The league has had a chance to review to proposal from the NHLPA and it was a predictably cold response.
After taking approximately 12 hours to review the document presented by the players on Tuesday, Gary Bettman and the owners came back to the table on Wednesday and emphasized the significant gap between the two sides. We are officially inside of a month of the expiry of the current CBA and there's no real light at the end of the tunnel.
The two sides are expected to meet again Monday.
While both Bettman and the NHLPA continue to emphasize that starting the season on time is a priority, I can’t help but see that as complete and utter BS. If avoiding a lockout was their number one concern, these conversations would have started a long time ago.
Make no mistake about it- this is two groups looking out for their own interests. Sad part is it’s the fans- you know, the people that supply the money they are fighting over- that get left in the middle.
Not to mention that thousands of people that are going to be left without jobs in the event of a lockout.
Going to be a frustrating process for fans of the National Hockey League.
- Seems silly to be updating on potential deals during the middle of labour unrest but a quick word on Bobby Ryan. Indication I’m getting is that the price is still far too high for the Sens liking and they are more than willing to step aside and let another team overpay. As much as Bryan Murray would like to improve his roster, it’s nice to know it’s not going to be done “at all costs”. The Senators are in a position where they can be patient.
- With a potential lockout looming, players are already beginning to make plans to play elsewhere if a new CBA can not be reached. Rick Nash and Joe Thornton will head to Switzerland, Teemu Selanne could head to Finland and a number of stars will consider the KHL as an option. Meanwhile, you can't help but wonder what a lengthy stoppage would mean for Daniel Alfredsson, who recently announced he would come back for one more season. I can tell you I am making plans for my transition to BSensChirp.
