NHL Lockout misery continues
If you weren’t already sure, NHL lockout negotiations descended in to unadulterated farce on Thursday as optimistic thoughts of a done deal were dashed in bizarre fashion.
Donald Fehr had just recited the details of the PA’s latest proposal to a press huddle, we’d even had Sidney Crosby inform us he believed this was a deal that could be finalised. They went as far as to state that it was no longer about how much the NHL would pay them in the “make whole” agreement, only contractual clauses remained. Before Fehr could leave the building however, he was forced to return in front of the cameras to say the NHL had rejected those terms, by voicemail.
This was the conclusion of three days of continuous talks that began positively on Tuesday, soured over Wednesday before blowing up yesterday. Meetings over the first two days involved only six owners and deputy commissioner Bill Daly negotiating with around 20 players. The change of personnel seemed to be paying dividends until the reaction of indifference to the NHL upping it’s “make whole” provision to the middle ground. With that cloud hanging over Thursday’s bargaining, as well as Gary Bettman/D. Fehr back in the room, it fell apart once more.
Bettman’s explanation of the debacle came within the hour, he and the owners had asked for a simple yes or no answer to their latest offer and instead got another proposal from the PA. Predictable accusations at Fehr followed, but they have a case if he’s moving the goalposts on the big issues, first citing make whole and then to contracts before dragging up pensions once they were sorted. The commissioner went on to say that his side had given up in other areas but needed the players to agree on this CBA lasting ten years and a cap on contract lengths at five years. Since the PA tried to compromise on those aspects, they walked away from it.
Providing Fehr isn’t just making up new issues to hold up an agreement, there is now clarity on what remains to be sorted. Whether Bettman truly means that all this week’s concessions have been pulled and he has made his best offer is also hugely important. Consensus seems to be that both sides are too close to let the season go, the lack of logic during the process makes me think don’t get too sure just yet. Right hand men Bill Daly and Steve Fehr have been in constant contact throughout and those two will probably figure out when they come back to the table outside the usual posturing.
Cancellations up to the new year may come soon but I’m hoping January will be the start date for the season.
