Day 66 in the NHL Big Bother House
Yep, we’re still locked out on Day 66 as the NHL continues on its path to implosion.
Thankfully though developments over the last week or so seem to have reaffirmed some optimism that the entire season shouldn’t be written off just yet. I’m also at pains to point out that a deal isn’t going to happen in the short term either, for both my sanity and yours.
Wednesday brought the most significant moment to date with the NHLPA submitting their latest proposal; the first to work directly off the owners’ effort before it.
The issue of revenue sharing would appear to be pretty much resolved, as the focus shifts to who essentially foots the bill for this mess. The League’s initial “make whole” suggestion had their share at $211m; which the PA countered bullishly with $393m, citing that they weren’t the ones putting the chains on arena doors. It goes without saying that such a gap will need to be closed somehow, whether that is feasible as the costs continue to rise is up for debate, along with tying up any number of contractual clause loose ends.
Within an hour of yesterday’s meetings ending, both Gary Bettman and a couple of players had reacted hilariously/depressingly by saying that the opposing side uncannily just won’t budge. Obviously the fact that neither party is demanding anything close to their initial proposal from months ago makes a mockery of those claims, but we have to put up with each claiming they’re being hard done by. The inane PR war is infuriating in the way it alienates fans who just want a fair deal done, as soon as possible.
Any prediction of an endpoint at this stage would be pure speculation, at this moment no further talks are scheduled, as always there’s a baffling lack of urgency. Expect cancellations in to December to be announced soon, that they hadn’t been official before this point is indicative of hope before Wednesday’s meetings at least.
I don’t doubt that within both the owners and PA are plenty who would take the deal currently offered to them just to get us under way again. Unfortunately they are being marginalised to show solidarity to those (somewhat) understandably seeking the best deal for themselves. There’s a breaking point where the lockout will do irreparable damage to the NHL, the fans will always come back through their loyalty, but will key sponsors be so forgiving.
Then at least we might get the right deal, for the wrong reasons.