee, who blogs at red and black hockey, refuted the point and said that the NHL on OLN would be a good thing for a few reasons: a network that would treat hockey better than ESPN, proven outstanding sports coverage (Tour de France), and a helping hand from the same guy who helped build Comcast Sports Net, Ed Snider. Snider founded and is still chairman of the Philadelphia Flyers. You have to believe he'll have a say in bringing the NHL to OLN. So why should anyone think that the NHL on OLN won't be as good or better than the NHL on ESPN?

The New York Times echoes the possibilities of growth with Comcast/OLN:

"Since NHL programming is going to be OLN's most important asset, Comcast officials could be willing to spend more money to capitalize on the relationship. For the networks that have had hockey, including Fox and ESPN, investing in growing the hockey audience simply didn't pay off when considering how much more they had invested in other sports programming.

Comcast might also have additional motivation to spend -- to prove to leagues that it is willing to be great partners if leagues should seek to use OLN to build a sports network from scratch. Last year, Comcast offered an unsolicited bid of $66 billion to buy the Walt Disney Co., which owns ESPN. The offer was rejected by the Disney board.

"It seems clear that OLN is setting itself up as a competitor to ESPN," said [George] Bodenheimer [president of ESPN and ABC Sports]. "We welcome it. It will make us better." '

I'm not completely convinced that "We've Got a New Attitude"-OLN is ready to tackle a (cough) top four sport. They are going solely by OLN now; no more Outdoor Life Network. But what is intriguing is that the NHL is trying to re-brand itself and reconnect with fans that have lost faith in a league locked out for over a year, diehards looking to new rule changes to revitalize the game and band-waggoners just looking for a new Gretzky to connect with. OLN is a network trying to be known more for more than Survivor reruns and fishing. It's a great opportunity for two up-and-comers to bring the NHL to the U.S. market in ways ESPN was unable to do. Both sides are nowhere near the top of their respective games, which means the only place to go is up. The NHL gets $5 million more a season than they would have received with ESPN, and OLN gets a chance to broadcast a major sport twice weekly. Right now, it seems to be a win-win situation.

In May, ESPN declined to pick up a $60 million option to broadcast the NHL for another season. And who could blame the network? With the recent contract with the NBA and ratings (for gasp! ESPN original programming) that didn't slip much, if at all, during the NHL's lockout, there is really no need for ESPN to support a struggling sport.

One more positive for NHL fans in the U.S., per the NY Times: "OLN's deal mandates that Comcast carry the NHL Network, which is now only available in Canada, on its digital sports tier." This is great news for diehard hockey fans in the States!

The details are just emerging, but here's a good summary of the deal:
-OLN will have NHL games on twice a week
-OLN will carry games 58-78 regular-season games, conference quarterfinals, the entire conference finals and games 1 and 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals
-Comcast pays $65 million this season, $70 million in 2006-2007 and $72.5 million in the third (optional) season
-Comcast can extend the deal up to six years

(Sources: AP, New York Times)

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Not everyone in the media world thinks it's a good move for Comcast. USA Today's Michael Hiestand views NHL broadcasting rights as a plague to any upcoming sports network:

"In 1988, now-defunct SportsChannel America hoped NHL games would help it cobble together a network of fewer than 10 million households. It paid $17 million annually over three years — twice what ESPN had been paying — to show NHL games in about one-quarter of the households ESPN then reached. That ended up being too much: SCA managed to get a fourth NHL season for just $5 million.

... OLN will join the ranks of networks that tried to develop from NHL's supposedly untapped TV potential. After SCA's run ended in 1992, ESPN regained NHL cable games, partly to help launch ESPN2 in 1993. In 1994, Fox announced a five-year broadcast deal at $31 million annually, partly because it had ventured into TV sports with NFL games — getting hockey meant Fox Sport could become Fox Sports.

But even as Fox's tiny NHL broadcast ratings had been shrinking, Disney replaced Fox with new deals for ABC and ESPN that started with the 1999-2000 season — and cost a whopping $120 million annually. Disney suggested its vaunted corporate synergies could work magic — a type of wishful thinking in vogue in the late 1990s.

Instead, ABC and ESPN got teensy NHL ratings. In the 2003-04 season, ESPN's NHL games averaged 0.5% of its cable TV households — ESPN2's drew 0.2%. ...

Maybe the NHL's heritage — the league formed in 1917, and the Stanley Cup dates to 1893 — casts some sort of spell on networks otherwise awash in made-for-TV sports. It can't be the ratings: Based on recent years, it's possible to project the NHL's national ratings could hit zero in the not-too-distant future. ...

Either way, the NHL seems ready to cash in on its eternally unrealized potential. Again."

Hey, I'm just happy I can watch NHL Network now. This is the promised "new" NHL. Can't we give this a chance, Michael?

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AROUND THE LEAGUE:

-Seeing stars: I must be in a good mood to advertise Dallas Stars coverage. Anyway, check out Dallas Morning News columnist Mike Heika's take on the Stars this season. It's an interesting look at how a former financial powerhouse is adjusting to the new CBA.

-The preview of all previews: NHL.com is launching a 35-day preview of the upcoming season on Sept. 1. This includes a preview of every NHL team, plus a broader look at both conferences and the impact of the CBA. For more details, visit NHL.com.

Darcy does right, signs Hecht for 3 years

Although Sabres GM Darcy Regier hasn't been active in the free agent market, he did sign all but one — Jay McKee — of Buffalo's free agents before yesterday's qualifying offer deadline. This includes a $6 million, three-year deal with Jochen Hecht, who has proven to be a solid, two-way forward on the Sabres top line since being acquired from Edmonton in 2002. Hecht had a career year in 2003-04, accumulating 52 points (15G, 37A) in 64 games. He also finished a +17 on the season, best on the team.

What I like most about Hecht is that he leads by example. He's willing to battle along the boards, dish the puck to other players and find the net when needed. He doesn't complain or demand attention; he just gets the job done. Another stat of note: Hecht logged an average of 18:59 minutes per game, second most among Buffalo forwards in 2003-04. He was picked up for a song — two second-round draft picks — from the Oilers. I call that a bargain, Darcy. If he can stay injury-free and play the entire season, I have confidence that he'll battle linemate Daniel Briere for the team lead in scoring.

Regier has built an energetic, feisty group of forwards that is much more entertaining than the group from recent playoff years. But that's just it — this was a non-playoff team last season, and Regier has subtracted forward Miroslav Satan. The current forwards (plus Satan) combined for 220 goals in 2003-04, sixth best in the conference. But the team also allowed 221 goals, sixth-worst in the conference. Offense isn't the problem on this team; defense and goaltending is. If Lindy Ruff can sort out the goaltending situation (Marty Biron, Mika Noronen, Ryan Miller) early in the season and Regier adds another defenseman or two, Buffalo should be the same or better than last season. So while it will probably be another nail-biter finish on whether the team makes the playoffs, it will no doubt be exciting. Just imagine it: Daniel Briere, JP Dumont and Hecht combining for the team's first goal of the season, with Islanders' Satan and Alexei Zhitnik on the ice. Sweet.

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Regier locked up eleven other players before the deadline: forwards Daniel Briere, Maxim Afinogenov, JP Dumont, Tim Connolly, Ales Kotalik and Milan Bartovic, defensemen Henrik Tallinder and Jeff Jillson, and prospects Jason Pominville, Paul Gaustad and Michael Ryan. All signed one-year deals.

McKee, the longest-tenured Sabre, was the lone player not to accept his qualifying offer. Could it be resentment from the club not picking up his option last month? With the rollback, the option would have paid McKee $1.748 million. By not exercising the option, McKee is priced at an automatic $1.596, saving the club over $150,000. But is it worth penny-pinching a player who is set to lace up for his tenth season with the Sabres? Last month, McKee told The Buffalo News that not picking up the option made a "big statement."

' "If that's the route they choose to go, I'll just sign my (qualifying offer) for one year and be into my unrestricted free agency. But it's called a club option for a reason. So if that's what they want to do, that's their choice." '

Later in the article (7/26/05), he made it clear that no matter what, he wanted to stay in Buffalo:

"This will be my 10th year right now, and if I could pick a place to play -- if all 30 teams made the same offer -- I would stay in Buffalo," Buffalo said. "I owe these fans a lot, and there's nowhere else I'd rather be."

I think it would be wise for Darcy to negotiate a multi-year deal with McKee. That would reward McKee for the mishap by the team and show McKee that he is valued by the franchise.

The Sabres also announced the result of their “Rank and Win” contest, which determined variable ticket prices for the upcoming season. No surprise here — you’ll have to fork up the bucks to see the Maple Leafs at HSBC.

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AROUND THE LEAGUE:

Hamrlik signs with Flames: The last star defensemen, Roman Hamrlik, left the market on Sunday, signing a two-year, $7 million deal with the Calgary Flames. Not sure why Islanders GM Mike Milbury opted to let go of Hamrlik, who signed a two-year deal, and pick up Alexei Zhitnik for four-years at $14 million. Same average salary, but most teams seem to be favoring short-term contracts due to the uncertainty with future year cap figures. Any insight from Islander fans?

NHL stars in Turin Olympics still up in air: The Czechs and Russians refused to sign a proposed player-transfer agreement before Monday's deadline, according to the Associated Press. Both nations want better player compensation for Europeans choosing to play in the NHL. Might the NHL and IIHF go to the Olympics without the Czechs and Russians? Doubtful.

Wolverines on the move: Captain Jeff Tambellini followed in Al Montoya's footsteps yesterday, forgoing his senior year at the University of Michigan to sign with the L.A. Kings. While many of last year's seniors — Eric Nystrom, Jason Ryznar, David Moss and Michael Woodford — signed pro deals in the last week, Montoya and Tambellini were a few of Michigan's best players left from the team that made it to the regional finals in 2004-05. The team suddenly has transformed from a veteran squad — 10 seniors plus Montoya and Tambellini — into a team full of youngsters. The Wolverines will look much different this fall when I head down to Yost with my season tickets. Check out the Michigan College Hockey blog for great news and analysis on the team.

Blogging around: First, I forget to mention a big thank-you to On the Wings' Matt Saler and Brian List for including In The Crease in their NHL blog Carnival. If you haven't checked out their blog, do it now. It's one of the best NHL/Red Wings blogs I've seen.

Also, with the Penguins' recent signing of John LeClair, head on over to Jason Mirtle's blog for a breakdown of the new Pittsburgh line-up. It's a shocking comparison and a hint of the damage Crosby and Co. could do this season.

Hockey night in Buffalo, U.S.A

Sabres fans will be happy to know that while Empire Sports Network is gone, Mike Robitaille will be back on the air this fall covering the Sabres.

When Empire went off the air in March, Western New York lost more than just a sports network — it lost a part of Buffalo sports culture. But if you're a hockey fan (and I'm guessing you are if you're reading this), the bigger loss was Empire's hockey coverage, specifically the Sabres post-game show, Hockey Hotline. For over a decade, fans from WNY and around the country could call in and sound off on each Sabres game for over an hour. Robitaille's colorful commentary and analysis were the backbone of HH. But while Robitaille will return, Hockey Hotline will not according to The Buffalo News:

"The Buffalo Sabres' TV plans for their first season on the Madison Square Garden Network include a post-game show with a new name, a different cast and a different agenda than "Hockey Hotline" had on the defunct Empire Sports Network.

Kevin Sylvester, the former WGR-AM morning host, will host "The Shootout." Mike Robitaille, the "HH" regular who worked with Josh Mora (now in Chicago) two seasons ago, returns with a former Sabre to be named later. If Rob Ray retires, he would be an obvious option.

Larry Quinn, the Sabres' managing partner, said the show will be live at HSBC Arena after home games and will include more in-depth features and more thorough analysis than offered by "HH." The show's call-in component won't be as large as it was on "HH."

Hmm, "The Shootout?" Like Sharpshooters? What was wrong with the name "Hockey Hotline?" Assuming rights to the name do not belong to Adelphia, I feel the name change either has to do with Quinn wanting to deemphasize the fan call-in portion, or Quinn wanting to just make it his own. I don't think the format change was needed, as HH was one of Empire's highest-rated programs and arguably the best post-game show in the NHL. In the article, Robitaille explained why he thought the change was made:

' "There is a lot to talk about this year, more than any other season," Robitaille said. "There will be more time to evaluate the game and teach the public the best we can. It might be difficult for people to grasp a lot of rule changes." '

I'm not familiar with Sylvester's work, but he'll be hard-pressed to live up to Brian Blessing or Josh Mora's standard. Seriously, though, I'm doing cartwheels now that a part of the Buffalo hockey culture I love will return in October!

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Last week, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Comcast made a two-year, over $100 million deal to nationally broadcast NHL games for the next two seasons. Games would be shown on Outdoor Life Network, a move by Comcast to expand OLN and sway sports viewers away from ESPN. Still, long-time NHL partner ESPN reportedly gets the right to match any offer that Comcast makes. And while I don't appreciate the sub-par coverage of hockey on the deuce, the Los Angeles Times's Mike Penner makes some interesting points on why it's best for the NHL to stick with ESPN:

"Ice hockey, the quintessential indoor sport, on the Outdoor Life Network?

That makes as much sense as having more NHL franchises south of Kentucky than in Canada, but that's the NHL.

Of course, the Outdoor Life Network prefers to cloak itself behind its initials, OLN, a handle that became popular among cycling enthusiasts, who came to know the channel as the Only Lance Network. The NHL on OLN? It does have a ring. Say it fast enough and no one will have the chance to make any more outdoor hockey jokes. ...

For the NHL, the incentive is obvious. For better or worse, ESPN is the leading brand name in American sports television. In today's media culture, the ESPN logo has a legitimizing effect on any activity — even non-sports — it chooses to air. Look what the network has done for poker, fishing and competitive eating.

Without its long-standing ESPN rubber stamp, the NHL risks becoming more of a niche sport tucked away on a niche network.

But ESPN also needs the NHL. What kind of "Worldwide Leader in Sports" allows the sport of Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe and Bobby Hull to leave the building, quit the family, vacate the premises without a fight?

Keeping the NHL makes economic as well as promotional sense for ESPN, which has had a virtual monopoly in the national cable sports market ever since it squashed Fox's challenge. Let the NHL slip away to OLN and ESPN will essentially assist in birthing a new cable rival."

Currently, 61 million households receive OLN, while 71-plus million get ESPN. I just can't picture hockey moving off of a household name to OLN, a channel I've rarely watched. And I don't think a new start on OLN gives the NHL a better place in the broadcasting marketplace. Even though hockey on ESPN was not perfect, it's important that the NHL stays there if it ever hopes to re-solidify its roots in the American sports landscape.

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AROUND THE LEAGUE:

-Redden to be shopped?: The Ottawa Sun reports GM John Muckler is in a tough position, wondering whether he'll have to part with star defenseman Wade Redden due to cap economics. Ottawa's long had a team of fast, skillful youngsters that helped the Senators finish near the top in the East almost every year. But with the lowered age of free agency and star players demanding more money, it seems Ottawa won't be able to afford to keep their roster intact for much longer.

-Crosby-mania just beginning: Just days removed from his appearance on The Tonight Show, Sidney Crosby's star-studded tour hit Pittsburgh according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

"Mario Lemieux didn't get this kind of reception in his first moments in Pittsburgh. Neither did Ben Roethlisberger or any other athlete in the 20 years between the time those two were drafted by local teams.

But when Sidney Crosby rode down an escalator to the baggage claim area of Pittsburgh International Airport just after 7 p.m. yesterday [Wednesday], his white polo shirt reflected the glare of a host of television cameras. When he reached the bottom and was escorted into a back corner for a brief interview session, Crosby was mobbed by reporters, photographers and a few dozen fans who had gotten wind of his arrival or were just lucky enough to be there and figured out what was going on."

Now with the addition of solid goaltending in the form of Jocelyn Thibault, the Penguins are definitely shaping up to be a favorite to make the playoffs in the East. And with the possibilities of Mario Lemieux, Crosby and Ziggy Palffy up front, along with Thibault in net, it's a good chance the Penguins could upset a eastern powerhouse in the first round.

Free agency begins and I'm already worried

It's official, Satan is gone. Miroslav Satan's career as a Sabre came to an end on Monday when the team failed to qualify him. The Buffalo News:

' "It came down to an evaluation of what we were looking as a budget, what our needs are, where we have a surplus, which is up front among the forwards, and what we have at defense, the loss of (Alexei) Zhitnik."

Regier indicated that the team will direct money it would have had to pay Satan toward signing free-agent help on defense where the talent is thinnest.

"There are some very good defensemen out there," Regier said. "The problem is there isn't enough to go around. It's something we're going to pursue. We're going to start talking to players (Monday) and see where it goes."

At the same time, though, Regier said the Sabres would not plunge recklessly into free agency.

"We're going to do things for the right reasons over a period of time. We're not going to just jump right into it," he said."

Satan was never my favorite player, but he always kept things interesting. I can't point to anyone else on the Sabres in the past seven years (when Satan led the team in points and scoring five times) who had the raw talent to score and create magic on the ice. But while I wouldn't call him an elite player in the league, he was an elite player in Buffalo. He scored 40 goals once -- in 1998-99 -- and averaged over 60 points per season in Buffalo.

But the past couple seasons haven't been kind on the franchise and Satan was no different. He finished the 2003-04 season with 57 points, eight points behind teammate Daniel Briere. Satan's defensive game also suffered, finishing a dismal -15. His critics pointed to his extensive goal droughts, meaningless goals that padded his stats (including many empty-netters) and that he wasn't a team player.

Still, I'm not left with bad feelings. I remember his dazzling goals, piling on the power-play and shorthanded goals, his goofy and ever-present unibrow, how cool it was to have a player with the name Satan on his jersey, and how he was the guy with the golden stick on the Sabres for the entire time I've been a diehard fan of the team. One of the last remnants from the '99 run, his departure is just another reminder from Darcy Regier that The Future Begins This Fall. I just hope it's not filled with lackluster offense.

A few parting stats:

-Sabres career: 578 games, 224 goals and 232 assists (456 points)

-Ranks seventh on the team's career goals list, 10th in points, sixth in game-winning goals and fifth in power-play goals

-He was the first Sabre to reach 40 goals since Pat Lafontaine in 1995-1996

-Played in All-Star game twice for Sabres (1999-00, 2002-03)

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I don't mean to give you a little deja vu, but read this quote again from The Buffalo News:

' "It came down to an evaluation of what we were looking as a budget, what our needs are, where we have a surplus, which is up front among the forwards, and what we have at defense, the loss of (Alexei) Zhitnik."

Is Regier saying that he is not even pursuing Zhitnik? I'm even more worried now. The talk for this NHL season is all about change and all Sabres fans are left with is Regier -- the same Regier that fails to make stellar decisions, year after year. We still have a goalie problem that has been going on since Dominik Hasek left. I keep hearing about this upcoming group of forwards, but beyond Daniel Briere's line, I'm skeptical that the bunch is ready to step up this season. And I'm not enthused with a defense that is Zhitnik-less, led by Dmitri Kalinin, a lesser Jay McKee, and a few dependable stragglers.

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AROUND THE LEAGUE:

-Toronto Sun columnist Steve Simmons one-liners:

"The Pittsburgh Penguins future is just like an old movie. It's all about hope and Crosby."

So funny and so true.

"Las Vegas has listed the Detroit Red Wings, without a goalie, as 7-1 favourites to win the Stanley Cup, followed by the Ottawa Senators, with a goalie who hasn't played in two seasons, at 8-1."

Some things never change. That would be just dandy if Dominik Hasek returned to form and played everyone in the Northeast Division eight times. Eight times, people.

-Big names on the move: Adam Foote heads to Columbus (Chance to play with Rick Nash and the up-and-comers?), while Joe Nieuwendyk and Gary Roberts turn a new leaf and join the Florida Panthers. Could it be the eternal summer sun?

-ESPN's Scott Burnside has another solid column taking a look at this summer's free agency.

March of the Penguins

So it's official: the Pittsburgh Penguins snagged golden boy Sidney Crosby. Three balls did pay off, but not for the Buffalo Sabres who received -- ironically -- the 13th spot in the draft. 13 ... yea, not the luckiest number.

When it came down to the last two picks (and holding my breath long enough to suffocate), I guess I was leaning my wishes toward Brian Burke and the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. But the Steel City won out in the end, with its second number one draft pick in three years. Crosby will join the Penguins franchise, one that had for years lived in a bottomless pit, reinvigorating a team that includes Mario Lemieux (nice linemate), Mark Recchi and goaltender Marc Andre-Fleury. In a few seconds the team transformed from a checkmark on most team's schedules to a feared competitor.

Still, would have been "better" for Crosby to land in a bigger NHL market to promote the game instead of a dying franchise like Pittsburgh? Time will tell.

Congratulations to all Pittsburgh fans. On this historical day, you marched away with the most to look forward to on Oct. 5.

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Speaking of Oct. 5 (opening night -- all 30 teams will be in action), one of the most interesting things to come out of the announcement of the CBA ratification was the changes in the schedule (NHL.com):

• Each club will play eight games against each of its four division rivals (32 total).
• Each club will play four games against each of the 10 non-division clubs in its conference (40 total).
• Each club will play 10 inter-conference games, hosting one game each against all five clubs from a designated division and traveling for one game each against all five clubs from a different division. For the 2005-06 season, Northeast Division clubs will host the Pacific Division and visit the Northwest; Atlantic Division clubs will host the Northwest and visit the Central; and Southeast Division clubs will host the Central and visit the Pacific. Division vs. division assignments will rotate annually.

I don't really like this. First, the Sabres will not play the Detroit Red Wings this year, which means I can't see them play unless I drive to an Eastern Conference city. And playing division rivals eight times? Great if your team is an easier division, such as the Central or Southeast. But not so great if everyone in your division made the playoffs last season except your favorite team (Buffalo, Northeast Division).

Still, I'm glad every team will play the majority of the teams in the league and that they kept 82 games on the schedule. I think it's important that they didn't wipe out inter-conference games completely. As a fan, I like seeing the rest of the league. Granted, I won't miss not playing Nashville this season.

I just feel bad for the Pacific division, who will have to watch Crosby on TV.

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It's going to take some time for the media, players, GMs, coaches and fans to wrap their minds around the 600+ page CBA document. But in the meanwhile, here's a few links to sort through the madness:

NHL CBA FAQ: Great collection of questions (shootout? revenue sharing?) asked and answered on NHL.com.

Draft lottery results and NHL rule changes on TSN.ca

Sidney Crosby timeline on SLAM! Sports

Do you remember ... ?

When word came today that the Friday's NHL press conference and draft lottery would be televised on U.S. television I was first, shocked, and then memories flooded in.

Hockey. On TV. On multiple stations. And so many choices:

MSG -- Hockey's Back: Starting at 3 p.m. EDT, MSG will show both the press conference and draft lottery. Then, at 9 p.m., MSG will host a roundtable with John Davidson, Sam Rosen, Doc Emrick and Stan Fischler.

Comcast SportsNet (Chicago, Mid-Atlantic and Philadelphia) & Altitude Sports Network -- Press conference at 3 p.m. EDT and subsequent draft lottery.

ESPNEWS will also show cut-ins of TSN's coverage of the draft lottery. TSN's coverage spans from 2-7 p.m EDT.

Doesn't it remind you of the old days, flipping between games? Trying to catch the best intermission interviews, spellbounding saves and last-minute game-winners? Ah, yes. It's only a matter of time.

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It was no suprise that the players ratified the CBA today in Toronto. The majority of players -- 87 percent -- are sane individuals (CP). They know that while this might not be the best deal, it's not going to get any better right now. And sitting out another year will do nothing for their careers, especially the 40+ crew. Photo courtesy of AP.

What was extremely disturbing was seeing Gary Bettman and Bob Goodenow -- omg! -- shake hands and sit side-by-side. ESPN columnist Scott Burnside couldn't believe it either:

"The two, appearing at a joint news conference for the first time since the Salt Lake City Olympics in 2002, practically killed each other with kindness Thursday as they came together to announce the ratification of a new collective bargaining agreement by the players.

Please. Thank you. I agree. You're quite right. No, you first. I insist.

As for the fact the two have been at each other's throats in boardrooms and across bargaining tables for more than a decade? Completely blown out of proportion, they insisted -- a media fairy tale.

"I think there's been too much made about a fragmented relationship. It tends, I suppose, to make for interesting reading and telling," Bettman told reporters during a news conference that was broadcast live nationally in hockey-starved Canada. "But Bob and I have always had a professional relationship. On a personal level we've never had a problem dealing with each other. And I don't suspect there'll be any change in that.

"I have no doubt that labor and management can work together for the benefit of the game and the fans in an unprecedented way," Bettman added.

"I agree totally," Goodenow chimed in, and it was a wonder he didn't throw his arm over Bettman's shoulder to make the point."

I almost wanted to puke just then. Really, I hate them both equally. Goodenow is the grinch who stole our NHL season and Bettman was the annoying little dog, tagging along and dragging fans through the mud. Not to mention Bettman's tenure has driven the league to the brink of existence.

Oh well. Tomorrow, we'll get another goofy grin from Bettman and a deep sigh from Goodenow. They can put on the happy faces all they want. But tomorrow is only the beginning of a rocky road to opening night. Hey, at least it's a start!

The "new" NHL

Okay, so we know that we'll be feeling lockout repercussions for some time. The NHL will never be the same. Speculating on one possible change, Eric Francis writes in the Calgary Sun:

"Given the fact the Flames can now theoretically throw the same amount of money at a free agent as any other team, players will be more apt to choose Cowtown over most rival cities.

The same Alberta Advantage that has made Calgary one of the most desirable cities in Canada to live in, will likely see the team continue to flourish and grow much like the rest of the city.

"I think there will be more free agents who are attracted to Calgary," said Jarome Iginla, when asked how Cowtown will fare in the NHL's new marketplace. "It's easier for small markets to compete in free agency because the salaries won't be as high as they were before the 24% salary rollbacks."

Faced with choosing between a handful of teams offering roughly the same money, free agents will now look much closer at the cost of living and lifestyle issues that make Calgary much more favourable than most other cities."

Interesting. With the swell of free agents and a semi-return to salary parity, will players be more likely to judge possible teams on things like cost of living, the city, and the team itself?

Can't say I'm swayed that easily. I think most players will still focus on which team pays the most and which has the best chance of winning. But if it comes down to taking $750,000 to play in Edmonton or $800,000 to play in Nashville, which one would you take?

Initially, I think there will be a lot of movement, with player contracts being bought out and thus players shifting from team to team. However, if the cap in the NHL plays out anything like in the NFL (not that the two are really similar), we should eventually see player movement decrease, especially deadline deals. Teams won't be able to afford to "pick up a player" for a short playoff run.

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All is not well in Chicago. I'm sure I'm not the first to say that Chicago is a baseball town. Or a football town. And the AHL's Chicago Wolves are more popular than the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks. But did you know it was this bad: According to a poll by the Chicago Tribune on ChicagoSports.com, 54% of Chicagoans can't name a single Blackhawk player. And only 20.6% could name one or two.

Oh but it gets worse. Tribune columnist Rick Morrissey:

"The last time I wrote about the NHL, the response from readers was stunning. That's because there was no response. None. Zippo. A shutout.

The Blackhawks recently named a new general manager, Dale Tallon, and I wrote that there seemed to be actual hope hovering over our local shot-and-a-save outfit.

You responded with no discernable vital signs. A column about a Cubs middle reliever who likes to make balloon animals can bring 100 e-mails. A column about the Hawks and a new beginning brought zero.

And, yet, here I go, getting right back up on that Zamboni, risking life and self-image to write about a league that apparently has the mass appeal and relevancy of 14th-Century Incan religious carvings."

Ouch.

Front page tells all

The news of an agreement isn't the only intriguing piece of NHL/PA happenings this week. The way the news covered the news is even more intriguing. Here's Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun:

"It's still a great question, but without any real answer. To understand the staggered state of this new NHL, all you have is juxtapose sports networks in two countries yesterday.

In Canada, the all-day television coverage began around noon and ended around midnight. It was all lockout all the time.

On American television, it was a few minutes on hockey and we take you to more Terrell Owens rumours. The popular ESPN program PTI began with the following words: "Sadly enough, we're starting our show with hockey." '

Can't say I saw PTI yesterday, but I was pretty satisfied with seeing the top three moments of the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals on ESPNEWS. The major media outlets in the U.S. harped on the league even before the lockout, so why would they give up their favorite goat now? Just add it to the list of 99 problems facing the league in the coming months.

Okay, enough with the negativity. Even though the Washington Post, Boston Globe, and New York Times failed to run the story on the front page (but props to both the Globe and NYT for having teasers), a lot of newspapers ran with it as their lead story and image. 

Right: Detroit Free Press, Columbus Dispatch, San Jose Mercury News, The Detroit News; bottom: Toronto Sun, all courtesy of Newseum.

While I have to applaud the papers that still like hockey (note that two were in "Hockeytown"), I still think Canada's eight-page pullouts and non-stop coverage takes the cake. I think the Toronto Sun summed up a fan's emotions best.

Cover the story any way you want to, ESPN. The fact is, there's still people out there who would rather watch the NHL than college baseball or the the World Series of Poker.

Christmas in July

FINALLY! The NHL and NHLPA have reached an agreement according to tsn.ca:

"The NHL and NHL Players' Association have finally reached an agreement (pending ratification) on a new six-year collective bargaining agreement that - if approved by the NHL board of governors and the rank and file membership of the NHLPA - will officially end the stalemate on July 21.

The players will gather next Wednesday and Thursday in Toronto while the owners will meet Thursday in New York."

Wow. 310 days of the lockout comes to an end. I had a slight period of shock (Garry Bettman? Bob Goodenow? A deal?), but then the news of the lockout led Sportscenter. An NHL story leading the US sports network is almost as amazing the lockout itself ending.

Really, hockey fans can't celebrate until next week when the two sides agree to the terms of the deal. This is only the beginning--the league is in shambles. I doubt fans in non-traditional markets will come running back to the arenas come October to see the good 'ole game again. And there are serious problems with the product on the ice for many diehards--including myself. A new CBA and a smile from Gary solves only a fraction of the problems the NHL is facing this summer and into the fall.

Taking a look at the details, I think the owners may have come out a little ahead, but neither side really wins in this situation.

I'm going to take a crack at the details here tomorrow, but for now I want to leave you with this: Three Balls. That's right. If you're a Buffalo Sabres fan, you'll be glad to know the Sabres are one of only four teams to hold three balls in the weighted lottery being conducted for the coveted number one seed in the Draft on July 30. Here's how us Sabres fans benefit from being basement dwellers the past three years, courtesy of tsn.ca:

"The lottery formula is as follows - each team begins with three balls. For every playoff appearance in the last three years or No. 1 overall pick over the last four years, a team loses one ball. But each team will still be guaranteed to have one ball in the lottery. The first round will go with teams picking 1 through 30, with the 30th team picking 31st and the draft order 'snaking' back and forth in a seven round draft."

This is the only time losing consistently might actually payoff. Oh yea, some kid named Sidney Crosby will go number one.