GDT: Lockout is over

[NJDevs26]

If fans of the Blue Jays, Royals, and Athletics said they didn't want to protest because they were scared, would the league take them seriously? Probably not. The mentality of not caring enough and not making some push back is what will cause this to happen and what caused it to happen 3 times in the NHL now. Don't blame the Bruins and Rangers for your resolve.

A) The NHL has something MLB doesn't, seven Canadian markets that will sell out pretty much no matter what. Not to mention the handful of big markets and hockey hotbeds in the US. That's at least a third of the league where the lockout's going to have next to no effect.
B) You're automatically assuming a cause and effect between baseball fans 'pushing back' in '95 and there being labor peace since then, when it's not quite that simple (and there was never any real labor peace under Fehr even after that). Nor is it that simple why hockey keeps locking out. Players getting up to 70% of HRR had a lot more to do with the first two lockouts. This one was an ego trip on both sides.
C) You like hockey enough to have 17000 posts on a message board. Depriving yourself of going to a game for 'two' years is a bit self defeating. I understand a protest for a few weeks, maybe even the rest of this season. At some point it gets ridiculous though, you're only doing what you're mad at the NHL and NHLPA are doing, for a lot longer.
D) Taking this personally enough to boycott for two years is giving the NHL more importance than they deserve. They didn't do anything personally to you.

Also, no one here is "scared" of protesting, we've just already come to the obvious conclusion that boycotting the Devils is an ineffective way to voice displeasure with the NHL/NHLPA and actually bring about some change..

So I encourage everyone to weigh the options and make the decision they feel is right.. I think Cerebral and I laid out pretty good cases for either side.. I don't want to argue more about this with fellow Devils fans since I consider all of you to be friends anyway.. High 5s all around

While I'm not boycotting I'm certainly making an effort to watch what I spend outside of season tickets on the team - which are pretty much the best buys in the building considering they're $22 aisle seats behind the net.

Other than that, no shirts (other than a SC t-shirt should that happen), jerseys or concessions at the game (other than maybe a SCF program if we get there again) for a while - probably this season. None of that's a real sacrifice or is going to kill the team considering I'm not a big spender anyway but it's still a personal statement. And maybe going out of my way to eat at some of the surrounding places before a game if I do want to have something. If enough people do just that it can make a statement without throwing out the baby with the bathwater.

Fair enough about the second part.

 

[Devils Unseen Hand]

Time to get pumped up for whatever you want to call this season.

 

[Rob Nieds work ethic]

My friend and I are getting all giddy over just talking about the season. So pumped!

 

[TheUnseenHand]

Welp DirecTV has already charged me for CI.

 

[Better Call Sal]

I'm going back Game 1. Miss the Rock way too much.

 

[NJDevs26]

Welp DirecTV has already charged me for CI.

How much? I figured they wouldn't make CI free after LeBrun's tweet a few days ago I hope they can at least make the internet streaming (Gamecenter) free.

 

[Banana Sandwiches]

So happy it is over.... However now the Flyers can get out from under that Pronger contract haha ... But anyway it will be good to talk some real Devils Hockey again.

I don't think Pronger's contract would have counted against the cap anyway because he's on long term IR.

 

[captainscott]

My opinion:

Kovalchuk-Zajac-Zubrus
Tedenby-Elias-Butler
Bernier-Josefson-Clarkson

Maybe you can switch Butler and Zubrus as well, but I think that'll be the basic line-up. Spreads out the offense but not too much.

With Henrique out, I seriously think Lou is forced to trade a defender for forward help and/or sign Sykora again.

W the short season not much time for slow starts....how long is henrique out for?

 

[Devil X]

I don't think Pronger's contract would have counted against the cap anyway because he's on long term IR.

True i forgot about LTIR

W the short season not much time for slow starts....how long is henrique out for?

Someone said prob beginning of Feb.

 

[JK3]

I will not spend one dime on this league, no games or merch for me, they can suck it. I will watch the Devils games on my nice tv and couch but that's it.

I can't wait till I run into Bettman again at Campmor.

 

[JimEIV]

I think everyone should figure out what they would've otherwise spent on the the NHL this season and donate it to a Youth Hockey Organization. F the NHL #FortheLoveoftheGame.

 

[BJD]

you guys have a link for todays game?

 

[Jack Griffin]

You can't really stick it to the NHL without punishing the Devils and the Devils haven't done anything wrong. It's a shame too because the Devils probably would have gotten a nice attendance boost after last year's playoffs and the lockout has ruined that.

 

[sbresistor]

I look at it like this, the Devils and NHL don't owe me anything - and I don't owe them anything

If I feel like going, I am there because life is too short and my friends and I have too much fun at the games. I don't care if I pay for the tickets or they come free, if I want to go, I am going to go

 

[MachoDiablo]

Hockeeeeeeeeeey

 

[Sir Fenwick Corsi]

I don't know, is it wrong for a diehard to genuinely not feel excited about the lockout being over? I woke up late and my phone had a **** load of messages about the season starting and I can honestly say that I wasn't even a little excited. I'm just meh about it all and it sucks to feel that way about something you cared about.

The thing for me is that these rich pig idiots needed 4 damn months to figure out a way to divide up a 3 billion dollar pie. I mean think about this. There is zero excuse for this lockout. It was just completely needless and caused so much damage to people who didn't deserve it. Hopefully I'll feel differently down the line, but this news is just so empty for me.

Whatever, not looking to be a debbie downer, I'm just surprised about my lack of reaction to it all. I know so many people are happy about this so at least that's good.

 

[BrodeursCups]

Will be at the rock for every game I can this year. At this point you're just hurting our team by boycotting the games. It accomplishes nothing.

At the end of the day ts a game. A form of entertainment. Love your life, like your sports...refusing to attend games is ridiculous and basically just deprives yourself from seeing the best sport on the planet.

 

[JimEIV]

I don't know, is it wrong for a diehard to genuinely not feel excited about the lockout being over? I woke up late and my phone had a **** load of messages about the season starting and I can honestly say that I wasn't even a little excited. I'm just meh about it all and it sucks to feel that way about something you cared about.

The thing for me is that these rich pig idiots needed 4 damn months to figure out a way to divide up a 3 billion dollar pie. I mean think about this. There is zero excuse for this lockout. It was just completely needless and caused so much damage to people who didn't deserve it. Hopefully I'll feel differently down the line, but this news is just so empty for me.

Whatever, not looking to be a debbie downer, I'm just surprised about my lack of reaction to it all. I know so many people are happy about this so at least that's good.

My feeling exactly.

 

[Desert Devil]

Will be at the rock for every game I can this year. At this point you're just hurting our team by boycotting the games. It accomplishes nothing.

At the end of the day ts a game. A form of entertainment. Love your life, like your sports...refusing to attend games is ridiculous and basically just deprives yourself from seeing the best sport on the planet.

This is how I feel. Am I pissed about the lockout? You're damn right I am. But I'm not going to waste my time cursing something I have no control over. Not a chance. In the end you're ultimately hurting the team you profess to love.

 

[Chessarmy]

Devils Line-up:

Kovalchuk and friends.

Brodeur

 

[JK3]

I can and will choose not go to games, it's my choice, no one else. If that's sticking it to the Devils then fine. They are part of a system, the NHL as a whole who ****s the fans over with constant work stoppages.

I have been going to games since 82, been a season ticket holder, they have gotten plenty of my money and support over the years. This goes deeper for me, I and a few friends have lost jobs over these work stoppages and I just can't support this league now. Millionaires and Billionaires having a lockout because they can't agree how to divvy up MY MONEY, I'm unemployed are you ****ing kidding me? I can't afford to go to these games, nothing justifies me attending them. I will watch and root for the Devils from home, that's it.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

I think what bothers me most is people that are posting "I AM NOT GOING TO GAMES SCREW EVERYONE!!" like it is some sort of diss to the rest of us

 

[devilsblood]

Everybody is entitled to their own opinion

If they want to go back right away, great, if not, great, what should it matter to others

Well I'd like to see fans send a message. Yet I want the sport to succeed. So I think a one game boycott would be appropriate. Maybe it means nothing in the grand scheme, but for that game it would be noteworthy.

 

[jkrdevil]

How many if these people who are saying they aren't going to any games and are calling for a boycott actually go to games in the first place?

 

[PWiz30]

THis has gotten me soo pumped for the NHL



Lets Go Devils !

15 minutes of chills down the spine. What a snip that was by Henrique in game 4 against LA.

I think what bothers me most is people that are posting "I AM NOT GOING TO GAMES SCREW EVERYONE!!" like it is some sort of diss to the rest of us

They're mad about the fact that they were robbed of the chance to see the best players in the world play the world's greatest game for half a season. So they choose to continue not watching when the NHL finally comes back? Doesn't make any sense to me.