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The Lockout Is Over! Or Is It... |
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Twitter has never been stupider than it is right now.
The NHL and NHLPA have been meeting with mediator Scot Beckenbaugh in an attempt to find a solution to the lockout situation. Apparently, progress has been made. Progress = the NHL and NHLPA are not as far apart on some CBA issues as they were 48 or even 24 hours ago.
What is "progress"? From what I hear, it's the league moving from a $60mil salary cap for 2013/2014, to something closer to $63mil. "Progress" is mostly the league offering more than they have been, and the PA happily accepting whatever the league is willing to part with. Going into today, there were seven or eight unresolved issues between the PA and NHL.
Twitter is bursting with optimism. Hockey fans, bloggers, and numerous reporters suggesting a new CBA is hours away and we'll have an NHL regular season starting by January 12. Don't believe the hype.
I'm not saying there's no chance at a deal being worked out. The players and owners obviously need to get business going again, and everyone is working hard to have a solution before 6pm this evening. At 6pm, voting ends on the Disclaimer of Interest issue. Donald Fehr will certainly exercise his right to proceed with the Disclaimer as soon as possible. The league has threatened to pull the plug on the entire season once they've been issued notice of the Disclaimer by the NHLPA, so the time is now to work out a new CBA.
We need to look at this honestly, folks: The NHL and NHLPA hate each other. Both sides have made a disgusting mess of CBA negotiations, and the league now looks like the joke of the professional sports world. It's possible the financially fallout of the lockout could be felt by players and owners for the next three or four seasons. Everyone involved have screwed up to this point, so why stop now? The chances of us seeing a solution today is about equal with the chance of us witnessing a spectacular, season-ending disaster.
I'll believe we have a deal when Donald Fehr and Gary Bettman are standing together at a podium together, announcing we have a deal. Until then, everyone needs to chill out. Go grab a Fresca and watch some Netflix to kill time for a few hours...or days...or weeks.
The only thing better than how unrealistically excited everyone is on Twitter right now would be this evening watching public reaction if negotiations go sour and the Disclaimer is given to the league. I'm a little diseased that way. It's sort of like going to a car race: I either want to see the guy I'm cheering for win, or I want to see a 20 car pileup around turn #3. Anything in between would be a huge disappointment.
More later. Maybe. I hope.
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • 
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