I'm ready for some Hockey

NHL players' union brings new proposal to table

After almost three months without any movement, the NHL Players' Association announced Thursday it has prepared a new proposal to end the NHL lockout, which stretches into its 79th day today.

The long-rumored proposal begins the last dance between league and union before the NHL would become the first professional league to lose an entire season to a labor dispute. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman will meet with the union in Toronto on Dec. 9 for the first negotiating session since September.

"From what I'm aware of, it's an offer that we genuinely think will get a deal done and end the lockout," said Kevyn Adams, the Carolina Hurricanes' union representative.

The two sides have not met since the league rejected the union's last proposal out of hand days before the lockout began on Sept. 15. With the league canceling games 45 days out, 640 games have been lost through Jan. 16. In 1994-95, the lockout was settled on Jan. 11, in time to play a 48-game schedule that began 10 days later. The league has said it would expect at least a month between a settlement and the beginning of any portion of the 2004-05 season.

Bettman hosted a dinner meeting for general managers in New York on Thursday, which Carolina's Jim Rutherford attended.

"Everything you do is about communicating, and, with the fact that there hasn't been any communication for a while, this is a good step," Rutherford said of the union's request to meet.

The league, which claims to have lost $224 million last season, remains committed to linking player salaries to league revenue, most likely in the form of a salary cap.

The union's last proposal was built around a luxury tax that would force high-payroll teams to pay penalties that would be distributed to low-revenue teams. The plan would slow salary growth but not limit salaries.

The union's new proposal is expected to include stiffer penalties and more concessions to the league, which has not made any proposals of its own since it submitted six one-page "frameworks" in July.

"We have been working hard at other creative solutions and believe our new proposal will provide a basis to end the owners' lockout and resume NHL hockey," NHLPA executive director Bob Goodenow said in the union's statement.

Although the sides have not met in person in months, they have exchanged rhetoric in public without any softening of tone. Last week, NHL executive vice president Bill Daly said that he doubted the union's rumored proposal would move discussions forward, and NHLPA negotiator Ted Saskin said Wednesday that the commissioner was the wrong man to lead the league.

"We are hopeful that the NHLPA's offer will be a meaningful effort to address the league's economic problems," Daly said in a statement Thursday. "When we receive the proposal, we will evaluate it closely and respond appropriately."

vidaenelvalle.com

:storm01: :storm01: :storm01:

I've really got hooked on hockey the last few seasons and look forward to some more.

Me too, this betting on curling is sweeping out my bank account.

You're telling me they haven't been playing ?

I miss it also, my dish picks up a ton of games but these days just the little NHL logo on the screen. Believe it or not right now I am watching a replay of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Bruins from Feb. of 1997 - the game where Ray Bourque broke the all time Bruins points scored for a career record. Being aired on NESN - talk about desparate.


wil..:increible

bring it back. .players let the owners have what they want

GUESS WHO?

NHL!! NHL!! NHL!!:aktion033

Martin St. Louis

NHL ?
Nobody really care !

NHL players still oppose salary cap

An overwhelming majority of NHL players who expressed their opinion in a poll said they would not support a salary cap even if it meant saving a season that was supposed to have started Oct. 13.

The poll was conducted by the Toronto-based Hockey News, a weekly publication that covers the sport extensively but specializes in the NHL, before the league accepted an invitation from the NHL Players' Association to reopen talks next week.

The magazine's 30 team correspondents were asked to contact players and ask if "you would consider negotiating a salary cap system if it meant saving this season?" The question assumed the cap would be at $40 million per team, with contracts remaining guaranteed.

Of 114 players who expressed an opinion, 105 said they would not support a salary cap, or better than 92 percent. Nine said they would support a cap, and seven did not offer an opinion.

If the poll results are any indication, the league will not be hearing what it wants to hear at Thursday's meeting. The owners have maintained a take-it-or-leave-it approach, demanding the union accept the principle of a salary cap before negotiations can even begin.

The union plans to offer a new proposal Monday, one that includes a stronger luxury tax with a lower spending limit and an increase on the penalties for violating the limit. It is believed the union also will propose a salary rollback of 10 percent, double its last offer; and a plan to lower the rookie salary cap to $800,000 at the high end (it is now $1.1 million and climbing) and severely limit performance bonuses.

Because the union proposal does not directly link salaries to income and expenses — i.e., a salary cap — it is thought the league once again will reject the proposal in short order. If that is the case, the two days of talks later next week might be dead before they start.

The two sides have not met since Sept. 9, when management quickly rejected the last union plan. Six days later the league locked players out, putting the 2004-05 season in jeopardy. The lockout is 80 days old today, and nearly one-third of the season is gone.

"Would [commissioner] Gary Bettman accept a marketplace system if it would save the season?" Dallas Stars forward Bill Guerin asked rhetorically.

Said teammate Rob DiMaio: "We feel we're ready to compromise, but a salary cap is not a compromise."

An unidentified Anaheim player said, "I can't see why we can't take a look at [the salary cap system] and try to figure something out."

Said Atlanta Flames defenseman Garnet Exelby: "I think the problem is, if you have a cap, guys who are making their $10 million ... are still going to make [it]. [Management] will cut corners with everybody below that."

Of the five Washington Capitals who were asked the question, three were against negotiating a cap, one was for it and the fifth was undecided. All asked to remain unidentified.

But veteran forward Bobby Holik of the New York Rangers left no doubt where he stood.

"It is very clear to me that the owners expect us to bear the burden alone of solving the problems they have brought on themselves by showing a lack of [fiscal] control," he said. "We are willing to negotiate. We are willing to work with the owners to fix the problems they have identified ... [but] they want to dictate. They have one solution and one solution only: They demand a cap."

washingtontimes.com

This is it, everybody. In the next two weeks, the NHL and NHL Players' Association either will get a deal done, or the season will be canceled. A self-fulfilling prophecy if there ever was one.

So here we sit. What has become most aggravating about this frustrating situation is the arrogance -- on both sides -- and their assumption that the fans are ignorant.

Commissioner Gary Bettman makes the rounds and talks about saving "the game." Commissioner, you don't own the game, and you are not its keeper or caretaker. The game is alive and well and being played at all levels around the world. What you are trying to "save" is your league, your owners and, in all likelihood, your job. In a situation that has become all semantics, please make this change. The game goes on, sir; your league is dying.

And that brings to light the next most galling issue: The league seems to believe it doesn't matter how long the lockout goes. It won't be worth solving quickly, league officials say, if they don't get their way. But it does matter. It matters a great deal. While on paper it might make the most sense to hold out as long as possible to get the deal the league wants, in reality it doesn't work at all. In reality, more fans are lost every day. In reality, more media outlets permanently pull NHL travel money, making NHL beat writing a part-time position. And, just to be clear, this is not just in small, Southern cities. This is at major metropolitan papers covering Original Six teams. If this destruction is repairable over time, and that's a big if, it'll be measured in five- and 10-year increments.

After spending months talking about how the fans will benefit in the end -- Bettman said outright that ticket prices will go down and many other plans are in place for the fans when this is over -- Bill Daly, the NHL's No. 2 man, told me in a recent interview on Sporting News Radio he couldn't go into details about what will be done, but ticket prices will go down or "stabilize." Stabilize? Is that a joke? Suddenly stabilizing these ridiculously overpriced tickets is doing the fans a favor? How stupid do they think the paying public is?

OK, let's move on to the players. To be fair, they offered concessions, including an across-the-board salary cut, and appear to be ready to offer another proposal, but the players need to be more realistic. They must realize they might need to accept a connection between revenue and player costs to get their league going again. They need to realize that if only 5,000, 6,000 or 7,000 fans show up for games and fewer people are buying their jerseys and bobbleheads, their income will go down. They need to know the fan base will take a hit, and the longer this goes, the bigger that hit will be.

The league and the union need to get this done in the next couple of weeks -- or it's game over for the NHL in ways their galling arrogance won't even acknowledge.

msn.com

Standings

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 width=416 border=0 cellpading="0"><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=6> </TD></TR><TR height=16><TD class=fieldlabel bgColor=#ffa814 colSpan=7> E a s t e r n C o n f e r e n c e</TD></TR><TR><TD class=category align=middle>Atlantic Division</TD><TD class=category align=middle>W-L-T-OTL</TD><TD class=category align=middle>PTS</TD><TD class=category align=middle>GF</TD><TD class=category align=middle>GA</TD><TD class=category align=middle>L10</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD class=smallbody>New York Islanders</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>12-9-5-0</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>29</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>64</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>55</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>5-4-1</TD></TR><TR><TD class=smallbody>New York Rangers</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>11-10-5-0</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>27</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>52</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>47</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>6-3-1</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD class=smallbody>Philadelphia Flyers</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>11-8-4-0</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>26</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>46</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>39</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>6-2-2</TD></TR><TR><TD class=smallbody>New Jersey Devils</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>9-10-4-1</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>23</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>48</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>42</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>4-3-3</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD class=smallbody>Pittsburgh Penguins</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>8-10-5-0</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>21</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>59</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>67</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>2-6-2</TD></TR><TR><TD class=category align=middle>Northeast Division</TD><TD class=category align=middle>W-L-T-OTL</TD><TD class=category align=middle>PTS</TD><TD class=category align=middle>GF</TD><TD class=category align=middle>GA</TD><TD class=category align=middle>L10</TD></TR><TR><TD class=smallbody>Montreal Canadiens</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>10-6-7-0</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>27</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>50</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>42</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>7-1-2</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD class=smallbody>Ottawa Senators</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>9-9-3-1</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>22</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>43</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>46</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>4-5-1</TD></TR><TR><TD class=smallbody>Buffalo Sabres</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>7-9-5-2</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>21</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>35</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>42</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>3-5-2</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD class=smallbody>Boston Bruins</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>8-11-3-0</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>19</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>38</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>42</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>2-6-2</TD></TR><TR><TD class=smallbody>Toronto Maple Leafs</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>8-11-2-1</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>19</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>51</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>55</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>2-6-2</TD></TR><TR><TD class=category align=middle>Southeast Division</TD><TD class=category align=middle>W-L-T-OTL</TD><TD class=category align=middle>PTS</TD><TD class=category align=middle>GF</TD><TD class=category align=middle>GA</TD><TD class=category align=middle>L10</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD class=smallbody>Tampa Bay Lightning</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>14-6-2-0</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>30</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>49</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>30</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>6-3-1</TD></TR><TR><TD class=smallbody>Washington Capitals</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>8-12-3-0</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>19</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>39</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>58</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>2-7-1</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD class=smallbody>Atlanta Thrashers</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>8-13-1-2</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>19</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>40</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>60</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>5-4-1</TD></TR><TR><TD class=smallbody>Carolina Hurricanes</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>6-12-4-1</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>17</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>45</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>59</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>4-5-1</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD class=smallbody>Florida Panthers</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>4-18-1-0</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>9</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>37</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>86</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>2-8-0</TD></TR><TR height=16><TD class=fieldlabel bgColor=#ffa814 colSpan=7> W e s t e r n C o n f e r e n c e</TD></TR><TR><TD class=category align=middle>Central Division</TD><TD class=category align=middle>W-L-T-OTL</TD><TD class=category align=middle>PTS</TD><TD class=category align=middle>GF</TD><TD class=category align=middle>GA</TD><TD class=category align=middle>L10</TD></TR><TR><TD class=smallbody>Detroit Red Wings</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>20-3-2-1</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>43</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>71</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>26</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>6-2-2</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD class=smallbody>Chicago Blackhawks</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>11-9-2-2</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>26</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>42</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>43</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>3-6-1</TD></TR><TR><TD class=smallbody>St. Louis Blues</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>8-12-4-0</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>20</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>36</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>58</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>3-7-0</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD class=smallbody>Columbus Blue Jackets</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>7-14-2-1</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>17</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>43</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>58</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>5-5-0</TD></TR><TR><TD class=smallbody>Nashville Predators</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>6-13-3-2</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>17</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>46</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>62</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>4-5-1</TD></TR><TR><TD class=category align=middle>Northwest Division</TD><TD class=category align=middle>W-L-T-OTL</TD><TD class=category align=middle>PTS</TD><TD class=category align=middle>GF</TD><TD class=category align=middle>GA</TD><TD class=category align=middle>L10</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD class=smallbody>Minnesota Wild</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>16-2-7-0</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>39</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>53</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>31</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>6-1-3</TD></TR><TR><TD class=smallbody>Calgary Flames</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>12-7-7-0</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>31</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>56</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>46</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>2-4-4</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD class=smallbody>Vancouver Canucks</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>11-7-6-2</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>30</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>60</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>50</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>5-3-2</TD></TR><TR><TD class=smallbody>Colorado Avalanche</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>9-9-5-2</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>25</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>44</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>45</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>6-1-3</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD class=smallbody>Edmonton Oilers</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>9-10-5-0</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>23</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>56</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>47</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>4-3-3</TD></TR><TR><TD class=category align=middle>Pacific Division</TD><TD class=category align=middle>W-L-T-OTL</TD><TD class=category align=middle>PTS</TD><TD class=category align=middle>GF</TD><TD class=category align=middle>GA</TD><TD class=category align=middle>L10</TD></TR><TR><TD class=smallbody>San Jose Sharks</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>14-3-6-0</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>34</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>55</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>28</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>4-3-3</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD class=smallbody>Dallas Stars</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>12-7-5-1</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>30</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>59</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>53</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>4-3-3</TD></TR><TR><TD class=smallbody>Los Angeles Kings</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>13-8-3-0</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>29</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>61</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>46</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>5-4-1</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD class=smallbody>Phoenix Coyotes</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>11-8-5-1</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>28</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>44</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>42</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>3-3-4</TD></TR><TR><TD class=smallbody>Anaheim Mighty Ducks</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>7-12-4-1</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>19</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>34</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>51</TD><TD class=smallbody align=middle>4-4-2</TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=6><HR style="WIDTH: 95%"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

<CENTER>Last Updated:12/06/2004</CENTER>
Goals Scored (GLS) <TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width="100%" align=center bgColor=black border=0><TBODY><TR><TH>Name</TH><TH>Team</TH><TH>GP</TH><TH>GLS</TH></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Aleksey Morozov</TD><TD>Pittsburgh Penguins</TD><TD align=middle>23</TD><TD align=middle>14</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Shean Donovan</TD><TD>Calgary Flames</TD><TD align=middle>26</TD><TD align=middle>13</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Markus Naslund</TD><TD>Vancouver Canucks</TD><TD align=middle>26</TD><TD align=middle>12</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Joe Sakic</TD><TD>Colorado Avalanche</TD><TD align=middle>25</TD><TD align=middle>12</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Pavel Datsyuk</TD><TD>Detroit Red Wings</TD><TD align=middle>26</TD><TD align=middle>12</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Jarome Iginla</TD><TD>Calgary Flames</TD><TD align=middle>26</TD><TD align=middle>11</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Daymond Langkow</TD><TD>Calgary Flames</TD><TD align=middle>26</TD><TD align=middle>11</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Jason Arnott</TD><TD>Dallas Stars</TD><TD align=middle>25</TD><TD align=middle>11</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Zigmund Palffy</TD><TD>Los Angeles Kings</TD><TD align=middle>24</TD><TD align=middle>11</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Patrick Marleau</TD><TD>San Jose Sharks</TD><TD align=middle>23</TD><TD align=middle>11</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Assists (AST) <TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width="100%" align=center bgColor=black border=0><TBODY><TR><TH>Name</TH><TH>Team</TH><TH>GP</TH><TH>AST</TH></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Mario Lemieux</TD><TD>Pittsburgh Penguins</TD><TD align=middle>22</TD><TD align=middle>19</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Alex Tanguay</TD><TD>Colorado Avalanche</TD><TD align=middle>25</TD><TD align=middle>14</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Scott Gomez</TD><TD>New Jersey Devils</TD><TD align=middle>24</TD><TD align=middle>13</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Alexander Mogilny</TD><TD>Toronto Maple Leafs</TD><TD align=middle>22</TD><TD align=middle>12</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Martin St. louis</TD><TD>Tampa Bay Lightning</TD><TD align=middle>22</TD><TD align=middle>11</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Todd Bertuzzi</TD><TD>Vancouver Canucks</TD><TD align=middle>26</TD><TD align=middle>11</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Joe Sakic</TD><TD>Colorado Avalanche</TD><TD align=middle>25</TD><TD align=middle>10</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Henrik Zetterberg</TD><TD>Detroit Red Wings</TD><TD align=middle>26</TD><TD align=middle>10</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Zigmund Palffy</TD><TD>Los Angeles Kings</TD><TD align=middle>24</TD><TD align=middle>10</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Craig Conroy</TD><TD>Los Angeles Kings</TD><TD align=middle>24</TD><TD align=middle>10</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Points (PTS) <TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width="100%" align=center bgColor=black border=0><TBODY><TR><TH>Name</TH><TH>Team</TH><TH>GP</TH><TH>PTS</TH></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Joe Sakic</TD><TD>Colorado Avalanche</TD><TD align=middle>25</TD><TD align=middle>22</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Mario Lemieux</TD><TD>Pittsburgh Penguins</TD><TD align=middle>22</TD><TD align=middle>22</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Pavel Datsyuk</TD><TD>Detroit Red Wings</TD><TD align=middle>26</TD><TD align=middle>21</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Zigmund Palffy</TD><TD>Los Angeles Kings</TD><TD align=middle>24</TD><TD align=middle>21</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Alex Tanguay</TD><TD>Colorado Avalanche</TD><TD align=middle>25</TD><TD align=middle>19</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Aleksey Morozov</TD><TD>Pittsburgh Penguins</TD><TD align=middle>23</TD><TD align=middle>19</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Alexander Mogilny</TD><TD>Toronto Maple Leafs</TD><TD align=middle>22</TD><TD align=middle>19</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Shean Donovan</TD><TD>Calgary Flames</TD><TD align=middle>26</TD><TD align=middle>18</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Jarome Iginla</TD><TD>Calgary Flames</TD><TD align=middle>26</TD><TD align=middle>17</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Daymond Langkow</TD><TD>Calgary Flames</TD><TD align=middle>26</TD><TD align=middle>17</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Shooting Percentage (S%) <TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width="100%" align=center bgColor=black border=0><TBODY><TR><TH>Name</TH><TH>Team</TH><TH>GP</TH><TH>S%</TH><TH>S</TH></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Alex Henry</TD><TD>Minnesota Wild</TD><TD align=middle>14</TD><TD align=middle>25.00</TD><TD align=middle>4</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Trent Whitfield</TD><TD>Washington Capitals</TD><TD align=middle>20</TD><TD align=middle>21.88</TD><TD align=middle>32</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Tomas Holmstrom</TD><TD>Detroit Red Wings</TD><TD align=middle>26</TD><TD align=middle>20.83</TD><TD align=middle>48</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Andrew Archer</TD><TD>Montreal Canadiens</TD><TD align=middle>12</TD><TD align=middle>20.00</TD><TD align=middle>10</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Shean Donovan</TD><TD>Calgary Flames</TD><TD align=middle>26</TD><TD align=middle>19.70</TD><TD align=middle>66</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Joe Nieuwendyk</TD><TD>Toronto Maple Leafs</TD><TD align=middle>22</TD><TD align=middle>19.61</TD><TD align=middle>51</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Wes Walz</TD><TD>Minnesota Wild</TD><TD align=middle>25</TD><TD align=middle>19.51</TD><TD align=middle>41</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Martin Straka</TD><TD>Los Angeles Kings</TD><TD align=middle>23</TD><TD align=middle>19.23</TD><TD align=middle>26</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Mariusz Czerkawski</TD><TD>New York Islanders</TD><TD align=middle>26</TD><TD align=middle>18.33</TD><TD align=middle>60</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Aleksey Morozov</TD><TD>Pittsburgh Penguins</TD><TD align=middle>23</TD><TD align=middle>17.07</TD><TD align=middle>82</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Power Play Goals (PPG) <TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width="100%" align=center bgColor=black border=0><TBODY><TR><TH>Name</TH><TH>Team</TH><TH>GP</TH><TH>PPG</TH></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Aleksey Morozov</TD><TD>Pittsburgh Penguins</TD><TD align=middle>23</TD><TD align=middle>5</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Markus Naslund</TD><TD>Vancouver Canucks</TD><TD align=middle>26</TD><TD align=middle>5</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Joe Sakic</TD><TD>Colorado Avalanche</TD><TD align=middle>25</TD><TD align=middle>5</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Eric Lindros</TD><TD>New York Rangers</TD><TD align=middle>25</TD><TD align=middle>4</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Mats Sundin</TD><TD>Toronto Maple Leafs</TD><TD align=middle>22</TD><TD align=middle>4</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Daymond Langkow</TD><TD>Calgary Flames</TD><TD align=middle>26</TD><TD align=middle>4</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Marian Gaborik</TD><TD>Minnesota Wild</TD><TD align=middle>25</TD><TD align=middle>3</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Ilja Kovalchuk</TD><TD>Atlanta Thrashers</TD><TD align=middle>23</TD><TD align=middle>3</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Joe Thornton</TD><TD>Boston Bruins</TD><TD align=middle>22</TD><TD align=middle>3</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Martin Lapointe</TD><TD>Boston Bruins</TD><TD align=middle>22</TD><TD align=middle>3</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Shorthanded Goals (SHG) <TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width="100%" align=center bgColor=black border=0><TBODY><TR><TH>Name</TH><TH>Team</TH><TH>GP</TH><TH>SHG</TH></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Adrian Aucoin</TD><TD>New York Islanders</TD><TD align=middle>26</TD><TD align=middle>1</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Anthony Amonte</TD><TD>Philadelphia Flyers</TD><TD align=middle>23</TD><TD align=middle>1</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Glen Murray</TD><TD>Boston Bruins</TD><TD align=middle>22</TD><TD align=middle>1</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Fredrik Modin</TD><TD>Tampa Bay Lightning</TD><TD align=middle>22</TD><TD align=middle>1</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Vincent Lecavalier</TD><TD>Tampa Bay Lightning</TD><TD align=middle>22</TD><TD align=middle>1</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Rod Brind'amour</TD><TD>Carolina Hurricanes</TD><TD align=middle>23</TD><TD align=middle>1</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Nick Schultz</TD><TD>Minnesota Wild</TD><TD align=middle>25</TD><TD align=middle>1</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Jarome Iginla</TD><TD>Calgary Flames</TD><TD align=middle>26</TD><TD align=middle>1</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Shean Donovan</TD><TD>Calgary Flames</TD><TD align=middle>26</TD><TD align=middle>1</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Henrik Sedin</TD><TD>Vancouver Canucks</TD><TD align=middle>26</TD><TD align=middle>1</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Plus/Minus (+/-) <TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width="100%" align=center bgColor=black border=0><TBODY><TR><TH>Name</TH><TH>Team</TH><TH>GP</TH><TH>+/-</TH></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Steve Yzerman</TD><TD>Detroit Red Wings</TD><TD align=middle>26</TD><TD align=middle>23</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Nicklas Lidstrom</TD><TD>Detroit Red Wings</TD><TD align=middle>26</TD><TD align=middle>23</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Tomas Holmstrom</TD><TD>Detroit Red Wings</TD><TD align=middle>26</TD><TD align=middle>19</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Pavel Datsyuk</TD><TD>Detroit Red Wings</TD><TD align=middle>26</TD><TD align=middle>18</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Jason Woolley</TD><TD>Detroit Red Wings</TD><TD align=middle>23</TD><TD align=middle>15</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Derian Hatcher</TD><TD>Detroit Red Wings</TD><TD align=middle>26</TD><TD align=middle>15</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Mathieu Schneider</TD><TD>Detroit Red Wings</TD><TD align=middle>21</TD><TD align=middle>15</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Scott Parker</TD><TD>San Jose Sharks</TD><TD align=middle>23</TD><TD align=middle>14</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Vladimir Orszagh</TD><TD>Nashville Predators</TD><TD align=middle>24</TD><TD align=middle>13</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Vincent Lecavalier</TD><TD>Tampa Bay Lightning</TD><TD align=middle>22</TD><TD align=middle>13</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Faceoff Winning Percentage (FW%) <TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width="100%" align=center bgColor=black border=0><TBODY><TR><TH>Name</TH><TH>Team</TH><TH>GP</TH><TH>FW%</TH><TH>FOW</TH></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Mike Cammalleri</TD><TD>Los Angeles Kings</TD><TD align=middle>10</TD><TD align=middle>68.18</TD><TD align=middle>75</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Patrick O'Sullivan</TD><TD>Minnesota Wild</TD><TD align=middle>21</TD><TD align=middle>65.87</TD><TD align=middle>83</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Jakub Klepis</TD><TD>Washington Capitals</TD><TD align=middle>12</TD><TD align=middle>62.77</TD><TD align=middle>86</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Mark Hartigan</TD><TD>Columbus Blue Jackets</TD><TD align=middle>13</TD><TD align=middle>62.07</TD><TD align=middle>72</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Kris Draper</TD><TD>Detroit Red Wings</TD><TD align=middle>26</TD><TD align=middle>61.10</TD><TD align=middle>223</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Serge Payer</TD><TD>Florida Panthers</TD><TD align=middle>23</TD><TD align=middle>60.55</TD><TD align=middle>155</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Michael Sillinger</TD><TD>St. Louis Blues</TD><TD align=middle>20</TD><TD align=middle>60.43</TD><TD align=middle>113</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Scott Nichol</TD><TD>Chicago Blackhawks</TD><TD align=middle>23</TD><TD align=middle>60.42</TD><TD align=middle>116</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Steve Yzerman</TD><TD>Detroit Red Wings</TD><TD align=middle>26</TD><TD align=middle>60.36</TD><TD align=middle>201</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Stephane Yelle</TD><TD>Calgary Flames</TD><TD align=middle>25</TD><TD align=middle>60.21</TD><TD align=middle>115</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Penalty Minutes (PIM) <TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width="100%" align=center bgColor=black border=0><TBODY><TR><TH>Name</TH><TH>Team</TH><TH>GP</TH><TH>PIM</TH></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Chris Simon</TD><TD>Calgary Flames</TD><TD align=middle>20</TD><TD align=middle>48</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Ronald Petrovicky</TD><TD>Atlanta Thrashers</TD><TD align=middle>17</TD><TD align=middle>37</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Andy Sutton</TD><TD>Atlanta Thrashers</TD><TD align=middle>24</TD><TD align=middle>36</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Eric Cairns</TD><TD>Florida Panthers</TD><TD align=middle>21</TD><TD align=middle>35</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Darcy Hordichuk</TD><TD>Florida Panthers</TD><TD align=middle>23</TD><TD align=middle>34</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Mark Bell</TD><TD>Chicago Blackhawks</TD><TD align=middle>24</TD><TD align=middle>33</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Nathan Saunders</TD><TD>Anaheim Mighty Ducks</TD><TD align=middle>22</TD><TD align=middle>33</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Bryan Mccabe</TD><TD>Toronto Maple Leafs</TD><TD align=middle>22</TD><TD align=middle>32</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Ron Hainsey</TD><TD>Montreal Canadiens</TD><TD align=middle>23</TD><TD align=middle>31</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Denis jr. Gauthier</TD><TD>Phoenix Coyotes</TD><TD align=middle>25</TD><TD align=middle>31</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Calder Memorial Trophy (Rookie of the Year - Player) <TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width="100%" align=center bgColor=black border=0><TBODY><TR><TH>Name</TH><TH>Team</TH><TH>Votes</TH></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Andrei Kosyn</TD><TD>Montreal Canadiens</TD><TD align=middle>66</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Marek Svatos</TD><TD>Colorado Avalanche</TD><TD align=middle>65</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Igor Grigorenko</TD><TD>Detroit Red Wings</TD><TD align=middle>60</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Brent Seabrook</TD><TD>Chicago Blackhawks</TD><TD align=middle>58</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Dion Phaneuf</TD><TD>Calgary Flames</TD><TD align=middle>57</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Chris Higgins</TD><TD>Montreal Canadiens</TD><TD align=middle>56</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Jiri Hudler</TD><TD>Detroit Red Wings</TD><TD align=middle>55</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Brent Burns</TD><TD>Minnesota Wild</TD><TD align=middle>54</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Zbynek Michalek</TD><TD>Dallas Stars</TD><TD align=middle>54</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Ray Giroux</TD><TD>Minnesota Wild</TD><TD align=middle>52</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Hart Memorial Trophy (Most Valuable Player) <TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width="100%" align=center bgColor=black border=0><TBODY><TR><TH>Name</TH><TH>Team</TH><TH>Votes</TH></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Pavel Datsyuk</TD><TD>Detroit Red Wings</TD><TD align=middle>107</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Joe Sakic</TD><TD>Colorado Avalanche</TD><TD align=middle>98</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Shean Donovan</TD><TD>Calgary Flames</TD><TD align=middle>97</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Aleksey Morozov</TD><TD>Pittsburgh Penguins</TD><TD align=middle>96</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Tomas Holmstrom</TD><TD>Detroit Red Wings</TD><TD align=middle>94</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Zigmund Palffy</TD><TD>Los Angeles Kings</TD><TD align=middle>93</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Kris Draper</TD><TD>Detroit Red Wings</TD><TD align=middle>93</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Markus Naslund</TD><TD>Vancouver Canucks</TD><TD align=middle>93</TD></TR><TR class=contrastrow><TD>Mariusz Czerkawski</TD><TD>New York Islanders</TD><TD align=middle>93</TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD>Daymond Langkow</TD><TD>Calgary Flames</TD><TD align=middle>93</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

fox sports has been showing some "classic" Kings' games and that has been great to watch but i wanna see "new" games.

This is some promising news. Even though a lot of the season is shot, I would love to see some ice.

I can't believe it but I get the sense they will settle this. I figured a 50 game schedule, but then lost hope. I think if necessary they should do this incrementally. Slash the salaries and work in a strong luxury tax and see what happens. To say you can't go without "cost certainty" is ridiculous. How many businesses get cost certainty anyways? Unlike other sports in hockey spending a lot of money guarantees little. If owners face taxes as well as bad teams if they spend like the Rangers then they will cut back.