When they close those doors I don't care who or what goes down in there as long as when they open them we have hockey. Who or what got the deal done is really a non issue for us as fans. Not sure why everyone is upset that they put Crosby out in front. How many arena's does Jeff Lupul sell out? Not to pick on Lupul just put the first name that came to mind. Crosby is a fantastic player and there are many people who love him and will pay a lot of money to see him play and then there are a lot of people who hate him and wait for it

Will pay a lot of money to see him play. Even if their hope is that he loses.
- dbell646

I agree. I just find it funny that so many people are annoyed that Crosby and the Pens ownership have anything to do with the positive direction.

Like that poster above saying any conversation between Burkle and Crosby could never have happened because their "not allowed" to talk. Then throws out some stupid conspiracy theory about painting Sid and ownership as nice guys.

Although the Pens situation is a good thing, It's no different than CEO's of businesses not being allowed to discuss details of their companies to their friends and family's.....yet somehow those people always seem to be on the right side of a stock trade. Politicians go to Washington for this purpose. Their not "allowed" to trade on all the inside information they get, but somehow manage to retire filthy rich.

- brianb0422

Best burger place I've ever been through is Mike's Drive-in in Portland though.

In N Out is pretty damn good too!

Really?

NEW YORK -- After meeting for approximately eight hours Tuesday, representatives from the select group of National Hockey League owners and players involved in the latest round of negotiations toward a new Collective Bargaining Agreement indicated they expect to continue their face-to-face dialogue Wednesday.

"I appreciate the efforts of the players, in particular we had 18 players in there
- HopintheCordoba[Tuesday] and six of our owners," National Hockey League Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said after the meeting adjourned shortly after midnight. "I think everybody is working hard. I think everybody wants to get a deal done, so I think that's encouraging.

"We look forward to hopefully making more progress [Wednesday]."

Daly said the NHL and National Hockey League Players' Association have not confirmed when they will resume discussions Wednesday, but it will likely be before the NHL convenes its Board of Governors meeting at 11 a.m. ET.


Daly said the sides will also likely meet in the afternoon Wednesday after the conclusion of the Board of Governors meeting.

"I thought it was a constructive day, we had a good dialogue," NHLPA Special Counsel Steve Fehr said. "In some ways I'd say it might be the best day we've had, which isn't to paint too overly optimistic of a picture.

"There is still a lot of work to do and a lot to get done, but we'll be back at it [Wednesday] morning."

The meeting Tuesday at a midtown Manhattan hotel was the first time representatives from the NHL and NHLPA got together since two days of discussions with federal mediators last week yielded no progress.

After the second day of mediation concluded, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman proposed a players-owners meeting that excluded both Bettman and NHLPA Executive Director Donald Fehr.

Daly and Steve Fehr were involved in the meetings. They made their statements to the media while standing together at the podium.


Representing the NHL owners were Ron Burkle (Pittsburgh Penguins), Mark Chipman (Winnipeg Jets), Murray Edwards (Calgary Flames), Jeremy Jacobs (Boston Bruins) Larry Tanenbaum (Toronto Maple Leafs) and Jeff Vinik (Tampa Bay Lightning).

The players were represented by Craig Adams, David Backes, Michael Cammalleri, Sidney Crosby, B.J. Crombeen, Mathieu Darche, Shane Doan, Ron Hainsey, Shawn Horcoff, Jamal Mayers, Manny Malhotra, Andy McDonald, Ryan Miller, George Parros, Brad Richards, Martin St. Louis, Jonathan Toews and Kevin Westgarth.

The NHL and NHLPA have been without a CBA since Sept. 16. Games have been cancelled through December 14, along with the 2013 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic and the 2013 NHL All-Star Game.

Your talking about a large meeting for CBA talks here.

Not a "private meeting between Mario. Burkle and Sid"

2 very different things.

Apologies if this was already posted - pretty funny :

http://www.insiderrumors....n-ward-and-darren-dreger/

Apologies if this was already posted - pretty funny :

http://www.insiderrumors....n-ward-and-darren-dreger/
- MadCap2008

That will happen when you are facing a massive lawsuit...

Your talking about a large meeting for CBA talks here.

Not a "private meeting between Mario. Burkle and Sid"

2 very different things.
- Iggysbff

I've heard of no such rule against players and owners talking, only against owners making statements to the press.

Never happened. Their not allowed to meet privately with the players.
This is just more Drivel trying to paint Crosby as the face of hockey and make Pens ownership seem like noce guys.
- Iggysbff

Speaking of drivel.

Sorry that they are actually trying to get something done. It must really tick off the usual Penguin and Crosby haters that they are being mentioned as possibly getting this lockout settled.

Speaking of drivel.

Sorry that they are actually trying to get something done. It must really tick off the usual Penguin and Crosby haters that they are being mentioned as possibly getting this lockout settled.
- acdc1206

I'm still waiting on him to show me a source that validates his 'owners and players may not speak to each other' assessment of the NHL's gag rule.

From another blog:

I wasnt sure what the rule of talking to players was/is and didnt mean to be so negative... Was more less hoping that if Burkle is allowed than other owners have made word to their players.
Im well aware that crosby is above the game itself, just dont think the penguins need yet another unfair advantage
- 10in_soft

So by getting the season started the Penguins have ANOTHER unfair advantage. This site is bursting with brilliance.

Your talking about a large meeting for CBA talks here.

Not a "private meeting between Mario. Burkle and Sid"

2 very different things.
- Iggysbff

Check out Lebrun's article. Pay attention to the part about conversations between Burkle, Brisson, Mario "and to some degree" Crosby.

http://espn.go.com/blog/n...r-play-brings-deal-closer

I agree with BulliesPhan.... I've heard no such rule that a player and owner can't talk during lockout. I don't think the union would like it, because I know unions don't like their members getting any information from anybody but them. They fear losing control if they can't filter the info to their members. Spent lot's of time of both sides.

From another blog:









So by getting the season started the Penguins have ANOTHER unfair advantage. This site is bursting with brilliance.
- canadianpenfan

Frankly, I'm upset non-Flyers fans (or at least fans of teams who aren't division rivals) are stealing our thunder. We're the ones who're supposed to be ruing everytime his reputation gets a boost!

Iam just glad for the optimism. Was getting pretty dark there for a while.

I have a Thailand holiday booked for the 23rd, you think I might get to watch some hockey whilst Im sitting in the sun?

I have a Thailand holiday booked for the 23rd, you think I might get to watch some hockey whilst Im sitting in the sun?
- walshy66

Hockey will be back but you won't get it on TV, I spent 6 months in Thailand, hope you like soccer Walshy. Also, be careful who you get a massage from.

Hockey will be back but you won't get it on TV, I spent 6 months in Thailand, hope you like soccer Walshy. Also, be careful who you get a massage from.
- canadianpenfan

Happy ending?

Happy ending?
- dbell646

No. More like dry heaves and a little crying.

Not really sure what else the players want at this point.

Not really sure what else the players want at this point.
- Deadstar

$$

Your talking about a large meeting for CBA talks here.

Not a "private meeting between Mario. Burkle and Sid"

2 very different things.
- Iggysbff

Did you find that source saying players and owners can't talk to each other yet?

If the players are really asking for mediators to be brought back in, then Fehr is completely useless.

If the players are really asking for mediators to be brought back in, then Fehr is completely useless.
- Deadstar

He has been a step behind Bettman the entire time. He isnt used to being pitted against an equal or better counterpart.

He has been a step behind Bettman the entire time. He isnt used to being pitted against an equal or better counterpart.
- Gunner Staal

It has to be tough being the face of a 700 player union with a large disparity in earning amongst them. At the same time, with people from the top and bottom of the ranks speaking out against the owners throughout these talks, its becoming clear he either promised them all a great deal, or is being unrealistic about the concessions a portion of them are going to have to make.

It has to be tough being the face of a 700 player union with a large disparity in earning amongst them. At the same time, with people from the top and bottom of the ranks speaking out against the owners throughout these talks, its becoming clear he either promised them all a great deal, or is being unrealistic about the concessions a portion of them are going to have to make.
- Deadstar

He has done a great job of convincing the 3rd and 4th liners, bottom pairing d men and backup goalies to stay the course, while truly only fighting for the top 15-20% of the union.

He has done a great job of convincing the 3rd and 4th liners, bottom pairing d men and backup goalies to stay the course, while truly only fighting for the top 15-20% of the union.
- Gunner Staal

There's no unifying voice in the union. After the owners and players met privately and hammered out some details, Fehr should have been the one to come back in and put together a majority deal from the players. Not mediators. Otherwise whats his job? To continue to make Bettman and Jacobs out to be the bad guys?

There's no unifying voice in the union. After the owners and players met privately and hammered out some details, Fehr should have been the one to come back in and put together a majority deal from the players. Not mediators. Otherwise whats his job? To continue to make Bettman and Jacobs out to be the bad guys.
- Deadstar

He's also in charge of making bad ass videos of millionaires crying about how much they love the game their not allowed to play.