They all can go to hell for all I care. So sick of this constant BS.

~ Drop it back to 50/50 IMMEDIATELY.

~ Honor current contract obligations. If current contract obligations exceed the cap for team x, make that team pay a luxury tax. Money collected from these taxes will be distributed to the financially challenged teams.
- laughs2907

Shhhhhhh, logic isn't allowed around the CBA meetings.

i didnt think his blogs could get anymore ridiculous after the finding a way to spin the possible 2 week moratorium in a positive manner.....was i ever wrong

"what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent blog were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone on these boards are now dumber for having read it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul"

Shhhhhhh, logic isn't allowed around the CBA meetings.
- BarDownBobo

This whole thing should have been over long ago... There's too many damn egos.

i didnt think his blogs could get anymore ridiculous after the finding a way to spin the possible 2 week moratorium in a positive manner.....was i ever wrong

"what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent blog were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone on these boards are now dumber for having read it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul"
- hugefemale dog77

I don't think I read that one, but negotiating breaks are used all the time. Even though it didn't happen, I think the NHL was wise to suggest it.

I don't think I read that one, but negotiating breaks are used all the time. Even though it didn't happen, I think the NHL was wise to suggest it.
- laughs2907

for sure, when they should have started last year. not 2 months into the season and knockin on the door of cancelling it...

anyway. i see your point. the neverending self serving optimism just irks me abit

for sure, when they should have started last year. not 2 months into the season and knockin on the door of cancelling it...

anyway. i see your point. the neverending self serving optimism just irks me abit
- hugefemale dog77

In all fair the NHL did try to start negotiations last year.

In all fair the NHL did try to start negotiations last year.
- Yeti1181

for sure. i was talking about the situation in general being dire. but it's a joke the union didnt want to. and has hardly made any real offers up to now. were they hoping the owners would continue to play under the old CBA until an agreement was reached?? that would be crazy. can u imagine how much more dug in theyd be?
and the whole attempting to have the nhl pay off itself over and over is getting tiresome for the owners im sure. dont think there's a ton of rope left.

they were at such a loss and standstill last week, these 2 master negotiators didnt even know what to do next.

bettman speaking about a phone conv with fehr--"In the course of that conversation he said he didn't know what to do or how to proceed. I said maybe we should take a little downtime, a couple of weeks, especially since we had just five sessions in six days and nothing was produced. In light of that fact he didn't know how to proceed".............

how in the eff does one spin this towards optimism or progress??

for sure, when they should have started last year. not 2 months into the season and knockin on the door of cancelling it...

anyway. i see your point. the neverending self serving optimism just irks me abit
- hugefemale dog77

They've just blown out 300+ games of the 12-13 season and still neither side is giving an inch and on the verge of wasting another entire season. They could have started negotiating 5 minutes after signing the last deal and we'd still be exactly where we are today. Unfortunately its the nature of labor negotiations. Nothing EVER gets done until both sides have gone through a couple "clicks" on the old Russian roulette. And that just doesn't happen during the course of an pre-existing labor agreement when everyone is making money and life is good. If it did, strikes and lockouts would have never been invented.

They've just blown out 300+ games of the 12-13 season and still neither side is giving an inch and on the verge of wasting another entire season. They could have started negotiating 5 minutes after signing the last deal and we'd still be exactly where we are today. Unfortunately its the nature of labor negotiations. Nothing EVER gets done until both sides have gone through a couple "clicks" on the old Russian roulette. And that just doesn't happen during the course of an pre-existing labor agreement when everyone is making money and life is good. If it did, strikes and lockouts would have never been invented.
- Wendel_Rocked

You had me until that last statement. The only reason this lockout is even possible is because this is an entertainment industry where the owners have their fingers in many different pie's. The president of general motors would never shut down production for three fu@kin months over a few million dollars, it wouldn't be feasible. Not only would the profits stop, but the overhead that he'd still be paying on his assets would eat him alive. These NHL owners can still sell merchandise and rent out their arenas for other venues. Plus most of them are so wealthy that the majority of their income is from other ventures. Where am I going with this? Anyway, strikes were "invented" out of the backbone of average folk who one day stood up to the wealthy tycoons and demanded fairness. Lockouts came much later after the unions were able to make gains, and the rich owners decided the time was right to take back some of those gains.

From TSN:

However, after requesting Monday's meeting the union didn't arrive with a new offer. Instead, Fehr was hoping to engage the league in a discussion on core economics and player contract issues.

Fehr called the meeting just to continue to waste the owners time. He's got nothing better to do so he's going to continue with his timewasting bullcrap.

How anyone can support the NHLPA when they continue to refuse to present a single well thought out offer is beyond me.

If Ek thinks that the the players are controlling Fehr, answer me this, how would they do that? My understanding (and someone will correct me if i'm wrong) is that Fehr dissolved the entire power structure of the NHLPA below himself so that there are only 2 levels now, you are either a player, or your Fehr. There's no board or executive committee that Fehr needs to answer to. My understanding is that Fehr did this so that a Goodenow situation can't occur. That means, unlike the last time, if the negotiator is off his rocker with demands, the players are powerless.

Tell me again how the players are driving the NHLPA bus instead of just being window dressing?

It's over Johnny..... over.. Nothing happens today but anger and more bitterness,,, Season will be cancelled soon... ECk no offense but I wonder who your player sources are.. cause it just don't seem they are being truthful with ya

From another article :

Fehr, however, said he was "not in the prediction business" when asked whether Monday's discussion would lead to a detailed proposal presentation by his union on Tuesday.

Oh joy, the owners have to be thrilled about another wasted day of Fehr taking bathroom breaks and throwing out random demands without producing anything of his own.

The owners may not want to cancel the season but it may be better than having to continue to sit in meeting rooms waiting on Fehr to start negotiating. 6 hours late for meetings, interminable bathroom breaks and ZERO credible proposals.

From TSN:

However, after requesting Monday's meeting the union didn't arrive with a new offer. Instead, Fehr was hoping to engage the league in a discussion on core economics and player contract issues.

Fehr called the meeting just to continue to waste the owners time. He's got nothing better to do so he's going to continue with his timewasting bullcrap.

How anyone can support the NHLPA when they continue to refuse to present a single well thought out offer is beyond me.

If Ek thinks that the the players are controlling Fehr, answer me this, how would they do that? My understanding (and someone will correct me if i'm wrong) is that Fehr dissolved the entire power structure of the NHLPA below himself so that there are only 2 levels now, you are either a player, or your Fehr. There's no board or executive committee that Fehr needs to answer to. My understanding is that Fehr did this so that a Goodenow situation can't occur. That means, unlike the last time, if the negotiator is off his rocker with demands, the players are powerless.

Tell me again how the players are driving the NHLPA bus instead of just being window dressing?
- Flyers_01

Because they've already conceded a big chunk of revenue to the owners, despite the fact that the league is making more money than it ever has. It's the owners that are holding up your season not the players.

People are running from the players because the longer this thing goes on, the more people just want their hockey back and the quickest way for that to happen is for the players to just capitulate. Don't forget the laughable offer the owners came out with. They're still going to end up getting about half what was on that draconian list.

it's depressing that we've gotten to the point where don fehr and jimmy page look very much alike.

Because they've already conceded a big chunk of revenue to the owners, despite the fact that the league is making more money than it ever has. It's the owners that are holding up your season not the players.

People are running from the players because the longer this thing goes on, the more people just want their hockey back and the quickest way for that to happen is for the players to just capitulate. Don't forget the laughable offer the owners came out with. They're still going to end up getting about half what was on that draconian list.
- fattyboubatty

The players have conceded nothing other than a PR talking point. Until you concede on how your going to reach 50/50, it's all just hot air. The owners original proposal SEVERAL MONTHS AGO was a lowball offer but that was to be expected from an initial offer. The NHLPA has yet to propose a single credible offer and you are blaming the owners for that? Is it your position that the NHLPA should refuse to negotiate because they were insulted by an opening offer?

I really think it might not be the worst thing if the two sides just had a couple days rest at this point. I hear it does a world of good.

it's depressing that we've gotten to the point where don fehr and jimmy page look very much alike.
- ron_mexico7

hahaha. btw, who is that guy with the crusty the clown haircut who is always carrying a backpack and is always walking near Donald Fehr leaving or going into the meetings?

Time for Bettman and the NHL to throw down the guantlet. Set a hard/firm date to have an agreement agreed upon, signed, and in place or the season is canceled...and in the same breath, NHLPA we await an official offer from you.

the players are the ones wasting time...they requested the meeting and didn't have their "concepts" ready. Their 50/50 proposal is not based on real numbers...revenue will be down for a while.
- flashfire

It is the Owners 50/50 number that is based on Revenue growth. The players 50/50 proposal is based on a fixed number, plus 1.75% compounded of that.

The players have conceded nothing other than a PR talking point. Until you concede on how your going to reach 50/50, it's all just hot air. The owners original proposal SEVERAL MONTHS AGO was a lowball offer but that was to be expected from an initial offer. The NHLPA has yet to propose a single credible offer and you are blaming the owners for that? Is it your position that the NHLPA should refuse to negotiate because they were insulted by an opening offer?
- Flyers_01

And it's also to be expected for the players not to give in on a final offer on 50/50 while there are still other areas where the League wants to take every concession. It's called negotiating. And it is untrue that the players have yet to propose a single credible offer. Their counter proposal on Make Whole was that. This is a two way street.

enough of the he said, she said

each team should be represented by one fan in these negotiations so they can report back to the rest of the fans about what's really going on

I really don't expect much from the players. They haven't given anything to this point. There is no doubt that the players and the union are more solidified this time around. This is a good thing. But the fact remains, and no disrespect intended on the players, but they just aren't very smart. This is now reinforced by grown men acting like 15 years with stupid comments made on twitter and even dumber comments made to the press (Crosby). They don't seem to understand that while they don't play they get paid 0 yet they still want everything they had before. The players are the game, but they don't own the game. The owners do, and there is nothing that you can do to change that. For this reason you won't win. You are fighting against businessmen that have what they have because they are ruthless. These people are billionaires not because of the moves they make on the ice, but because they are smart in the boardroom. Now the players may say if the owners are that smart why are we in this position? We are in this position because the owners are smart, the hire pencil pushers to find ways around the cap. They do this because the ultimate goal.. playoffs, cup win is what makes team money. I have said this before. The owners need a deal that saves them from themselves.

I really don't expect much from the players. They haven't given anything to this point. There is no doubt that the players and the union are more solidified this time around. This is a good thing. But the fact remains, and no disrespect intended on the players, but they just aren't very smart. This is now reinforced by grown men acting like 15 years with stupid comments made on twitter and even dumber comments made to the press (Crosby). They don't seem to understand that while they don't play they get paid 0 yet they still want everything they had before. The players are the game, but they don't own the game. The owners do, and there is nothing that you can do to change that. For this reason you won't win. You are fighting against businessmen that have what they have because they are ruthless. These people are billionaires not because of the moves they make on the ice, but because they are smart in the boardroom. Now the players may say if the owners are that smart why are we in this position? We are in this position because the owners are smart, the hire pencil pushers to find ways around the cap. They do this because the ultimate goal.. playoffs, cup win is what makes team money. I have said this before. The owners need a deal that saves them from themselves.
- TSTER

What I don't understand is why the words of a few, paint the entire body of over 700 players with the same brush stroke? The players don't want everything they had before. They just don't want to give everything up, nor do they want to be the only side that pays for the struggling financial issues of some teams.The Owners don't own the game, they own the teams. If the Owners are so smart, then how come so many of them are struggling when the League has taken in record revenue. Read Bill Meltzer's latest blog today on how some of those Owner's have badly mismanaged their teams. And isn't it a contradiction to state how smart they are, then in a later sentence state that they need a deal to save them from themselves?

Because they've already conceded a big chunk of revenue to the owners, despite the fact that the league is making more money than it ever has. It's the owners that are holding up your season not the players.

People are running from the players because the longer this thing goes on, the more people just want their hockey back and the quickest way for that to happen is for the players to just capitulate. Don't forget the laughable offer the owners came out with. They're still going to end up getting about half what was on that draconian list.
- fattyboubatty

The league is barely making any money at all. Lots of revenue, no profit.