11/05/24
September 14, 2004
Brian Burke's 15 point plan to get the NHL sorted out.: And, for what it is worth, Canada topped Finland 3-2 in what may be the last NHLish game for quite some time.
They are used to the most beautiful sports trophy in the world. This thing was too small to be hoisted like they wanted to. By the way, if the Boston Bruins let Joe Thornton go, they are fucking idiots. He was dominating the game tonight. If the Leafs want to give up every goddamn player on the roster (except Sundin) to get him, then they should. Now. But the "holy shit!" moment of the night was Ruutu's amazing one-man show he put on to score the second Finnish goal. As for the impending lockout and lack of hockey...I'll worry about that when baseball season is over.
posted by grum@work at 10:48 PM on September 14, 2004
Dear Mario Lemieux, If this is the last professional hockey game you ever play, I want to thank you for leading the Canadian team to a gold medal at the 2002 Olympics and for helping win the World Cup this year. I wondered if your return to hockey (after retiring and getting elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame) was a good thing, and if you might end up tarnishing your wonderful career by having a few sub-par seasons in your twilight years. Regardless of how you did in the NHL regular season, having you lead these teams has definitely added to your already peerless credentials. Thanks again, A Canadian Hockey Fan
posted by grum@work at 10:54 PM on September 14, 2004
I'll sign that letter too, grum. Mario led like a champion, and this team and every player on it is better for his presence. And Ruutu's goal was sick. Even in slow motion. Jesus. Now. I may not be the biggest Brian Burke fan, but his is not an uninformed viewpoint, and if he can help move the two sides together on some things, then get him a chair. I'm worrying about it now.
posted by chicobangs at 11:18 PM on September 14, 2004
I want to watch more hockey.
posted by Salmonberry at 12:26 AM on September 15, 2004
I was shocked to see Brian Burke actually *smiling* during his sessions with Ron McLean and Kelly Hrudey...now all we need to do is get Pat Quinn on there (although he's a tougher nut to crack).
posted by filmgoerjuan at 12:36 AM on September 15, 2004
Fucking total domination. Forget 6-0, Canada went the whole tourney without ever giving up the lead. The MVP wasn't even on the original team roster. Giv'er!
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 01:01 AM on September 15, 2004
Based on the amazing young talent on this team. I don't see why Canada won't dominate international play from now to Vancouver 2010.
posted by dreamer98 at 02:25 AM on September 15, 2004
did someone say they wanted to watch more hockey? OSHL! 11 player teams, 4 on 4 skaters with goalies, no center-ice red line, no-touch icing and penalties are taken as penalty shots with chasers. They talent they've attracted doesn't look too shabby though it looks, so far, like you'll have to be in Ontario to catch any of the games.
posted by gspm at 07:08 AM on September 15, 2004
yeah, that trophy was the crap. i commented to a mate watching (someone that doesn't really follow hockey) that the Stanley Cup is carried around the rink by the winning team as all the players follow it around eagerly awaiting their chance to carry it. The World Cup sort of was passed around and the players were motivated, it seemed, more by a sense of duty than any desire to be seen with it. And yeah, Ruutu's goal was amazing. Seeing him dodge 3 Canadian players and then beat the keeper high on the glove side, better than Kovalev's in the prelims vs the USA. Ruutu's goal rush starts at 1:31 into the WCH2004 provided highlight clip
posted by gspm at 07:17 AM on September 15, 2004
Can the fans assign an arbiter? Because Burke just aced the interview! Phase in deal over 2 years! Brilliant. Reward good behavior! Brilliant again! The cap of $38m I'm not keen on....just to close to the basement. A $10-12m spread seems more realistic. Joint audit controls! Allowing team to bring players to the table! Brian, you're the fucking man! I need one more exclamation point, just for kicks! Oh yeah, Canada rocks! I want Ruutu on the Leafs. And the trophy, of course, stinks.
posted by garfield at 08:41 AM on September 15, 2004
I don't ever remember players exchanging the World/Canada Cup trophy and skating around with it like they did this year... normally they'd just celebrate as a group and drop down for a group shot. Seems like, because of the shape, they felt compelled to treat it as The Cup, though it obviously isn't. shrug. I'm going to miss professional hockey.
posted by mkn at 09:08 AM on September 15, 2004
I'm gonna go on record as saying I like the trophy. The photos I'd seen of it were hardly impressive, but it looked much better on television. Frank Gehry was always saying he'd designed it with an "ice" motif, and from the photos I thought it looked like a bunch of mason jars attached to a silver vase, but under the glimmer of the rink lights it indeed looked as if it'd been whittled out of an ice brick just hours before. Not as good a game as against the Czechs, but still a nail-biter. Good to see Doan cash one in after a tournament full of missed chances. And good to see the Torontonians celebrating in style. Also, cheers to Mario. He's still a cut above the rest. He looked like a Selke candidate last night!
posted by Succa at 09:56 AM on September 15, 2004
Maybe I'm a stupid American but I didn't understand a lot of Burke's proposal, the article would be a lot better with a little bit more elaboration. What, for instance, does phase in over two years mean specifically? Also, #3, 13 and 14b.
posted by billsaysthis at 11:23 AM on September 15, 2004
I'd venture a guess that 'phase in over two years' means the CBA's individual components could be eased into the current system without the need to disrupt a season, while also allowing proper time to review and revise said components. 13 is just reducing the number of games in a season. 14b is the ability of a team to bring a player to arbitration if they feel they've over paid them, just as a player does the same when he feels he has been underpaid. It's only fair, right?
posted by garfield at 11:28 AM on September 15, 2004
Would anyone be surprised if, when the agreement is finally signed sometime in 2036, it looks not unlike Burke's model?
posted by chicobangs at 12:46 PM on September 15, 2004
Actually I would. Only because Burke's ideas makes so much sense.
posted by garfield at 03:07 PM on September 15, 2004
Garf: I meant 12, not 13. Even I understand reduce the number of games... Anyway, EA is probably prepping NHL 2k7, watching the teenagers play in Ontario and Eastern Europe.
posted by billsaysthis at 03:46 PM on September 15, 2004
I'm probaby not the one to explain qualifying offers for restricted free agents, and the various categories therewithin, but I think it means that when a player's contract expires and the player is a RFA, and another team makes an offer on said player, the team with rights to that player would only have to match 75% if over 26/50% if under 26 to retain said players services. Basically it lets teams retain players' right for a discount, but I don't pretend to understand the ramifications overall.
posted by garfield at 04:13 PM on September 15, 2004
Assuming that's a correct understanding, why would that be good for a player?
posted by billsaysthis at 07:27 PM on September 15, 2004
tradeoffs? offering free agency at 29 cuts two years off of the current level so the owners would be looking for some slack to come back to their side. plus it would head off the wacky moves that had the rangers offer joe sakic an eye popping deal in 1997 to try and scare off the avs ($21m for three years but front loaded with a $15mil signing bonus to try and make it more difficult to match). it is a tactic that would be used by the teams with the most money and thus be some sort of unlevel playing field. but, hey, i didn't know that high offers to RFAs was such a problem (not many RFAs get offers from other teams if I recall).
posted by gspm at 07:37 PM on September 15, 2004
As much as I am happy for the win, I still think that the new Gehry World Cup looks like a glorified flower vase. Did anyone watch the reactions of the players as they went up to pick it up? They didn't know what the hell to do with it.