So you think nobody will pay to see replacement players ! YOU had better thing again.
THe current NHLPA players are now thinking that hey are the best players and that's it. That the game will be down to AHL standard with replacement players.
Well, this is the way I see it.
1st- some of the AHL players are already "ready for prime time" in the NHL and would make NHL standards easily.
2nd- Lots of players just missed being drafted over the years but can still play at a high level, as the best example I can think of is the World Championships. Each country puts a team on the ice with maybe 30-40% nhl players. Now if you have seen the standard of play these days in the World CHampionships, it's realy exciting to watch, and half the players are currently not part of the NHLPA. These players are earning what? 100-300,000 euros ( maybe). So here come the NHL and with offers to pay these guys an average of 800,000. or maybe 2.5 - 4 times what they earn right now. You bet that they will jump at the chance.
3rd- at least 200 of the current 700 players in the NHLPA would crose the line as for the other 500, you just wait until they see european players come over to take replacement player jobs to fill in the gaps. WOW !
4th- add to all this , new rule changes to get a quicker,faster, more scoring better looking product on the ice. ( perhaps with shootout's)
5th- Every year this replacement player league exists is yet another year of new rookies and new draftings, so in a matter of what 2-4 years 90% of the holdouts of the NHLPA no longer are needed anyway.
6th- 90% of all hockey players don't realy have a second career all ready to go to once his hockey carreer is over. Most are counting on investing some of their money in a business and to have their "name" bring in sales. losing half of their NHL playing years in an extended 2-3 lockout would be devastating to their personal wealth plans. The owners can go through a 5 year lockout and make all the lost money back in the 5 years after the lockout. Some of the players would have retired to the cayman islands but will have to settle for "balconville" and trying to convince kids arround the appartment block that they used to play hockey in the NHL.
THe current NHLPA players are now thinking that hey are the best players and that's it. That the game will be down to AHL standard with replacement players.
Well, this is the way I see it.
1st- some of the AHL players are already "ready for prime time" in the NHL and would make NHL standards easily.
2nd- Lots of players just missed being drafted over the years but can still play at a high level, as the best example I can think of is the World Championships. Each country puts a team on the ice with maybe 30-40% nhl players. Now if you have seen the standard of play these days in the World CHampionships, it's realy exciting to watch, and half the players are currently not part of the NHLPA. These players are earning what? 100-300,000 euros ( maybe). So here come the NHL and with offers to pay these guys an average of 800,000. or maybe 2.5 - 4 times what they earn right now. You bet that they will jump at the chance.
3rd- at least 200 of the current 700 players in the NHLPA would crose the line as for the other 500, you just wait until they see european players come over to take replacement player jobs to fill in the gaps. WOW !
4th- add to all this , new rule changes to get a quicker,faster, more scoring better looking product on the ice. ( perhaps with shootout's)
5th- Every year this replacement player league exists is yet another year of new rookies and new draftings, so in a matter of what 2-4 years 90% of the holdouts of the NHLPA no longer are needed anyway.
6th- 90% of all hockey players don't realy have a second career all ready to go to once his hockey carreer is over. Most are counting on investing some of their money in a business and to have their "name" bring in sales. losing half of their NHL playing years in an extended 2-3 lockout would be devastating to their personal wealth plans. The owners can go through a 5 year lockout and make all the lost money back in the 5 years after the lockout. Some of the players would have retired to the cayman islands but will have to settle for "balconville" and trying to convince kids arround the appartment block that they used to play hockey in the NHL.