Players/Owners Cautiously Optimistic After Marathon Meeting
After meeting until after midnight, the players and owners appeared from their CBA discussions talking about good vibes and moving in the right direction.
In fact, NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly and NHLPA Special Counsel Steve Fehr held a joint press conference afterward and said this...
Daly: "I think everybody is working hard. I think everybody wants to get a deal done, so I think that's encouraging."
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) December 5, 2012
Steve Fehr: "We had a good dialogue. In some ways I'd say it might be the best day we've had."
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) December 5, 2012
Steve Fehr went on to say he is not "painting too overly optimistic a picture" because there is still work to be done.
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) December 5, 2012
Both sides are hoping to meet again tomorrow morning before the owner's Board of Governors meeting.
Brad Richards was one of the 18 players to attend the meeting along with notables such as Sidney Crosby, Marty St. Louis, Ryan Miller, Shane Doan, David Backes and Jonathan Toews.
...you see what happens when you leave Bettman and Donald Fehr out of the equation. And that's what still has me very cautious about celebrating too early. Those two will have to be in the negotiations eventually, so there's still a real chance this blows up in our faces.
...having said that it's hard not to get excited after what went on today. There may just be hockey yet folks.
Both sides feel for the first time in the process the other side is prepared to deal. Hearing there were "gives" from both sides.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) December 5, 2012
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Its funny you said that Kevin. I said the same exact thing about it eventually having to pass through Bettman and Fehr's hands to actually be aproved. Trying to stay optimistic like everyone else, but not holding my breath.
im trying to cautious here but seems like it was good. I think if they woulda done this in the first place we woulda had hockey buy Thanksgiving... will see wut happens now... Mabey they meet early tmrw and then at the Bord of Governs meeting they say ok to a deal and deal is done thatd be nice
