Well, it's September 15th and at midnight ET tonight the current Collective Bargaining Agreement between the NHL and the NHLPA will expire. Both sides are far apart on a deal, moreso than in 1994 when they had a strike that cut the NHL season to 48 games. Expect a long lockout.
-By the way, midnight ET is ALSO the deadline for any unsigned free agents to sign contracts. Nobody can sign until a new CBA is hammered out, including unsigned draft picks like the Flames' Dion Phaneuf. All 2003 CHL players have to be signed by June 1, 2005 or they're *supposed* to get back into the draft...but if there's still a lockout in June they'll probably address this. -If there's no deal in place by January, there'll be no season and the NHL won't allow it's players to play in the 2006 Winter Olympics (as they won't be able to allow another work stoppage).
For the heck of it, notable free agents (both restricted and not): RESTRICTED: Jarome Iginla [Flames], Peter Forsberg [Avalanche], Pavel Datsyuk [Red Wings], Radek Dvorak [Oilers], Mike Comrie [Coyotes], Chris Pronger [Blues], Dany Heatley [Thrashers], Ilya Kovalchuk [Thrashers], Andrew Raycroft [Bruins], Josef Vacicek [Hurricanes], Olli Jokinen [Panthers], Michael Ryder [Canadiens], Rick DiPietro [Isles], Roman Hamrlik [Isles], Martin Havlat [Senators], Martin St. Louis [Lightning] UNRESTRICTED: Theoren Fleury [Blackhawks/Rehab], Paul Kariya [Avalanche], Teemu Selanne [Avalanche], Chris Chelios [Red Wings], Ziggy Palffy [Kings], Luc Robitaille [Kings], Jason Allison [Kings], Josef Stumpel [Kings], Anson Carter [Kings], Adam Deadmarsh [Kings], Al MacInnis [Blues], Pavol Demitra [Blues], Johan Hedberg [Canucks], Byron Dafoe [Thrashers], Alexei Zhitnik [Sabres], Alexei Kovalev [Canadiens], Pavel Bure [Rangers], Eric Lindros [Rangers], Mark Messier [Rangers], Peter Bondra [Senators], Alexei Zhamnov [Flyers], Mario Lemieux [Penguins] & Ron Francis [Leafs]
Could be a rush of signings before the CBA ends. Or...not.
CALGARY FLAMES: Your 2004 Western Conference Champions DVDs I Own
It's extraordinarily depressing in that the media has spoken of this lockout continuously since the 2002 playoffs, and there's been little effort to fix this problem. I wonder if we'll see hockey this year.
The EAST coast hockey league has a team in San Diego, California... Time to get the E out.
smark/net attack wienerville advisory is raised to ORANGE alert - High (Benoit lost the title to some punk kid named Orton, lets look at the positive at least it's a heel not named HHH who has the title, which allows two fresh faces battling for the World title.. whaat? excuse me? what happened on Raw! well scratch that... Over to Smackdown we wave at Justin Bradshaws title reign, I think I'm getting sea sick)- 8/22
They actually outdrew the 'hawks when going head to head at least once last season, and they've got lots of games on TV. They're going to good businesss now - they would've done better if the Blackhawks hadn't killed off as many potential hockey fans over the last ten years.
Originally posted by IncredibleHeelHeatAs for me, I've got the Central Hockey League to keep my interests.
Thank goodness there's still a hockey forum to post in.
AHL, ECHL, Junior Hockey, International Leagues, College Hockey and as CRZ will soon find out, there is nothing bigger in his new home state than High School Hockey.
Go Trenton Titans !!!
Folk singers are always liberal pansies, but not me.....I sing for my fellow conservatives...care to hear "Shoot the Hippie out of the Redwood Tree" ?
Alberta-area Ws have the WHL's Calgary Hitmen (ranked 3rd by the CHL), Lethbridge Hurricanes, Red Deer Rebels & Medicine Hat Tigers, the AJHL's Calgary Canucks & Calgary Royals, the U of C Dinos, SAIT, Mount Royal College...and the rest of the crappy AJHL teams. We'll be fine.
CALGARY FLAMES: Your 2004 Western Conference Champions DVDs I Own
Originally posted by dunkndollazand as CRZ will soon find out, there is nothing bigger in his new home state than High School Hockey.
Hey, if I passed on WORLD CUP hockey (in St. Paul), you can be PRETTY sure I won't be going to see HIGH SCHOOL hockey. :)
Then you DAMN WELL better check out the Golden Gophers. They produced Flames defenseman Jordan Leopold (who won the Hobey Baker with 'em) and Flames first round draft pick Kris Chucko is playing for them for the next four years.
CALGARY FLAMES: Your 2004 Western Conference Champions DVDs I Own
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