Make this happen NHL and NHLPA

This is something that I have seen tweeted and written print a few times in the last week, the is that the NHL owners have told the Commissioner Gary Bettman that cancelling the season is not an option.

Paper exchanged between NHL/ NHLPA. Bottom line: Big mkts. have told Bettman a cancelled season is no-go. Fehr knows this. So will grind.
— bruce dowbiggin (@dowbboy) January 2, 2013

If and when a new CBA is signed, word on the street is the NHL will make Centre Ice free for the season.
— Josh Rimer (@JoshRimerHockey) December 30, 2012

NHL CBA negotiations now a game of chicken?

National Hockey League Players' Association (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I have sometime's wondered if this is what's really going to happen. I was also wondering if the NHLPA will realize they can no longer get anymore out of the owners and then sign the best agreement, they can get.

It would appear that the owners aren't going to give them much. Me personally, I would advise the players to sign the deal that's on the table soon, if there is no movement by the owners so they can save the season.

Bruce Garrioch,OTTAWA SUN --- The NHL and NHL Players' Association have turned to a dangerous game of chicken with the season on the line.

Who blinks first?

NHLPA special counsel Steve Fehr did reach out to NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly for a short telephone conversation Tuesday, but no talks are scheduled even though both told QMI Agency Saturday they're prepared to bargain.

Daly said in an email to QMI Agency Tuesday that NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr is trying to bide his time to see if he can get his best deal for the players when the loss of the whole regular season is truly on the line.

But Daly also admitted a meeting wouldn't solve much because the NHL isn't going to go any further than the offer tabled two weeks ago in New York as the massive losses continue to mount for both sides.

"It disappoints me and saddens me because it's just more days lost," wrote Daly. "But, I'm not sure what meeting does from our side. There is nothing left to give and its clear Don is aiming toward a 'deadline' showdown."

This NHL Lockout has been a gong show, there is no reason this should have come to this. I like most are now wondering, when is the 2012-13 season is going to begin. Is there going to be an NHL season, if not, will there be an NHL season next year? We're running out of time for a season this year.

Not 100 percent, but it's likely NHL will cancel more games before end of the week
— Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) December 18, 2012

During the regular season, I watch 4-6 NHL hockey games every week. I follow the Boston Bruins and the Minnesota Wild and watch whoever is playing when neither team is on TV. This fall, much like the 2004-05 season this fall has been empty. My life has a void again, like the 2004-05 season. I find myself watching movies and bad sitcoms to fill the void. The people that are casual fans might not come back when the lockout is over.

A recent study of 1,000 Canadians found that the found the NHL lockout is so bad for the league's image that it's comparable to BP's Deep Water Horizon's destructive oil spill. Yeah! That's not good. So you have to wonder if this game of chicken the two sides are playing is doing more damage than good.

All that I want for Christmas is a meaningful NHL season.

RT @craigcustance: Hard to argue this from Brisson: "Canceling the season -- there's no words to describe how devastating that would be."
— Steve Zipay (@stevezipay) December 19, 2012

NHL.com to offer live WJC coverage

The wonderful time of the year, the WJC is one of the best hockey tourney's on hockey. As the No Hockey League owners continue their squabble with the NHLPA; at least there is going to be hockey on the NHL Network this winter.

It's also nice to see that there will  be rebroadcasts of the games in the evening at reasonable times so we can see the games an not have to get up at the oh dark thirty in the morning to watch the games.

NHL proposes meeting between owners, players

National Hockey League Players' Association (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This newspaper article came through my twitter feed. After reading a few of these articles it would appear that the owners are pulling out all the stops to break the NHLPA. I can't think of anything else that they're trying to accomplish.

Seriously! What else could this be?

It would also appear that the NHL owners are trying to check the unions solidarity as well. I suppose they think they can peal a few of the players off to pressure the union to sign their deal that they presented earlier.

Like some have said, this lockout just might be about the players with the big contracts. I am beginning to lean that way.

Rob Rossi, Triblive --- Now with a second lost season in eight years a growing possibility, the league has proposed a meeting between only owners and players, deputy commissioner Bill Daly said.

Daly declined to provide details, and he would not say whether all NHL owners or representatives would be available for the meeting that would exclude league and union executives such as commissioner Gary Bettman and union head Donald Fehr.

The Players’ Association did not say if it would agree to the meeting – though many players, including Penguins from Sidney Crosby to union rep Craig Adams, have said they would like to hear from more owners.

What do you think?

It would appear that the NHL owners have no intention of negotiating and seem to be dead set on cancelling another season if the players don't take their offer that is on the table. So we wait.

Holding out hope for an NHL season.

So, to review, NHLPA is prepared to go to 50-50 immediately, but wants $393M over four years as part of so-called "Make Whole."
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) November 21, 2012

I think many NHL fans are holding out hope that this could finally be the beginning of an agreement. It will be interesting to see how the NHL Owners respond.

Tweets of Silliness - Bettman wasn't two week Moratorium.

Daly: "Regardless of what we propose or how we suggest to compromise the answer is "no,"At some pt you have to say "enough is enough".
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) November 16, 2012

I really don't know why the two side can't come to an agreement and get a deal done. The NHL can't afford to lose another whole season. The NHL owners lead by one of the most unlikable people Gary Bettman is trying to break the player union or at least weaken it. If the season is lost, the blame in on the NHL Commissioner in my opinion.

Daly: "unfortunately, we have determined we are involved with Union leadership that has no genuine interest in reaching an agreement."
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) November 16, 2012

Series of Daly quotes on league initiated hiatus:"We have made repeated moves in the Players' direction with absolutely no reciprocation."
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) November 16, 2012

Sources have indicated Bettman floated the idea to NHLPA that both sides take 2 week moratorium.This has NOT been discussed further. #TSN
— Aaron Ward (@aaronward_nhl) November 16, 2012

#CBA Can confirm what @aaronward_nhl first reported, that Gary Bettman suggested to NHLPA's Don Fehr that two sides take 2-week moratorium
— Katie Strang (@KatieStrangESPN) November 16, 2012

My opinion: Bettman's 2 week moratorium makes no sense if he really wants a deal. Trying to burn calendar, put more pressure on players.
— Allan Walsh (@walsha) November 16, 2012

57% is irrelevant now that both sides talking about principle of 50/50. NHLPA agreed to eliminate back diving deals. @globekpd
— Allan Walsh (@walsha) November 16, 2012

Related articles

• Did Bettman over play his hand? (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

Can we have some F'N NHL Hockey?

We just went through what seems like the longest election of our time...At least the American's did.  To make things worse, the NHLPA and the NHL owners are still locked in a labor dispute and we still don't have an agreement after 52 days. Can we please get this thing settled? Lock both sides a room until they can come up with an agreement.

Is there a solution looming.

This is good news... Right?

NHL-NHLPA meeting still going....
— Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) November 7, 2012

#CBA As of 9:25 p.m. ET, talks between NHL/NHLPA still ongoing. Interpret that as you wish...
— Katie Strang (@KatieStrangESPN) November 7, 2012

Is a deal close between the NHLPA and the NHL Owners

You have to wonder if a deal is close to being done. Articles like this give me hope that we can salvage a NHL season.

Dan Oldfield, CBC Sports --- We've heard that the No. 2 guys in the NHL and the NHLPA, Bill Daly and Steve Fehr, held a "marathon" bargaining session this weekend. We also learned there are plans to bring the parties together for more formal talks this week. What does that mean?

I’ll be bold here and say it means a deal is inevitable.

One can only believe that a marathon session (with several breaks) means that Daly and Fehr had something to talk about and they were clearly checking compass directions with other key players. More than that, there obviously is reason to return to the table. They would not be doing this merely to restate positions already well known to each other.

The two sides are meeting today in New York City. According to the NHLPA the following players Craig Adams, David Backes, Martin Biron, Chris Campoli, Sidney Crosby, Mathieu Darche, Ron Hainsey, Johan Hedberg, Milan Lucic, Manny Malhotra, Steve Montador, Shawn Thornton, Kevin Westgarth.

Is there an end in sight to the NHL lockout?

I have been reading some of the articles that have popped up in my twitter feed group/list that I created and I am not sure what to make out of some of the tweets and stories that have appeared this afternoon and into this evening.

One of the questions that I think that is starting to come up is did the NHL owners over play their hands and are they finally realizing that the players aren’t going to break? So are the owners ready to crack?

Pierre LeBrun, ESPN.com --- Fehr reiterated to ESPN.com on Tuesday that he believes the league in that meeting Thursday told the NHLPA there isn't much wiggle room on the rest of the deal, apart from "make whole," other than "minor and insubstantial" tweaks.

Not helping things is the growing distrust between the two sides, the controversy over the league’s 48-hour window allowing GMs to talk to players being the latest example. It’s the kind of thing that doesn't inspire either side to believe anything the other side is saying.

Having said that, all rhetoric aside, I believe the ability of both sides to figure out "make whole" is paramount to having any chance of ending this lockout.

This is the article that makes me think that the end to the lockout might be closer than we all think. I mean seriously, we know that there are some NHL owners that aren’t doing that well financially and last year one blog said that there were a half dozen teams that might not make if there is a lockout that lasts for a whole season.

James Mirtle, Globe and Mail --- So the NHL is tired of talking to “a baseball guy” and trying to take its message directly to the players, looking for a sympathetic ear.

Such an end-around isn’t unusual – after all, it happened during the last lockout – but it usually comes as part of an endgame strategy.

Are we that far along already? Maybe.

But this time around it is as much to do with (a) testing the players’ resolve and (b) frustration with NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr’s dour consistency as anything.

It’s also a sign the league is getting a little anxious – and that a compromise that can end this lockout could actually not be as far away as the rhetoric suggests.

What the NHL is really doing here is fishing for weak points in the membership: players who really don’t want to miss paycheques and are willing to consider the not quite 50-50 offer on the table.

I guess only time will tell and here are a few more tweets that popped up tonight, that you can peruse and see what I am talking about.

@helenenothelen @michaelgrange I do. And I suspect Bettman and Fehr settle this long before we hear about meeting that seals it.
— Rob Rossi (@RobRossi_Trib) October 24, 2012

likely this deal gets done before either #NHL or #nhlpa confirm meeting that ends #lockout. This was never ending in public view. #quietgood
— Rob Rossi (@RobRossi_Trib) October 24, 2012

Related articles

• NHL Lockout: NHLPA Counteroffer Seems to Makes Sense, What's the Hold Up? (bleacherreport.com)
• NHL lockout 2012: NHLPA counter-proposal expected Thursday (sbnation.com)

Not so fast - NHLPA and NHL Owners no closer to a deal

English: NHL Commisioner Gary Bettman in 2007. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

On Tuesday the NHL owners put forth another proposal for a new CBA – shortly thereafter there was a lot of excitement that finally we might get an NHL season.

Donald Fehr came out on Tuesday and said, "Simply put, the owners' new proposal, while not quite as Draconian as their previous proposals, still represents enormous reductions in player salaries and individual contracting rights."

Today, the NHLPA put forth three (3) counter proposals to the NHL owners and Gary Bettman and the NHL owners balked at all three of them.

TORONTO — NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman received three counterproposals from the players’ association on Thursday and left the negotiating table “thoroughly disappointed.”

No new talks have been scheduled, and the possibility of a full hockey regular season is quickly shrinking.

The union offered multiple options in response to the NHL’s offer on Tuesday that called for an 82-game season and a 50-50 split of hockey-related revenues between owners and players.

Bettman said that proposal was the “best that we could do” and added that the two sides are still far apart.

“None of the three variations of player share that they gave us even began to approach 50-50, either at all or for some long period of time,” Bettman said. “It’s clear we’re not speaking the same language.”

After today's revelations, I think we're right back where we were before the lastest round of proposals and counter proposals. This tweet by the Breaking News Twitter feed give me pause to think that we're not going to have an NHL season this year.

NHL owners reject 3 counter-offers from players; commissioner says sides 'nowhere close' to deal - @globeandmail bit.ly/RbCL0W
— Breaking News (@BreakingNews) October 18, 2012

Sidney Crosby: when you make 3 proposals and get shut down in 10 minutes it's hard to think the other side really wants to negotiate.
— Michael Grange (@michaelgrange) October 18, 2012

Crosby says he will look a little harder at playing in Europe.
— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) October 18, 2012

Easton Synergy EQ50 Sr. Hockey Equipment Combo (Google Affiliate Ad)

College Hockey takes center stage

Originally posted at the Hockey Writers - Combine

Obviously, the NHL Lockout has been a major buzz kill for NHL hockey fans so far this fall and there doesn’t seem to be a solution coming anytime soon – nor does either side seem like they have any incentive to reach a deal.

For most, the NHL has become the no hockey league where both sides don’t appear to be doing what any of us would consider serious negotiating.

This afternoon, I read a tweet on twitter from a ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun that the NHL owners are strongly suggesting that the NHLPA put forth some kind of a counter proposal to the NHL Owners –  not to be outdone of course  – the NHLPA asked the owners to come up with sometime as well. I just don’t think we’re going to get any kind of an agreement in the near future.

Pierre LeBrun

• ✔

@Real_ESPNLeBrun

Told that NHL strongly urged NHLPA in meeting today to come up with new offer. In turn, NHLPA also asked league to come up with new offer...

5 Oct 12

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While the NHL owners and the NHLPA continue with their childish shenanigans  – the NCAA Division I college hockey season is upon us and starting this weekend there will be quite a few NCAA teams that will be playing their exhibition games against Canadian Interuniversity Sport.

While none of these games count in the standings, it’s a good way for  head coachs to evaluate their teams. Also, these game can serve as a measuring stick for the CIS teams that want to see how their teams compare against the NCAA Division I teams. The CIS teams also have many ex-CHL’s on their rosters that play in the CIS after they are done with their junior hockey eligibility.

Bonus Hockey

Starting tomorrow night, there is also going to be three official Division I hockey games. All three games are out east,  the Maine Black Bears of Hockey East take on the Quinnipiac Bobcats of Atlantic Hockey Association at Alfond Arena, Orno Maine.

Moving down the coast and west, the Falcons of  Bowling Green plays the Niagara Purple Eagles of the Atlantic Hockey Association in Dwyer Arena in Niagara New York and finally, Merrimack College of Hockey East plays against last season’s Frozen Four team Union College of the ECAC at the Achilles Center in Schenectady, N.Y. unfortunately, none of these games are on TV this weekend.

The only game that will be on this weekend is the University of North Dakota takes on the Manitoba Bison of CIS at the Ralph Englestad Arena in Grand Forks, North Dakota – that game is on FCS you can check your local listings for the channel,  the game is also on DirecTV 626  at  7:07  PM Central Standard Time – unfortunately Fox College Sports isn’t on Dish Network.

Related articles

• Sunday Evening Humor and CBA discussions. (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• NHL, union meet Friday, plan for more talks (espn.go.com)

NHL to cancel games because of the lockout

Slight window that would allow 82-game season, #mnwild will cut checks to those fans wanting refunds now (2/2)
— Michael Russo (@Russostrib) October 4, 2012

Although, not official, it's expected the NHL will announce games from Oct 11 through Oct 24th have been cancelled.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) October 4, 2012

NHL cancels 82 games, thru Oct. 24. RT @downgoesbrown: "Here's hoping it was just the entire Blue Jackets schedule." Ha!
— Mark Spector Sports (@SportsnetSpec) October 4, 2012

The No Hockey League appears to be coming to reality. It would appear that the NHL will cancelled it's first block of game because of the Lockout.

NHL: 14 days of games cancelled.Players in Europe: big deal. Season ticketholders: owners still have our money paid in April.
— Chris Botta (@ChrisBottaNHL) October 4, 2012

Per NHL release: "The cancellation was necessary because of the absence of a (CBA) between the NHL Players' Association and the NHL."
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) October 4, 2012

Related articles

• The NHL Lockout Negotiations Have Been Kind Of A Joke [Lockout With Your Cock Out] (deadspin.com)
• Jets captain Andrew Ladd signs with KHL's Avangard Omsk (cbc.ca)

Sunday Evening Humor and CBA discussions.

My wife put this picture on my Facebook page so I thought I would post it because I thought it was kind of funny. I believe that everyone needs a little humor in their lives - especially for hockey fans with the prospects of the hockey lockout causing the loss of an entire season. As this this work stoppage drags out, It looks like there is a very good chance that we're not going to have an NHL hockey season this winter - I don't see how this lockout ends very quickly.

Watch the video's below, it appears that the NHL Owners and the NHLPA are in no hurry settle this work stoppage.

Think about this, the NHL has locked out the NHL players and instead of working out their major differences - these two sides are talking about player safety. While I think that player safety is an important issue there isn't going to be any hockey until they work out the percentage of the Hockey Related Revenue that the players and the owners share... Right now it's 57-43 in favor of the players. It appears that the Owners want a 50/50 split.

If you watch the video you don't hear any urgency in Billy Daly's  voice - it's like the NHLPA and the NHL owners are saying, yeah well... We met this weekend and talked about a few issues and it's good that we're talking - were not making very much progress... I think that hockey fans want to see some negotiations that are focused on ending this lockout and going forward so we can have an NHL season.

Related articles

• NHL Lockout 2012: Owners, Union Continue To Meet, But Only Discussing Secondary Issues (newyork.sbnation.com)
• Tweets of the day - CBA, Preseason killed (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

(Video) The Lockout Song - (No More Merch)

One of my buddies had this video on his Facebook page today. It was too good not to post - I think the video gives us some good advice - I think I will hold off wearing any of my NHL tee-shirts until they settle this thing. Also, why should we buy anymore merchandise until there is a settlement of the CBA?
#noNHLlockout - #NoHockeyLeague

Tweets of the day - CBA, Preseason killed

Parise considering job in Switzerland; Parise, Koivu crunched by Big John; Rest of #NHL preseason canceledstartribune.com/sports/blogs/1…
— Michael Russo (@Russostrib) September 27, 2012

I think we're going to see a lot more NHL Players start heading overseas soon if we don't see some movement in the CBA Negotiations.

There's a stunner RT @nhl: NHL announces cancellation of remainder of preseason schedule.bit.ly/QXuMTZ
— John Forsyth (@blackbear93) September 27, 2012

ICYMI Mathew Dumba is on a list that allows him to be recalled when the Lockout ends. bit.ly/P92aoV #mnwild #wildprospects
— Nate Wells (@gopherstate) September 27, 2012

CBA Meetings Planned Through Sunday: from the CP at TSN, The NHL's collective bargaining talks are set to restart... dlvr.it/2DVl7s
— Kukla's Korner .com (@kuklaskorner) September 27, 2012

I have a bad feeling and this labor dispute could go on for a very long time. I like many NHL hockey fans are feeling more powerless by the day.

NHL Cancels Remaining Preseason Games: NEW YORK (September 27, 2012) – The National Hockey League announced today... dlvr.it/2DVl6C
— Kukla's Korner .com (@kuklaskorner) September 27, 2012

Rest of #NHL exhibition season bagged officially, but #cba negotiations to resume (kinda) Friday in NYC #nhlpa #lockout
— Rob Rossi (@RobRossi_Trib) September 27, 2012

NHL cancels rest of preseason schedule bit.ly/V1Alof
— John Vogl (@BuffNewsVogl) September 27, 2012