OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - The 94-95 Lockout

SprongShowHKY · 11-15-2020, 08:52 AM

Welcome Hockey Fans

Bob McKenzie states:

The 93-94 Season has just ended. The Detroit Red Wings were crowned champions, Lemieux broke the 200 point club at 204pts and Mark Messier wins the Trophy in his name sake.

The CBA is set to expire right after the 94 Entry Draft. Meaning the NHLPA and the Owners will have to have an agreement in place before starting next season. With the MLB seemingly headed towards a lockout and the abrupt retirement of Michael Jordan, the landscape of the 4 major North American leagues has never been more vulnerable. Commissioner Gary Bettman has his work cut out for him as the NHL can't afford to lose any ground.

The NHLPA is threatening a lockout on the grounds that players on entry level deals or second contracts are making the same/more money than veterans who have signed their free agent deals years ago. Their main argument is that with the recent expansion of San Jose, Ottawa, Tampa, and Anaheim, the Owners and League Revenues have never been higher.

There is turmoil amongst the owners as well. With a small player pool for expansion franchises to get started, it is very difficult to become a competitive team, hurting ticket sales and making it hard to establish a fan base. Bettman has used the term "competitive balance" in recent interviews. Other Owners are upset that Detroit is seemingly in a position to become a dynasty, gambling on Russians like Fedorov, Kozlov and Konstantinov while already having players like Yzerman, Sheppard, Lidstrom and Probert.

Some storylines for the Off-Season:

What will become of the CBA negotiations?
How will the Draft Play out?
LA has done a poor job building around Gretzky and the team has remained stagnant over the last few years? Will Gretzky look to enter his twilight years on a club he doesn't have to carry?
Early rumblings of Patrick Roy and conflict among Les Canadiens staff.

And most importantly,

How will this affect the Maple Leafs?

Edit: For the sake of the story I want to tell and having control of a team. I will take control of the Toronto Maple Leafs, I want to let the CPU do the entry draft, but will have to negotiate with FA's long before I let everyone know

11-15-2020, 08:52 AM	#1
SprongShowHKY Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Apr 2018 Posts: 37	The 94-95 Lockout Welcome Hockey Fans Bob McKenzie states: The 93-94 Season has just ended. The Detroit Red Wings were crowned champions, Lemieux broke the 200 point club at 204pts and Mark Messier wins the Trophy in his name sake. The CBA is set to expire right after the 94 Entry Draft. Meaning the NHLPA and the Owners will have to have an agreement in place before starting next season. With the MLB seemingly headed towards a lockout and the abrupt retirement of Michael Jordan, the landscape of the 4 major North American leagues has never been more vulnerable. Commissioner Gary Bettman has his work cut out for him as the NHL can't afford to lose any ground. The NHLPA is threatening a lockout on the grounds that players on entry level deals or second contracts are making the same/more money than veterans who have signed their free agent deals years ago. Their main argument is that with the recent expansion of San Jose, Ottawa, Tampa, and Anaheim, the Owners and League Revenues have never been higher. There is turmoil amongst the owners as well. With a small player pool for expansion franchises to get started, it is very difficult to become a competitive team, hurting ticket sales and making it hard to establish a fan base. Bettman has used the term "competitive balance" in recent interviews. Other Owners are upset that Detroit is seemingly in a position to become a dynasty, gambling on Russians like Fedorov, Kozlov and Konstantinov while already having players like Yzerman, Sheppard, Lidstrom and Probert. Some storylines for the Off-Season: What will become of the CBA negotiations? How will the Draft Play out? LA has done a poor job building around Gretzky and the team has remained stagnant over the last few years? Will Gretzky look to enter his twilight years on a club he doesn't have to carry? Early rumblings of Patrick Roy and conflict among Les Canadiens staff. And most importantly, How will this affect the Maple Leafs? Edit: For the sake of the story I want to tell and having control of a team. I will take control of the Toronto Maple Leafs, I want to let the CPU do the entry draft, but will have to negotiate with FA's long before I let everyone know Last edited by SprongShowHKY; 11-15-2020 at 09:18 AM.