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Desperately seeking skating subs: apparently, fans have the same loyalty to the players as most players have to their teams. The people have spoken: bring on the replacements

Sporting News, The, Feb 11, 2005 by Kara Yorio

Let's imagine, for a moment, that labor law regarding declaring a lawful impasse isn't more subjective than a diving call. Let's pretend the league is putting itself on a track to have a lawful impasse declared that would, in turn, allow the NHL to implement its economic system. So here we are--impasse declared, cap implemented, players on strike and owners bringing in replacement players.

And that brings us to the fans. You remember the fans. What would the fans do? What would you do?

First, consider what the current NHL players would do. Some might cross the line and compete as replacements, but most replacements likely would be young or fringe players--not the league's biggest stars. So it seems logical that most people wouldn't want to watch a lower-level game played by unknowns.

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But keep in mind that remaining loyal to specific players has been difficult for years, as players follow dollar signs to new cities and trades make the term franchise player comically antiquated. In this climate, is the idea of fans handing over hard-earned cash to see skating temps that far-fetched?

A poll by FOXSports.com gave us the answer, and NHL players should be a little concerned.

With about 9,900 votes cast, 64 percent said they would pay to see replacement players. So a majority of these NHL fans would be willing to rip the Roenick off their authentic jerseys and root for whoever is on the home team.

Of course, there was a caveat. In the hundreds of e-mails that arrived with the votes, most people wanted assurance of much lower ticket prices to see minor leaguers.

A few voters even thought that an NHL roster spot might open up for them. Of course, NHL general managers wouldn't troll local beer leagues for second-line centers. Those filling the spots of the players' association members would be professionals from different levels, and most of them would be players who wouldn't have to worry about recrimination or retaliation if they ever made it to the NHL after the real players returned. But it's good to have a dream.

One of the best e-mails came from a 13-year old looking for clarification on replacement players, asking if only the old players would be replaced. Now that's an idea. How about replacing the old players and those whose only skills are dumping the puck and hitting from behind? No such luck. All union skates would be emptied, no matter the age or ability.

Of course, for way too many people, the issue of replacement players is irrelevant. Plenty of Blackhawks fans wrote to say they wouldn't know the difference.

speed read

Something great is happening on Long Island, where general manager Mike Milbury is calling season-ticket holders to apologize for , the lockout and ask for their continued support. He's even listening to more than a few complaints from armchair general managers unhappy with past trades, This hasn't been said often, but here goes: More G.M.s should follow Milbury's lead.

INSIDE DISH

With unconfirmed rumors that a soft-cap system is on the table, the labor dispute once again has become about semantics. The "soft cap, " which would tax teams that exceed a payroll threshold, is a luxury tax system--the same type of system the NHL has sworn won't work and said it won't accept. If the league does make a soft-cap deal, it will be capitulating. But don't declare a players victory just yet. These things are like big trades-it takes years to analyze the outcome. After all, the last collective bargaining agreement was declared a huge victory for the owners, and the players obviously got the better of that one. > With a negotiating strategy that leaves the league unwilling to declare a drop-dead date, fans are left hanging, Is the league willing to play a 28-game season? A 30-team Stanley Cup playoff tournament without any regular-season games? NHL vice president Bill Daly says the league isn't at a point where it knows how few games would constitute a viable season. Of course, it does know and must have multiple contingency plans. This obviously is not an area in which the league would be unprepared. > Update from Europe: A possible season-ending wrist surgery took Modo C Peter Forsberg out of the running for the Swedish Elite League scoring title--and ruined a sentimental reunion with Canucks LW Markus Naslund, whose first Modo game was the one in which Forsberg was injured. Panthers LW Kristian Busellus led the league in scoring heading into last weekend. > The AHL All-Star Game has tamed into the NHL young-stars game. Twenty players on the 25-man Canadian roster played at least one game in the NHL last season, and more than a few were full-timers, including Bruins C Patrice Bergeren and Senators C Jason Spezza.

kyorio@sportingnews.com

Desperately seeking skating subs: apparently, fans have the same loyalty to the players as most players have to their teams. The people have spoken: bring on the replacements

Sporting News, The, Feb 11, 2005 by Kara Yorio

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