Eklund: Whywe shouldn't be afraid of Donald Fehr.

Eklund: Whywe shouldn't be afraid of Donald Fehr.
- Eklund

all the players have to do is go to fehr and say they want a deal done, so why havent they done that already?

all the players have to do is go to fehr and say they want a deal done, so why havent they done that already?
- dmarsden2988

because it's personal...they want a fight with Bettman. It's about getting a fair deal, it's about winning.

You know ek, its pretty pathetic lately reading these biased blogs. Like wtf is wrong with your head ffs. Yes Fehr needs to get the best deal possible. But doesn't that go for both sides. It works both ways. Lately your love for bettman and Co is shameful. Are they paying you to run this site, thus you feel the need to defend their crap?

what (realistic) proposal have the NHLPA (fehr) made? one in which they came up with to start talks? why have they refused to work off of the NHL proposals?

why are they late to meetings?

i have yet to hear an owner call a player selfish, stupid etc (if im wrong where is the source) but players have been calling the owners selfish and idiots

i mean it just seems like fehr is just sitting around and following everything, just waiting and waiting and waiting not really doing anything, he knows that he is only here for this and just wants one last spot in the light

Wait, Fehr is ready and willing to strike a deal when the time is right and the rank-and-file says so? My God, what a revelation! Someone, get Bettman and Daly on the phone, just tell them "don't even bother talking, Fehr will finally agree when he's told to, just wait for that to happen!" Forget trying to offer more carrots to get a deal done, it will all happen at the pre-appointed time which Fehr has already decided!

because it's personal...they want a fight with Bettman. It's about getting a fair deal, it's about winning.
- Symba007

There is little doubt that thus is the case for both sides at this point. Bettman is no better. Its a pride issue now on both sides.

I wish I was as confident as you Ek, This SUCKS and I really hope your right

1. Denial.
2. Anger.
3. Depression.
4. Bargaining.
5. Acceptance.

Most are still on step 3......

Won't get to step 4 until both sides are hurting financially big time and they drop the personal BS. Egos at war.....won't be easy to overcome that.

what (realistic) proposal have the NHLPA (fehr) made? one in which they came up with to start talks? why have they refused to work off of the NHL proposals?

why are they late to meetings?

i have yet to hear an owner call a player selfish, stupid etc (if im wrong where is the source) but players have been calling the owners selfish and idiots

i mean it just seems like fehr is just sitting around and following everything, just waiting and waiting and waiting not really doing anything, he knows that he is only here for this and just wants one last spot in the light
- dmarsden2988

Not an owner but perhaps you missed the comments from the management of the wings. Ian Whites comments where no worse then that. What Ryan Suter and Jack Johnson said was bang on.

what (realistic) proposal have the NHLPA (fehr) made? one in which they came up with to start talks? why have they refused to work off of the NHL proposals?

why are they late to meetings?

i have yet to hear an owner call a player selfish, stupid etc (if im wrong where is the source) but players have been calling the owners selfish and idiots

i mean it just seems like fehr is just sitting around and following everything, just waiting and waiting and waiting not really doing anything, he knows that he is only here for this and just wants one last spot in the light
- dmarsden2988

That's how he works, let's the other side negotiate against themselves. That's what he did in baseball. Owners know this and I don't expect them to give much more.

There is little doubt that thus is the case for both sides at this point. Bettman is no better. Its a pride issue now on both sides.
- Bieksa#3

Big egos at work on both side, players don't want to come out of this as losers (perception)....same with the owners.

all the players have to do is go to fehr and say they want a deal done, so why havent they done that already?
- dmarsden2988

They haven't because the owners insist on treating them like "cattle", and have that smarmy wiener Bettman doing the negotiating for them. The players hate Bettman, so much so that they're willing to lose money just to poke him in the eye.

Basically, it's no longer about money, it's about pride.

The best thing the owners can do now is find a way to make a deal that allows the players to retain said pride, otherwise in six years we will be going through this again.

Big egos at work on both side, players don't want to come out of this as losers (perception)....same with the owners.
- Symba007

The owners are going to lose just as much as the players this time. Last lockout there was only a couple players with bonus's in their contracts if there was a lockout. Now there is a ton of them. I believe the owners have to pay around 250 mill in bonus's. This coupled with lease agreements on their arenas and paying their remaining staff is a bitter pill as well.

That's how he works, let's the other side negotiate against themselves. That's what he did in baseball. Owners know this and I don't expect them to give much more.
- Symba007

Exactly. If anything, I'm shocked that the NHL owners have done exactly the same thing MLB owners did time and time again.

They haven't because the owners insist on treating them like "cattle", and have that smarmy wiener Bettman doing the negotiating for them. The players hate Bettman, so much so that they're willing to lose money just to poke him in the eye.

Basically, it's no longer about money, it's about pride.

The best thing the owners can do now is find a way to make a deal that allows the players to retain said pride, otherwise in six years we will be going through this again.
- The Shrike

I agree. If nobody wins or gets what they want then they might think before doing it again. Owners got their deal last time and why wouldn't they try again. However Sniders comments prove that things haven't gone as bettman had planned

Not an owner but perhaps you missed the comments from the management of the wings. Ian Whites comments where no worse then that. What Ryan Suter and Jack Johnson said was bang on.
- Bieksa#3

Ian Whites comments were worse.

Ian Whites comments were worse.
- Jacob582

clearly your joking. Devilono(sp) sounded like Hitler ffs.

The owners are going to lose just as much as the players this time. Last lockout there was only a couple players with bonus's in their contracts if there was a lockout. Now there is a ton of them. I believe the owners have to pay around 250 mill in bonus's. This coupled with lease agreements on their arenas and paying their remaining staff is a bitter pill as well.
- Bieksa#3

I wonder which one can sustain losing money for a longer time, billionaires or millionaires with short term career on average (4-5 years).

A player overseas texted me earlier today "what do you think we can do to help the situation?"

Any one that believes an NHL playered texted Eklund looking for advice, please see me. I have some great swamp land in Florida available.

Fehr is a baseball guy, Bettman is a basketball guy. So what?

I think the players hired Fehr because he's not a hockey guy, they needed a fresh outlook on things and a guy who isn't friends/associates with the owners.

Just like Bettman 15 years ago.

I wonder which one can sustain losing money for a longer time, billionaires or millionaires with short term career on average (4-5 years).
- Symba007

I understand the logic behind it, but if we all thought that way, there would only be two kinds of people in the world: billionaires, and those making minimum wage.

A player overseas texted me earlier today "what do you think we can do to help the situation?"

Any one that believes an NHL playered texted Eklund looking for advice, please see me. I have some great swamp land in Florida available.
- maaddmike

You probably don't even have to make that good an offer. I'd start with "oceanfront property in South Dakota" and work from there.

Fehr is a baseball guy, Bettman is a basketball guy. So what?

I think the players hired Fehr because he's not a hocke guy, they needed a fresh outlook on things and a guy who isn't friends/associates with the owners.

Just like Bettman 15 years ago.
- cracka

Players want to win this one, they know the league wants to put a system in place that will reduce their % share and put new contract rules. They wanted a fight.....they are getting it. Most knew a Fehr vs Bettman would mean losing a season and most likely part of next year also.