commentary...

the NHL,and NHLPA have been in collective bargaining agreement talks for months... both sides have wasted much time in negotiating the CBA,for this upcoming season... the NHL wanted to talk about this before last season,during,in the playoffs,and then after last season,and the players' association delayed until late June... the League's first proposal was steep in terms of the economic issues,and the players' association's counter-proposal was for three years,with an mutual option,for the fourth year,with possible revenue sharing like Major League Baseball... the NHL tried to move closer with their second proposal,with a movement of $460 million,into a "pool",for the players,and owners to share,making it better for the players,but the players' association's proposal did not budge one inch from the first proposal,talking mostly about revenue sharing,which combined with the length proposed(three years,with an option,for a fourth year),is basically a non-starter,so they are not talking,and it is looking like a lockout,on September 16th...
my opinion:it is just terrible for the fans,because the fans really lose,and even though the NHL seems to be trying to bridge the economic gap,and are willing to talk,on most issues,the NHLPA has acted like a petulant child,and seems to be thinking that the deadline for a labor deal is October 11th(not September 15th),according to four player agents,and the NHL,when you can not have a full 82 game regular season with no training camp,because the clubs,and players need time,to get into hockey shape... even though the NHL does seem to be ready to get deal done,both sides may have different hang-ups on the deal,but to have the NHLPA not to make a serious counter-proposal to the League's first,or even their second proposal is just foolish,and the fact that the NFL,and NBA have labor pacts of ten years,makes the NHLPA's three year,with an option for a fourth year,proposal basically a joke on the owners... it seems like the NHLPA wants a lockout called,then sue in federal court about the fact that the League locked out the players,and try to force federal mediation on the owners,because they simply have not been very serious in negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement... unless they get a deal done,the fans lose big time....