I have little hope that there will be NHL hockey in 2012-13. And regardless of how this all ends, there is one person in the mix here, I have to say seems to be the biggest issue preventing a labor peace that is lasting... and that is Bettman.

Interesting that he pulls himself out of the equation.

Three lockouts — 1 of which cost an entire season and playoffs, 1 cost half a season, and the other at least half a season... So as of right now, under the guidance of Gary Bettman as NHL Commish — 2 full seasons of NHL hockey has been lost to labor strife.

The goal of a commish in these kinds of circumstances is to get the best deal possible for the owners, but that has to be balanced with the health of the NHL brand and ability of the league to generate revenue.

Some may see that the damage done is temporary, but outside of Canada, how many are really talking hockey or missing it? Think that is because the lockouts are seen as a blessing rather then a course? And why is that? Is it because league management has failed terribly in marketing the game, and broadening its appeal when it does have a chance to do so?

A $3 Billion industry now is worth exactly $0.00 — as opposed to other leagues with very short or limited labor strife.

Think labor peace has not impacted the value of the NHL's franchises or the NHL as a brand? And that falls on Bettman.

I'm all for 50/50. That's fair. Just as they shouldn't have continued to make 75% of revenue before the last CBA. They shouldn't continue to make 57% of revenue either. But find a way to give the soft landing that the players want, honor contracts as best as possible. In a way that both sides can agree upon. Seems like it'll take a miracle.
- MJL

agree. i look at it from both sides and i can't understand it. owners just being... just being such filthy, lying pigs.

players for being so, so stupid and losing more money than they need to.

the whole thing makes no sense. none.

So are the owners.
- Scoob

nah, this is just a lil side project for most of them....they are billionaires with boatloads of other business ventures and investments.
the players have a short shelf life to make some good cash and then they are rendered useless....pissing away a year is a huge mistake for most of them.

I have little hope that there will be NHL hockey in 2012-13. And regardless of how this all ends, there is one person in the mix here, I have to say seems to be the biggest issue preventing a labor peace that is lasting... and that is Bettman.

Interesting that he pulls himself out of the equation.

Three lockouts — 1 of which cost an entire season and playoffs, 1 cost half a season, and the other at least half a season... So as of right now, under the guidance of Gary Bettman as NHL Commish — 2 full seasons of NHL hockey has been lost to labor strife.

The goal of a commish in these kinds of circumstances is to get the best deal possible for the owners, but that has to be balanced with the health of the NHL brand and ability of the league to generate revenue.

Some may see that the damage done is temporary, but outside of Canada, how many are really talking hockey or missing it? Think that is because the lockouts are seen as a blessing rather then a course? And why is that? Is it because league management has failed terribly in marketing the game, and broadening its appeal when it does have a chance to do so?

A $3 Billion industry now is worth exactly $0.00 — as opposed to other leagues with very short or limited labor strife.

Think labor peace has not impacted the value of the NHL's franchises or the NHL as a brand? And that falls on Bettman.
- HyeDray

i can't imagine how Bettman remains commissioner if they lose another season. similarly, what about Fehr, if they lose the season? really? you needed to hire Donald Fehr to not negotiate and lose the season? i could have done that for a lot less money.

nah, this is just a lil side project for most of them....they are billionaires with boatloads of other business ventures and investments.
the players have a short shelf life to make some good cash and then they are rendered useless....pissing away a year is a huge mistake for most of them.
- Barx

For which owners is an NHL team a "lil side project?"

i can't imagine how Bettman remains commissioner if they lose another season. similarly, what about Fehr, if they lose the season? really? you needed to hire Donald Fehr to not negotiate and lose the season? i could have done that for a lot less money.
- scotch_tape

exactly.
he has proven he is not capable.

For which owners is an NHL team a "lil side project?"
- Scoob

pegula

For which owners is an NHL team a "lil side project?"
- Scoob

teams owned by corporations or billionaires....

nah, this is just a lil side project for most of them....they are billionaires with boatloads of other business ventures and investments.
the players have a short shelf life to make some good cash and then they are rendered useless....pissing away a year is a huge mistake for most of them.
- Barx

pretty sure most NHL owners are not billionaires dude... do you know how much money $1 billion is?

pretty sure most NHL owners are not billionaires dude... do you know how much money $1 billion is?
- scotch_tape

you are kidding right?

Bettman suggesting that pretty much shows how stupid he really is. If the meetings go successfully, than he is effectively making his job redundant.

If Jeremy Jacobs was not in the room a deal would be done already.

#IBLAMEJACOBS

Wild’s Harding diagnosed with multiple sclerosis

Arrogant idiots on both sides. Throwing away their livelihoods and businesses because of big egos. Need to get their heads out of their rear ends and talk this thing out.

nhl players are dumb. the nfl players knew that giving the owners 53% of revenue would equal bigger paychecks in the long run. just look at what the owners then did with that sport.

Arrogant idiots on both sides. Throwing away their livelihoods and businesses because of big egos. Need to get their heads out of their rear ends and talk this thing out.
- phillydiehard

the owners are not 'throwing away their businesses'...they are ensuring they are profitable.
these are billionaires and enormous corporations, their hockey teams are just a drop in the bucket.

When the league went to 50/50, agreed to negotiate "make whole" and to reschedule for an 82 game season it was the best, last hope. I hope a meeting without Fehr and Bettman works. But, I just don't see how either side can work something out without financial staff or legal advisors available to them.

Why not just go to compulsory arbitration? It really is sad how complex they have made the entire matter. It is as bad as Twinkies.

When the league went to 50/50, agreed to negotiate "make whole" and to reschedule for an 82 game season it was the best, last hope. I hope a meeting without Fehr and Bettman works. But, I just don't see how either side can work something out without financial staff or legal advisors available to them.

Why not just go to compulsory arbitration? It really is sad how complex they have made the entire matter. It is as bad as Twinkies.
- spatso

that company went threw 7 CEO's and asked the employees to take a pay cut, after they did the CEO at that time then gave himself a 300% raise. were not talking about multimiilionaires giving back a few hundred thousand dollars, were talking about people scraping by. now that company is again asking the employees to take another pay cut.

Last time a Russian was taken number one we were locked out for the whole season. Same thing now.
- Dudestar

Frickin Commies....

take a college allstar football team vs any NFL team and the college allstar team would get killed. yet people love college football. the quality of players are not as good. could it be because the owners of those teams found a way to create a supply and demand for that product.

the owners do far more than just pay all the bills. they are the reason hockey is worth some 3 billion dollars. if you took the best 42 players (2 teams of 21) and they played against each other people would watch but get quickly bored of it because they have no team to root for. who watches allstar games??

the point of my argument is that these NHL players are short sighted. they would spend $1 just to get a nickle.

nah, this is just a lil side project for most of them....they are billionaires with boatloads of other business ventures and investments.
the players have a short shelf life to make some good cash and then they are rendered useless....pissing away a year is a huge mistake for most of them.
- Barx

If that was indeed true, they'd be playing Hockey. And just accepting the losses as tax write offs. Why go through all this for a lil side project? Ask yourself if that makes any sense whatsoever?

pegula
- joshs

teams owned by corporations or billionaires....
- Barx

Okay, they may make bad, ego driven contract decisions but no owner likes or wants to lose money.

And I don't believe for one second that an NHL team is a "side project" for anyone.

Okay, they may make bad, ego driven contract decisions but no owner likes or wants to lose money.

And I don't believe for one second that an NHL team is a "side project" for anyone.
- Scoob

he said if he wanted to make money he would go drill another oil well. the guy is worth more money than oprah.

the point of my argument is that these NHL players are short sighted. they would spend $1 just to get a nickle.
- joshs

I'm pro capitalism, but the owners are being just as short sighted here. And it's proven that they would spend $100 million to break even.

In the big picture I think it's the owners who stand to lose more than the players.