Up to Bettman to set a date

[Rock]

McKenzie: Up to Bettman to set a date

http://www.tsn.ca/columnists/bob_mckenzie.asp

TSN.ca Staff

2/7/2005

The National Hockey League has now acknowledged that if and when they cancel the season, commissioner Gary Bettman will make the official announcement.

So the big question remains as to when that may happen.

Well, if we have any more days like we had Monday - with no meaningful dialogue, negotiations or contact of any kind - it will be much sooner rather than later.

Let's be honest, the date to keep in mind will be Feb. 14 - Valentine's Day of all days. I would have to think that by that date, we know whether or not there will be an NHL season played.

Now the league has not come out and given anyone a date - and maybe that's what we need to have happen. Bettman needs to step up, put a firm line in the sand and say if we're not on our way to having a deal done by a certain date - whenever that is - then the season is going to be cancelled.

Perhaps that is the impetus to get one meaningful round of talks in an effort to save what's left of the season.

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With all this lockout talk taking things up, how about a more relaxing look ahead to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and Canada's men's hockey team?

Welcome to the World According to Bob McKenzie, where Canada's 'Dream Team' is up for discussion.

In net, we start with Roberto Luongo, Jose Theodore and Andrew Raycroft. We likely won't see a 38-year-old Martin Brodeur in five years, so these three netminders are a pretty good shot. On top of that, TSN hockey analyst Glenn Healy likes Marc-Andre Fleury as a dark horse.

The blueline will feature the talents of Jay Bouwmeester, Eric Brewer, Scott Hannan, Ed Jovanoski, Scott Niedermayer, Robin Regehr, Wade Redden and Dion Phaneuf.

By the time the 2010 Olympics roll around, Phaneuf - a big, tough and physical blueliner who shone brightly in the last two World Junior tournaments - will be 25 years old and hitting his prime.

TSN hockey analyst Brian Burke is also quick to point out Brad Stuart. Playing in San Jose doesn't give him a lot of exposure up here, and Burke will be among the first to tell you that this guy can play.

The rest of the blueline certainly looks familiar, as those seven defencemen all helped lead Canada to a World Cup back in September.

It's on to the forwards, with Shane Doan, Simon Gagne, Dany Heatley, Jarome Iginla, Vincent Lecavalier, Patrick Marleau, Brenden Morrow, Rick Nash, Brad Richards, Jason Spezza, Eric Staal, and Joe Thornton getting consideration. And don't count out the trio of Patrice Bergeron, Jeff Carter and Sidney Crosby.

The 2005 World Juniors showed us Bergeron's savvy for the game, Carter's size, strength and skill, and Crosby's exceptional offensive ability and speed. Those three, in my mind can join the Lecavaliers and Iginlas in this group.

Are there other great options? Absolutely. Glenn Healy adds 2004 Hart Trophy and Stanley Cup winner Martin St. Louis, while Brian Burke suggests Nathan Horton and Ryan Getzlaf.

We're a long way from Vancouver in 2010, but it's always nice to speculate.

[hattrick]

McKenzie: Up to Bettman to set a date

http://www.tsn.ca/columnists/bob_mckenzie.asp

TSN.ca Staff

2/7/2005

The National Hockey League has now acknowledged that if and when they cancel the season, commissioner Gary Bettman will make the official announcement.

So the big question remains as to when that may happen.

Well, if we have any more days like we had Monday - with no meaningful dialogue, negotiations or contact of any kind - it will be much sooner rather than later.

Let's be honest, the date to keep in mind will be Feb. 14 - Valentine's Day of all days. I would have to think that by that date, we know whether or not there will be an NHL season played.

Edited February 8, 2005 by hattrick

[Don]

Nieds will be young enough to play, but Brodeur will be over-the-hill?

[Triumph]

Sounds pretty simple to me - Brodeur's a goalie. If they were bringing seven goalies, maybe Brodeur'd be there.

[BlueSkirt]

and when Feb 14th comes and goes, then they'll be saying "this" is the week - if we get a deal done we can start by March 1 and play 2 months of Regular season (25 games) followed by a full playoff.

Or some other scenario where they cutoff a round of the playoffs to get more regular season games in etc etc. When will the P.R. madness end ???

[Don]

Sounds pretty simple to me - Brodeur's a goalie.  If they were bringing seven goalies, maybe Brodeur'd be there.

He'd be 38. Roy figured he should have been a shoe-in for the spot at 38.

[Don]

and when Feb 14th comes and goes, then they'll be saying "this" is the week  - if we get a deal done we can start by March 1 and play 2 months of Regular season (25 games) followed by a full playoff.

Or some other scenario where they cutoff a round of the playoffs to get more regular season games in etc etc. When will the P.R. madness end ???

In this ONE, SMALL, TINY, INSIGNIFICANT CASE Brooks is completely correct. It is not within the NHL's financial interest to declare the season dead. If they just stretch things on and on and on, they don't have to pay money back to the season ticket purchasers. Right now, at least the Senators, are refunding money month by month. The longer they can hold on the money, the more interest in their bank, less in mine.

Edit: And he's also right about Bettman lying about ticket prices going down....

Edited February 8, 2005 by Don

[LizDevil30]

Definitely needs to set a "drop dead" date. (Wouldn't ya love to tell Goodenow to drop dead?) Besides tombstones have to have a born and died date on them.