With all due respect to Susan Powder, stop the insanity is a good way to describe what's going on with the NHL lockout.
Both sides are at fault, more later as to which one you blame more. The owners not so much for the temerity to suggest that it's take it or leave it, but more so to be shocked when the players pushback.
For the owners to suggest that the three critical platforms that they have is take it or leave it at this point on the negotiation does a disservice to the process. Whether or not it's true that the NHLPA have vacillated back and forth as to what's critical to them, to say its only take it or leave it leaves a bad taste.
For Donald Fehr, to continually move the bar throughout the negotiations is exceedingly ridiculous. In addition, to expect the owners to repeatedly be willing to bend is also crazy. Regardless of if you think he expresses the views of the players, the way he has handled the situation, especially of late, at a minimum has to give you pause in terms of whether he should continue as head of the NHLPA. At worse, and possibly more disconcerting, Fehr has misread the tea leaves and marketplace, putting an agreement at risk. He is probably more at fault than the owners for continually changing as to what is key requirements are for the players.
Right now, it's the fans that suffer, as each day that passes is another day lost towards the season and towards recapturing the interest that seemingly was moving forward with the Winter Classic and then playoff runs last season. Regardless of who you blaming - yes I can see blaming both sides equally - and in this case I would blame the NHLPA even more so than the owners given how Donald Fehr has negotiated. However, that said the longer this goes, the harder it is for them to get back to the table and finally get an agreement, which everybody believes is close at hand.
Regrows of what you think or believe who is more wrong between the owners and players or what they think of one another, it's time to stop the insanity, get back to the table, find a way to negotiate and come up with a viable solution. That solution seems to be easily reachable, but both sides are too stupid or too proud to realize that. each must put aside their pride, machismo, and own viewpoints, and find a way to save the season and rescue the sport.
On a separate note, the Rangers Rick Nash is coming home to have his troublesome groin examined. This is the same injury that bothered him at the end of November and cost him three games earlier this month with Davos in Switzerland. This injury could've easily happened while playing with the Rangers, but it's even more worrisome and/or troublesome because this happened while he was playing overseas. It's injuries like this that make us worry even more about the players because of the fact that they're not here in the States and playing for our respective teams. In addition whenever the NHL gets started again; hopefully they do start again, any type of injury could cost a player time in what will be a shortened season. For those of us that believe that the Rangers have a legitimate shot at the Stanley Cup, any time Nash misses could cost the team a shot at the Presidents trophy. But I guess it's better now, and not later, as long as it doesn't linger or come back late in the season, because of the possible impact to a Stanley Cup run. Of course, that one is dependent upon the NHLPA and the NHL getting the respective heads out of their respective rears, finding a way to sit down at the negotiating table, putting past differences aside, and reaching an agreement that we all believe is there.
Stop the insanity!!
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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