Wow. Just watched the pressers by both Bettman and Fehr. The season is toast. At least it looks that way for now. Not sure how anybody can have optimism after what happened today.
What both sides have been doing so far is throwing proposals at each other. There hasn't been any real talks so far, including today. It's definitely time to start a bullpoop meter against the optimism meter.
- Aliaksandrhn

No honour, no pride, no love for the game. Just greed and posturing.. Award the cup to a league that cares.

three poopty offers...on what planet to employee's set terms on negotiations with their employer
- flashfire

earth, and any employee represented by a union.

who's setting terms? it's bettmans hardline negotiating tactics that push these things to the brink every time. his take it or leave it bs leaves no room for negotiation. fehr said it best, if that's apparently the nhl's best offer, what are they doing sitting on it until 4 weeks into a lockout? even kypreos called it last night, bettman would throw a fit, say the offers we're unfit, steps backwards.. left no room for anything.. and walk away. bettman is a cancer to this process.

hope at the least this lockout manages to rid him for good. chances are immediately improved for this not getting to this point again.

Have you forgotten Kershner?

But I doubt that all but the very most hardcore fans would shell out any money for a vastly inferior product.
- Leeman4Gilmour

so u mean the entire canadian fanbase. and the traditional markets in the states probably too.

doesnt sound like much of a change to now

earth, and any employee represented by a union.

who's setting terms? it's bettmans hardline negotiating tactics that push these things to the brink every time. his take it or leave it bs leaves no room for negotiation. fehr said it best, if that's apparently the nhl's best offer, what are they doing sitting on it until 4 weeks into a lockout? even kypreos called it last night, bettman would throw a fit, say the offers we're unfit, steps backwards.. left no room for anything.. and walk away. bettman is a cancer to this process.

hope at the least this lockout manages to rid him for good. chances are immediately improved for this not getting to this point again.
- joel878

lol okay buddy, Bettman's offer was late sure, the PA has yet to make a real offer. Listening to Kypreos is your first problem he has been hit in the head too many times. Anyone with half a brain knows that the players will lose more money by not accepting this offer than they will ever gain holding out for something better. Players know how to shoot and pass a puck and not much else.

three poopty offers...on what planet to employee's set terms on negotiations with their employer
- flashfire

This could be the dumbest post of the day

Greed seriously how much money do they need???????? They are so far out of reality it's scary. When you hear players say I am just looking out for my family so they can be secure financialy. They make more money in 1 day then some people make in 3 months. Enough is enough bring in replacement players fro mthe KHL and see how they would like it. Let them go to Europe Cya boys.

Wow. Just watched the pressers by both Bettman and Fehr. The season is toast. At least it looks that way for now. Not sure how anybody can have optimism after what happened today.
What both sides have been doing so far is throwing proposals at each other. There hasn't been any real talks so far, including today. It's definitely time to start a bullpoop meter against the optimism meter.
- Aliaksandrhn

For the first time, both sides are talking 50/50. Which everyone feels is what's going to get a deal done. They just have to decide what 50/50 actually is, and how to get there. That is progress. This negotiation is going to be done walking, not running. It is an inch by inch process. Were finally getting somewhere.

lol okay buddy, Bettman's offer was late sure, the PA has yet to make a real offer. Listening to Kypreos is your first problem he has been hit in the head too many times. Anyone with half a brain knows that the players will lose more money by not accepting this offer than they will ever gain holding out for something better. Players know how to shoot and pass a puck and not much else.
- flashfire

Disagree completely that the PA has yet to make a real offer. Until the NHL' latest offer, they were the only side truly negotiating.

this all comes down to ''prime de soir''
Nhl players figure that since they play in the evening, they should make more money

Are you on the leagues payroll Mr. Eklund?? That is the only reason I can think of for your ridiculous optimism. Considering the NHL's track record, it sure seems pretty damn likely that the next NHL regular season game any of us will see will be in October of 2013.

And thus, we must once again reiterate:
FU Gary Bettman
FU Donald Fehr
FU NHL owners
FU NHLPA
YOU ALL SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The meter shouldn't be at progress, From watching Bettmans and Fehrs press conferences I would say they went backwards. Its obvious that the players are just worried about money.

I don't expect a season because of the players stance, They won't agree to a 50/50 split and the owners won't agree to anything less then a 50/50 split.

Oh and FU Crosby.

Are you on the leagues payroll Mr. Eklund?? That is the only reason I can think of for your ridiculous optimism. Considering the NHL's track record, it sure seems pretty damn likely that the next NHL regular season game any of us will see will be in October of 2013.

And thus, we must once again reiterate:
FU Gary Bettman
FU Donald Fehr
FU NHL owners
FU NHLPA
YOU ALL SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- BiggE

The meter shouldn't be at progress, From watching Bettmans and Fehrs press conferences I would say they went backwards. Its obvious that the players are just worried about money.

I don't expect a season because of the players stance, They won't agree to a 50/50 split and the owners won't agree to anything less then a 50/50 split.

Oh and FU Crosby.
- Leafsfan9329

I am apalled that in a negotiation about salaries the players are only interested in money. Thank you for pointing that out. Where would we be if it weren't for gary Bettman who is clearly only negotiating on behalf of fans.

it's fans like you that need a reality check. i'm sure you wouldn't female dog once with borderline beer leaguers making millions and playing for a cup.
- joel878

The AHL is not borderline beer leaguers.

The replacement players would not be making millions, not nearly the same millions anyway

The owners would probably make MORE money.

I cheer for the team/sweater.

I have already forgotten who is in the NHLPA, Some Cosby guy? someone named Pallameer? Robbie Byans?

earth, and any employee represented by a union.

who's setting terms? it's bettmans hardline negotiating tactics that push these things to the brink every time. his take it or leave it bs leaves no room for negotiation. fehr said it best, if that's apparently the nhl's best offer, what are they doing sitting on it until 4 weeks into a lockout? even kypreos called it last night, bettman would throw a fit, say the offers we're unfit, steps backwards.. left no room for anything.. and walk away. bettman is a cancer to this process.

hope at the least this lockout manages to rid him for good. chances are immediately improved for this not getting to this point again.
- joel878

You do know that the NHL invited the PA to the table multiple times since JANUARY right? You do know that the negotiations were so late because the PA refused to meet right?

Some players (ROFL) are going on about how Bettman should have made this offer in June/July ... Oh, I see, when you were refusing to meet?

This is the depth of idiocy we are seeing on the NHLPA side.

The AHL is not borderline beer leaguers.

The replacement players would not be making millions, not nearly the same millions anyway

The owners would probably make MORE money.

I cheer for the team/sweater.

I have already forgotten who is in the NHLPA, Some Cosby guy? someone named Pallameer? Robbie Byans?
- NightTrain_AlMo

And about half the ahl wouldn't be able to play as a replacement player, champ. Echl replacement players? Keep cheering for the sweater.

Disagree completely that the PA has yet to make a real offer. Until the NHL' latest offer, they were the only side truly negotiating.
- MJL

The Owners have pushed the players against the wall as there is no more room to move and if you don't make the deal by late next week the season is over. Take it or leave it. The Owners will get their cash grab of 12% and 50/50.
I guess we will find out if the players want to lose a year of salary and take this deal next year or just take it now. The NHLPA has 1 week to crack...and they left it to the last week on purpose.

The Owners have pushed the players against the wall as there is no more room to move and if you don't make the deal by late next week the season is over. Take it or leave it. The Owners will get their cash grab of 12% and 50/50.
I guess we will find out if the players want to lose a year of salary and take this deal next year or just take it now. The NHLPA has 1 week to crack...and they left it to the last week on purpose.
- HipHopisDead

I disagree completely about you description of the process currently. What your describing is simply not the case. There was real progress made between the two sides in the last week.

Im sure some of you can help me with this. The NHL's offer was for 50/50 and all monies owed for current contracts would be paid. The players "3rd" proposal yesterday supposedly stated 50/50 as long as all current contracts are honored. These are the same things, so why isnt that being used to finish this up? Where is the falsehood? Daly states that the NHLPA was not really 50/50 in that offer. So, that would lead me to believe that if it actually was, then both sides would actually be on the same page and offering the same thing as far as that sticking point is concerned.

because no one cares about hockey in the United States. Only the few hockey fans that still follow.

how does this lockout help Florida? We finally have a playoff season and now there's a lockout. Those who finally got interested in the team are now fishing and giving two craps about hockey. It hurts our market and frankly no one cares. No one is talking about it here in CT, in NY, NJ because it's football season and no once really cares if the NHL comes back.
- BallardHitsHard22

yeah i'm going to disagree on that. plenty of people care.

i'd say the florida market is not a good measuring stick, even in the best of times.

and football is the top sport in this country. again even in the best of times, for hockey, football is number 1. come to New England and you'll find plenty of hockey talk.

They proposed three offers, each one meeting the glorious, indisputable 50/50 fairness standard that most people have arbitrarily set.

The NHL rejected each one in under an hour.
- Leeman4Gilmour

This is false.

The only offer that got to 50/50 was offer 3 in which the players took 13% off of the top to pay for current salaries, and then split the remaining revenues 50/50.

And about half the ahl wouldn't be able to play as a replacement player, champ. Echl replacement players? Keep cheering for the sweater.
- joel878

If Crosby never played for the Penguins do you think the city of Pittsburgh would root for him?

Its all about the jersey. You may have favorite players in the league, but you are not going to stop watching your team if a player no longer plays there.

This is false.

The only offer that got to 50/50 was offer 3 in which the players took 13% off of the top to pay for current salaries, and then split the remaining revenues 50/50.
- ImThatGuy

Thank You for that info. That was the part that I didnt hear. Taking 13% off the top explains the difference between the NHL's 50/50 and pay existing contracts, and the NHLPA's 50/50 and honor contracts.

earth, and any employee represented by a union.

who's setting terms? it's bettmans hardline negotiating tactics that push these things to the brink every time. his take it or leave it bs leaves no room for negotiation. fehr said it best, if that's apparently the nhl's best offer, what are they doing sitting on it until 4 weeks into a lockout? even kypreos called it last night, bettman would throw a fit, say the offers we're unfit, steps backwards.. left no room for anything.. and walk away. bettman is a cancer to this process.

hope at the least this lockout manages to rid him for good. chances are immediately improved for this not getting to this point again.
- joel878

You realise Bettman is a "Figurehead" right? He is employed by the owners of this league. He is the owners spokeperson. You can take the players side, I haev bo problem with that, but at least get your hate pointed in the right direction.