Kings' NHLPA Rep Kevin Westgarth Believes Lockout is "Foreseeable"
NY Daily News' own Pat Leonard has a piece on his "Blueshirts Blog" breaking down both sides with regards to a new CBA and has Westgarth's comments to the media as to what the No. 1 issue is amongst the players.
“Generally, like the fans, we are concerned about – I think everyone has a little post-traumatic stress from last time,” Westgarth said, referring to the lockout and missed season of 2004-05, when the union lost the battle and eventually agreed to the salary cap in place today. “It is something (where) they locked us out last time. It’s foreseeable for them to lock us out again. So guys obviously want to play, but obviously we need to get the right deals together, as well.”
The current CBA expires Saturday, September 15—roughly six weeks from now.
Whoa, so that's what 76,000 pages of NHL finances looks like... nyti.ms/PsinVH
— Kevin Westgarth (@KWesty19) August 1, 2012#CBA#theplayers twitter.com/KWesty19/statu…
- Talk about not only screaming fire in a crowded building, but sticking your foot in your mouth. Yes, it's foreseeable the NHL could lock out the players next season. It's also possible the NHLPA goes on strike, too. It's also foreseeable the President gets hit by bus crossing the street today, but I'm not going to come out and say so.
- The media and fans have a right to know the tone of meetings and whether they're going productively or not. But don't come out and say "lockout" and "again" in the same sentence. Bad job by Westgarth.
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As I mentioned on twitter, your comments are just flat out wrong. There is no chance of there being a strike, and there is a very real chance of their being a lockout.
Examine the facts:
1) the NHLPA wanted to renew the existing CBA, therefore they have no reason to go on strike, the NHL would have 3 choices, choice #1 would be to lock the players out, choice #2 would be to keep the existing CBA, choice #3 would be to agree to a new CBA with the players.
2) The NHL elected to not renew the CBA back in May.
3) The NHL has stated that they will lock the players out if no agreement is reached, they will not play without a CBA and they already gave notice that the CBA will not be renewed on 9/15/12, notice that had to be given months in advance.
As for your comment that it is possible the NHLPA will go on strike, I am curious, what are you basing that on? They have already said they are willing to a) play without a CBA while it is negotiated (as they were willing to in 2004/2005), and b) renew the current CBA that expires on 9/15/12. I am not sure how you get any idea that there will be a strike.
This is the exact same irresponsible reporting that occurred in 2004/2005 when some members of the media called the work-stoppage as a player strike and not a lockout. The two are very different things. Had the media done their due diligence in 2004/2005 they would have listened to the minority and realized they were being played by Bettman and the NHL. Luckily this time around, the majority of the media is thinking for themselves. While I do not think your comments were malicious in nature, I feel it is important that you represent the facts to your readers properly so that Bettman does not cost us another season with his greed. The lockout is a real thing, and a player rep stating that is only stating the obvious. There is 0 chance of a player strike right now, and a very real threat of a lockout.
The guy must have brain damage from getting his face beat in by big John Scott a few years ago.
Just had a long conversation about this whole situation last night with my bf, and I''ve decided I'm not going to worry about all of this unless it gets to be the end of August and they're still no closer to an agreement. That being said, I think I might cry if the season gets cancelled. Talk about a momentum killer, both for the Rangers and for the league as a whole.
Those boxes of paper frighten me. I cannot even imagine the logistics of figuring out the NHL's finances.
The NHLPA hasn't even sumbitted a counter proposal yet. Until then we have no clue how far off both side are. But once that happens I think things start to move at a faster pace.
@nick__i Let's hope so.I don't think the NHL can afford another lockout. Already being passed in the rating by sports such as golf and tennis. Crew could be next.
@TheWrage it's a shame, i had such high hopes for where kevin was taking things. had hoped that the average fan would be properly educated about the CBA this time around. it's almost better if you don't say anything at all then continue to incorrectly report what's going on.
@TheWrage No offense my friend but Westgarth didn't say the NHL was going to lockout the players just that it is a possibility.
But in the same article there is Pat Leonard saying there will be a lockout."On Sept. 15, there would be a lockout. The NHL filed the notice of termination for the existing CBA in May for a reason."
Why get on Westgarth's case when it has been pretty clear that the NHL actions and proposals are setting the stage for a lockout?
