Getcha Popcorn Ready

by Anne

Watching Kovygate from a distance is awesome. As long as the Kings don't get back into it, I'm enjoying this thoroughly from the comfort of my own home.

Watching people do a happy dance and then suddenly being punched in the face by news of the contract's rejection has been hilaaaaarious. I loved re-reading Dmitri Chesnokov's tweets about Kovalchuk's party and how happy he is AFTER reading about his contract being rejected.

Why Lou Lamoriello would accept such ridiculous terms is beyond me. Why the NHL chose THIS particular ridiculous contract to reject is beyond me as well. However, I'm glad it was rejected because of it's completely blatant circumvention of the rules.

I read a tweet yesterday in which someone said the NBA's collective bargaining agreement has a clause that allows for the rejection of contracts that circumvent the spirit of the cap rules, why doesn't the NHL have this? If it did, Pronger and Hossa's contracts would've been rejected immediately as it takes them both to 42 with a SERIOUS drop off in salary in the last few years of the contract. Lame.

Darcy Regier might be maddeningly cautious but at least he never gets the team into situations like this one. It's not Kovalchuk's fault the team agreed to this ridiculous contract, it's LL's fault for signing off on it.

Ryan Miller: Level-headed Dude

by Anne

TSN has a lengthy article up about Gary Bettman speaking at the NHLPA players meeting in front of 110 NHL players on Saturday morning in Las Vegas, including Buffalo's own Ryan Miller.

The article discusses the man issues touched upon by Bettman such as fighting, the TV contracts with NBC and Versus and the future of PED testing. It was Bettman's first time speaking to the NHLPA in his sixteen years as commissioner and his comments seemed to be well-received and productive.

They interviewed several players about Gare-bear's appearance and most of them seemed to be glad he came but there was a definite "Its about damn time" tone to the aricle from most people involved.

Not surprisingly, Ryan Miller's closing comments in the article were articulate and thoughtful. Here they are:

"A lot of criticism flies towards Gary, but you can't knock him for being a bad businessman," said Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller. "He's a very strong businessman, he's a smart man.

"It's good for guys to sit there and listen to his opinions and to learn. Of course, he has the interests of the NHL in mind and we have to have our best interests at heart.

"He's trying to get the best deal for his owners and we're trying to get the best deal for us. But guys being able to hear his opinion first-hand and being able to ask him some questions was definitely beneficial."

He's so adorably diplomatic and smart and what not. Like how I tried to make him sound all legit and then I called his intelligent comments "adorable?"

Its amazing how sometimes he can look 72
I'm fascinated by how atypical he seems to be
love
Have fun in Vegas!

Detention for you both

by Anne

I love that hockey's greatest scandal in recent years has not been drugs, hookers, dog fighting, gambling or the illegal sale of exotic birds and animals. It has, in fact, been a not-so-private tête-à-tête between Kevin Lowe of the Edmonton Oilers and Brian Burke of the Mightily Mighty Ducks of Anaheim... Mighty.

Burke threw the right hook of calling Edmonton a washed up team (just over a year after they were in the Cup final...) and Lowe countered with a kick to the money maker by comparing, um, the number of Stanley Cup rings each team has. Hockey fans all over... Edmonton (maybe) were a-twitter. What will happen next? Will Brian Burke start insulting Kevin Lowe's mother? Will we need Ryan Miller to intervene with a few more killer "yo mama" jokes? Will Kevin Lowe start trashing Anaheim's school system's shortcomings? Will Chris Pronger have to be the voice of reason. If so: HEAD FOR THE HILLS, ITS ALL OVER, THERE'S NO SAVING IT NOW, PRONGER IS INVOLVED. IT CAN ONLY GO BADLY FROM HERE ON OUT!

But wait! What's that! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a widely despised anti-Candian labor stoppage facilitator and NHL commissioner, Gary Bettman! Never fear, Papa Gary is here. Bettman swooped in with patented "hey hey hey, boys, if you can't say anything nice..." argument that has worked to keep these vicious attacks at bay for the last 18 hours or so.

The NHL, so full of drama and intrigue. Startling.