Eklund: Players Rallying To Save Season. Preparing to Step Up.

I don't know what's more ugly, the current state of negotiations or the 49ers-Bears game. I certainly don't think things are nearly optimistic as Ek is making it out to be, especially given the comments made on Twitter after the meeting ended.

While I'm on the topic, I don't get how everything going on leaves the optimism meter at or past "progress." At best, it should have been stuck back at "no progress." If the last few weeks have counted as progress, then I expect Bettman cancelling the season to finally move the meter down to just above "could go either way."

#2 is a poo

No Merch.

Quote from Chris Botta

@ChrisBottaNHL: Player text on NHL meeting: "More wasted time. Our choice is either give up everything to the league or watch them cancel the season."

Sounds like your getting bunk info

Cancel this b!tch already

Ps: how come the meter never changes???

Eklund: Players Rallying To Save Season. Preparing to Step Up.
- Eklund

Classic EK, putting a positive spin on a negative situation. Cancel the season and quit playing the fans for fools.

I suppose you have to give Eklund credit. Can't be easy to spin absolutely everything into an optimistic point of view.

If the PA holds firm on its demand for a set dollar amount each season (rather than a percentage of revenue), then the season is done. Negotiations will continue to fall apart until the two sides start speaking the same language when it comes to HRR--which basically means the two sides are no closer than they were in October.

Classic EK, putting a positive spin on a negative situation. Cancel the season and quit playing the fans for fools.
- nickp001

He has to run the site and keep people interested. He's been doing this ever since this whole mess started. This site is for entertainment purposes only.

I suppose you have to give Eklund credit. Can't be easy to spin absolutely everything into an optimistic point of view.
- FlareKnight

There's "playing devil's advocate" and "being detached from reality." One is at least defensible.

I can do the "devil's advocate" thing. Give me someone who wants to argue the pro-owners side, I can go argue the pro-players side; give me someone who wants to argue the pro-players side, I can go argue the pro-owners side. It doesn't mean I buy into the side I'm arguing for completely (I've been critical of both sides throughout), but I can at least understand each side's position (even if it doesn't make a lot of sense).

Want me to argue that what's been happening is positive? Sure it is ... but only if this is Bizarro World.

#BoycottTheOptimismMeter #HockeybuzzUser2HockeybuzzUser

Quote from Chris Botta

@ChrisBottaNHL: Player text on NHL meeting: "More wasted time. Our choice is either give up everything to the league or watch them cancel the season."

Sounds like your getting bunk info

Cancel this b!tch already

Ps: how come the meter never changes???
- stuckey

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.

After reading about the outcome of tonights meeting between the NLHPA and the NHL on TSN, it seems to me that the NHLPA is playing a cat and mouse game with the NHL. The NHLPA does not seem interested in making a stance, or actually making a serious offer. And they keep wanting to define items, and goes back and forth on the issues that may not be the real issue here...

Im not picking sides here, but it seems like the NHL is sick and tired of the smoke and mirrors from the NHLPA

Just cancel it already. Ive heard more than enough from both camps. All fans have and if they really want to wipe out all the gains from the past 7 years, so be it. They're acting like two pimply 14 year olds that suddenly have a naked girl in front of them and cant decide who gets to touch boob first and by the time they figure it out the girl will have put her clothes on, left and be getting railed by someone else.

Eklund: Players Rallying To Save Season. Preparing to Step Up.
- Eklund

Not looking to call you a liar or anything, but I'll believe that when I see it. The players are just another bunch of pathetic fiercely ambitious money men fighting for the right to be the first to chase a dollar off a cliff.

The players in 2010-11?? You realize that this is the 2012-13 season, right?

Call me when we have hockey again. (Clearly that wont be till next year)

Not looking to call you a liar or anything, but I'll believe that when I see it. The players are just another bunch of pathetic fiercely ambitious money men fighting for the right to be the first to chase a dollar off a cliff.
- thefullnelson

Well said!

After reading about the outcome of tonights meeting between the NLHPA and the NHL on TSN, it seems to me that the NHLPA is playing a cat and mouse game with the NHL. The NHLPA does not seem interested in making a stance, or actually making a serious offer. And they keep wanting to define items, and goes back and forth on the issues that may not be the real issue here...

Im not picking sides here, but it seems like the NHL is sick and tired of the smoke and mirrors from the NHLPA
- sjshrky27

Bring in the scabs or cancel the season already. Pathetic greedy millionaires EVERY SINGLE ONE. Both sides cant figure out how to share 8 billion dollars? Then I am not on either side. The can all go away as far as Im concerned.

I was ok with the last lockout because the league seemed to be in trouble, but this time? No excuse!

Well said!
- As_I_See_It

They ALL ARE! Theyve stolen our enjoyment from us to fatten their wallets.

Quote from Chris Botta

@ChrisBottaNHL: Player text on NHL meeting: "More wasted time. Our choice is either give up everything to the league or watch them cancel the season."

Sounds like your getting bunk info

Cancel this b!tch already

Ps: how come the meter never changes???
- stuckey

Give up everything, revenue sharing 50/50 is giving up everything? That's an interesting way to look at it I guess. Are the players getting screwed, who knows but if history tells us anything, if the players lose a years salary they will be begging for the 50/50 split.

The... players... HAVE... YET... to ... present... a... "full"... proposal.

Do the players even know what they want?

Does Fehr know how to do anything besides antagonize, stall and waste time?

They ALL ARE! Theyve stolen our enjoyment from us to fatten their wallets.
- edmac812

Sure, but just remember one thing... The players are COMMODITIES.

If any side is more entitled it's the owners and the league.

~ 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.

Great blog Ek, you are clearly on top of things here. Blog again when players, owners or Fehr contacts you with more inside info.

PS. You need to put a quarter in your meter to make it run again.