Sorting through this NHLPA mess

If you live in my house, you would've heard that Paul Kelly was fired yesterday. If you aren't me, then you probably were staring at me cross-eyed as I attempted to explain the significance of this move. Here I've attempted to give the basics on this situation and why the average fan should care.

Who: Executive director of the NHLPA, Paul Kelly, interim ombudsman Buzz Hargrove, general counsel Ian Penny.

When/Where: Yesterday at 3:30 in the morning in Chicago.

What happened: Paul Kelly was fired yesterday. The decision came from executive board which is made up of 30 player representatives.

Why? That’s the million dollar question. Nobody knows exactly why Kelly was fired.

Of course that doesn’t mean we can't speculate, right? Among the more interesting theories/questions out there:

• TSN has said that some inside the NHLPA thought Kelly wasn’t doing enough to get to know the players and/or was too close to Bettman and Daly.
• Was Kelly fired because he actually did his job instead of simply being a mouthpiece? That was one question posed one of the talkshows that I happened to overhear (I can't remember which). They seemed to feel on the show that Kelly was fired because he was doing his job. Because he had opinions and would voice them. They claim the NHLPA's board didn't like this.
• What about Ian Penny who is currently sitting in as the interim exec director? He's had issues with Kelly before and now he has his job. Coincidence?
• What of Buzz Hargrove the former president of CAW? Apparently his report on Kelly's (alleged) flaws played a large role in the executive board's nearly unanimous decision to fire Kelly. What will his role be in the post-Kelly NHLPA?

WAIT! This Kelly guy was close to Bettman?! Say no more! Allegedly. But let’s also contrast that with Kelly’s predecessor, Bob Goodenow, who apparently couldn’t even sit at the same table as Bettman during negotiations for the current CBA. Fractured relations between the head of the NHLPA and the head of the NHL aren’t good either. Obviously I don’t know the exact nature of Kelly’s relationship with Bettman, but it seems to me that it would be important for the head of the NHLPA and the NHL to at least sit at the same table.

So why would the average fan give a damn about this? Kelly wanted to work with the NHL in a constructive manner. Now that he is out and we know that guys like Hargrove tend to take a hardline approach, we can expect the NHLPA to assume a more rigid stance once the CBA can be renegotiated in 2011. Which means.....

....We could be in for another lockout, right? Quite possibly, yes. The NHLPA had the opportunity to re-open the CBA this year but they optioned not to. Keep in mind though, that that decision came under Kelly. Under a new executive director who is willing to take a hardliner approach, we could very well be in for another lockout.

And that’s....bad? Yes. Not only is a lockout sucky for the fans, but a second lockout could be devastating for the league (particularly for franchises that are currently struggling to survive). The Preds on the Glass and the Program offered up the ultimate doomsday scenerio. Granted it's an absolute worst case scenerio (for Bettman anyway), but it's interesting to think about where the NHL could potentially end up.

What do the actual players think of this? So far I've only heard Ilya Kovalchuk call the current CBA "dumb". Past that, I don't know what anyone else thinks. But it's not exactly comforting to see a player like Kovalchuk calling the CBA dumb.

More reading: Ken Campbell details why this matters to fans. Sportnets explains the situation in more detail. Down Goes Brown has has his own take. Worth the read if you want to be amused for a change.

Oh Roger... how could you?

No. He hasn't lost. We're several hours away before he gets onto Arthur Ashe at the US Open and if he loses in the first round then... well, then he probably deserves it.

I'm talking about this:

Photo from here.

Not. Not Roger smiling. Look at the shirt. LOOK AT THE SHIRT. Oh Roger... you injure me with that shirt. INJURE ME, I SAY!

Bell Centre tour pics!

I was going to go all "squee" over the mini thing the Habs website had of Jaro. And then I wa sgoing to mention that Boivin might be out as president of the Habs. And then I was going to mention that Schneider has gone to the Canucks, nothing is confirmed about Tanguay signing with the Bolts and Lang might be given a tryout with the Habs this season. However, I got the pics from Grrreg of the Bell Centre tour and they're way more awesome than Tanguay.

So. My faves:

I have never ever ever seen the Bell Centre this empty before. It's pretty cool.

YOUPPIVILLE!

This little sign appeared as you go out onto the press gallery. I felt so important *G*

Now tell me the press doesn't get the most awesome view.

A corner of the players alumni lounge. Apparently Beliveau's family always hangs out here

That torch thing

TADA! The Habs dressing room!

Now if I was a rookie walking out here onto the ice with 20,000 people screaming, I'd be seriously freaked out. As it was, I was just a hockey fan seriously freaked out at the idea of walking out onto where the ice would be.

HOCKEY SEASON IS HERE BABY!

You heard me. Let me say it again. Because it sounds just so darn good*

HOCKEY SEASON IS HERE.

It started last night when CTV aired Team Canada's scrimmage online. Live hockey!! It was... well, it was a scrimmage. But it was still LIVE HOCKEY. Sure there was very little to like from seeing Crysob score in the shootout (and on his own goalie too). And I did decide to nickname the five goalies: Floppy Flambe, Boring Marty, Faily Wardy, Shrimpy (Mason) and....Fwap (Luongo). Or in shorter form: Floppy, Boring, Faily, Shrimpy and Fwap. Sounds like the seven dwarves. Kinda.

By the way... there is something kinda pathetic about Heatley being booed by the people in his hometown.

ANYWAY.

Today I met up with Grrreg and we headed off to take a tour of the Bell Centre. I had no idea that you could take a tour of the Bell Centre. To sum it up quickly: It was flipping awesome. We were in the press gallery (I want a job in the press just so I can get that view of the ice. AWESOME). We were in several other VIP lounges (including where all the little kidlets of the players hang out). We walked through the press room where the coaches have to sit after games. It's a lot smaller than it looks on TV.... we saw some random thing about Youppi. And yes, we were in the Habs dressing room. Sooooooo awesome. I think the most awesome part was when we left the dressing room and got to walk out (a bit) onto where the ice was. I kinda got chills imagining what it would be like to walk out there with 20,000 + people screaming. Awesomeness. I didn't have my camera but I'm bugging Grrreg for his pictures so I'll have something up then!

Hilarious bit: there was a woman and I guess her mom or something who were Leafs fans. Her kid however was a Habs fan. And damn, did he know his stuff (he was 10). We were looking at this photo of a pile of players when they were like... in their 60s and older. And the kid recognized almost all of them. For the records, I failed to recognize my own (distant) relative in the photo. I fail.

AND!

The day wouldnt' be complete without some live hockey, right? And where does one find live hockey in AUGUST? Why at a Juniors pre-season game of course! HAHAHAHA! Yup, it was off to the Juniors pre-season game which was... well, a pre-season game. But actually you wouldn't necessarily know that early on as there was lots of hitting, good energy from the players and the crowd. I'm hoping the two Juniors who got smashed up aren't seriously injured. They didn't look so good as they were walking off the ice... It's supposed to be a pre-season game, people. Ick. Anyway... the Juniors took 12 penalties and their goalies faced 30 shots compared to just 2 penalties for Gatineau who's two goalies faced just 16 shots. Thankfully for the Juniors, they got all the lucky breaks and scored 3 un-answered goals before Gatineau finally got one on a 5 on 3 PP in the 3rd. They got in another one off of Etienne Marcoux and promptly had their little celebration right in front of me. Can we say "not impressed in the least?" But the important thing is the Juniors won for me and I'm happy!

Oh yeah.. and the Sox won. Yay!

*yes, we're in that stage in the season where we're really excited to see hockey.

Caption of the Day: Orientation camp is fuuuun. Not.

Okay so while I said I wouldn't pay any more attention the Olympics for now.. I couldn't help myself as they were broadcasting their scrimmage live. Yes. Live hockey. First time since... the Stanley Keg. ANYWAY.... rather than focus on all the annoying stuff, I went around looking at the pics that have come out on at the camp. There was just too much fun to be had with them.

Like this one:

Babcock: blah blah blah TEAM CANADA blah blah blah

Nash: if I stare really hard maybe it will look like I'm listening to him.

Iggy: must.not.fall.asleep.

Crysob: oh. my.god. did he just say I have a heavy butt? I DO NOT!

And this one:

Heatley: *on the phone to his agent* quick. Get me outta here. Babcock hates me. I have dimished role in the shootout drills. HELP!

And this one:

Babcock: NO LUCIC! You aren't supposed to beat him up. He's your teammate!!!!

Lucic: Sorry coach! Automatic response, you know?

Random Wednesday: taking a break from all this Canada stuff

Because we're already off on the whole Olympics stuff and I'm ready to kick a baby Leaf right now...it's time to see what the Europeans are up to.

• Alexander "I'm not Ovie" Avtsin made it to no. 6 on Ryan Kenndey's Hot List of players we want to see in the NHL one day. I'm thinking perhaps Ovie's endorsement might have helped get Avitsin noticed a bit over here *g* Even if judging from the year he had last year, we really do want to see him in the NHL one day.
  
  
• I had no idea Kovalchuk had two kids already.... he's like... how old?
  
  
• "I used to be called young before. But then a different generation comes. Guys born in 1991 are drafted now. I am eight years older than they are... We are all growing up. Life does not stand still. Right now I am at the peak of [my game]. I will be "old" when I am 35." [from here] Oh. Okay then. Wait a sec. You're only twenty-six?! Yeah, you're real "old", dude. NOT.
  
  
• Am I the only one who finds this kinda funny?
  
  
  

  Q. What did a year in America give you from a life perspective?
  
  Nikita Filatov: I went through a school of life in Syracuse when I was playing for the farm club. I lived there in an apartment all by myself. How was in it Russia before then? You come home, there is a plate in front of you. And there [it was different]. You come from practice, then go to a store and cook [for yourself]. You hold the phone to your ear. Moscow is on the other line giving you instructions how to fry potatoes.
  

  
  I know what he means, but the mental images of this 18 year old toothpick of a kid trying to get instructions on how to fry a potatoe from his mom in Moscow is kinda hilarious. Sorry Filatov... *g*
  
  
  
• Speaking of Ovie and cooking... the dude is apparently going to cook for other people in this restaurant somewhere in Russia for something? Let's hope he can fry a potatoe.
  
  
• Apparently Hudler can't play in the KHL. The IIHF has not granted him a transfer card which means he's not allowed to play in any sanction games (which apparently cover KHL games). This could be interesting if not for the fact that NHL seems to not really care about Hudler at this point and the KHL basically doesn't give a damn about what the IIHF says. So I really don't think this is anything to get excited over. They'll appeal the decision and win or lose, Hudler will stay put in Russia.
  
  
• Okay. I can't help this: I have to admit that I am thoroughly enjoying the soap opera that is the Ottawa Senators. I was going to curse them for not getting rid of Heatley, but if this keeps up then this year will be FULL of drama. This could be a lot of fun. What? I like laughing at the Sens. Sue me.

Quote of the Day: It's obvious. Jumbo Joe is Canadian

[interview on my comp of Jumbo Joe and Marleau after both were stripped of their letters]

TSN guy: So how does it feel that the Sharks don't feel like you're a leader on this team? [read: how does it feel that your team is fed up with you choking in the playoffs?]

Jumbo Joe: Oh it's okay *smiles* *shrugs*

My mom: Let me guess. He's Canadian.

Me: umm yeah.

My mom: I knew it. His totally nonchalant attitude kinda gave it away. He was just like "ah, yeah, whatever. I'll go with whatever you guys decide". I feel kinda bad for him. He seems like a nice guy from the three seconds that I've just seen of him.

Me: Did I ever tell you what he said about Halak after our baby Slovak goalie stole the win for the Habs........?

My mom is so funny sometimes.....

Ya couldn't let me enjoy Roger's win, eh hockey?

Nooooo. You just had to come out with some completely annoying stuff today.

1. They are canning the idea of the Habs hosting the Caps in the Olympic Stadium in the possible even that the Alouettes go deep in the playoffs. Heck with that. The Alouettes flipping better win the cup thing for this. WIN OR ELSE FEEL MY WRATH. RAR!
   
   
2. There are rumors that Patrick Marleau wouldn't wave his NTC that would've resulted in Heatley being shipped off to San Jose. If this is true, I am now holding Marleau personally responsible for my mental health which will surely decline as I have to put up with Heatley staying in the same division as my team. Then again, that whole deal was supposed to have involved three teams possibly including our dear Habs (and if the rumors are true, our poor Jaro). So it's almost just as well that Marleau wouldn't wave it. But still. Now you know who to blame when Heatley drives you up the wall with his whining in about.... three or so weeks time.
   
   
3. The are Wings fans who are STILL complaining about Crysob not shaking Nick's hand at the end of Game 7. Look, I'm just as bitter about that win as the next non-Pens fan... but really.... that is just ridiculous. Get over it. It's one thing to joke about it, but to continue to whine about it? Enough is enough.