Mediators Conclude There's No Hope
After a second straight day of federal mediators presiding over CBA discussions, we're no closer to a deal getting done than we were in August. In fact the mediators seem to have thrown their hands up the way fans have.
Here's NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly...
"Today, we concluded two days of mediation with FMCS mediators and representatives of the NHL Players' Association. After spending several hours with both sides over two days, the presiding mediators concluded that the parties remained far apart, and that no progress toward a resolution could be made through further mediation at this point in time. We are disappointed that the mediation process was not successful."
NHLPA Executive Director Donald Fehr added...
"Today, players and NHLPA staff, along with representatives of the League, concluded a second day of mediation under the auspices of the FMCS. This afternoon, the mediators informed the parties that they did not think it was productive to continue the discussions further today. The mediators indicated that they would stay in contact with the League and the NHLPA, and would call the parties back together when they thought the time was right."
This lockout has taught hockey fans a whole mess of new terms including "hockey related revenue," "decertification," and "mediation." And now after the latest breakdown, we'll get to learn the meaning of "Disclaimer of Interest" which is apparently the next step for the NHLPA...
Looks like next stop will be NHLPA Disclaimer of Interest, meaning Fehr no longer represents players. Similar to decertifying, but faster.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) November 29, 2012
Or they can go with Gary Bettman's idea...
Bettman proposed to Fehr and PA an owner-payer mtng only. No NHL or NHLPA brass. Fehr and PA are believed to be considering.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) November 29, 2012
For my thoughts on these latest developments continue reading.
...every time I write a post about the CBA talks I get a bunch of readers asking why I'm so negative all the time. I dare someone to give me a single reason to be positive right now. It's almost December and there is literally no hope of a season at this point. But hey, at least Nash is tearing it up in Switzerland. Oh wait, no he's not he's injured again.
...does anyone really think putting the owners and players in a room will get this done? Bettman gets his marching orders from the owners. He is nothing more than a puppet in the negotiations, so I'm not sure how taking him out of the equation helps. And as far as the potential absence of Fehr, the players brought him in to make sure their side wouldn't cave. So why would they now?
...whatever, wake me up in September for training camp. If there is one.
Having said all that, there's still plenty of time for a deal to get done as Elliotte Friedman at CBC Sports tells us...
"The 2004-05 NHL season was cancelled in February, but it probably won't be that late this time. A few executives believe the true "red alert" is between January 1st and 15th."
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please hockey fans, as a whole do not go back to them this year even if they do recicile. if they do it's about time they felt the pain (the owners i mean), they're the ones that are the greedier of the two sides. they build their plush executive boxes to draw in scads of cash, charge crazy prices for their food and drink, their box office prices are out of this world and they're taking a living away from all the people who should now, be working at the hockey games. also, lest not forget the owners are the idiots who pay these "GREEDY PLAYERS" these idiotic salaries,((suter, parise and the others that are WAY overpaid)) yes, the players have a part in this too but basically if the owners don't pay, the players have to play for less or not at all !! i mean how many of us would love to make what the low end nhl player makes a year and be able to get along just fine. to put this in perspective, i bring in only $25,000 new $$$'s a year and can get by 'ok' !! so i say whenever this ever gets settled, make em pay at the box office, concessions and whatever to show them how BAD it really CAN be. by the way, worst case senario, if they don't play this year, boycott them for ten or so games whenever they start again, just so THEY don't forget what they caused. thanks for listening to my rant.
Yeah where is the positive to be positive about lol we have heard none so all there is left is all the negative we keep hearing so I'm with you, I don't think will be a season. Would be a nice Xmas gift though if they gave us half a season.
@TheNYRBlog not "zero hour" yet.Both sides hope other folds.Also,owners will fracture before players.2many rumors of unhappy owners.
@TheNYRBlog I would say that this latest proposal of direct talk between players and owners is the biggest step forward yet. #lockout
@TheNYRBlog The mediation was folly from the start. If it offered any new point of view, sure. But it was Non-binding mediation. #useless
Forget it. There'll be no season until they both realize how greedy theyre being . Neither side gives a crap about the fans.It should be all about the fans, but of course it's not
I was talking to a guy last nite who's friend works for the isles, he's saying they believe season will start in jan, prob half a season, not sure how valid that is though
@TheNYRBlog 2012-13 was set to be record breaking for NHL profits. RECORD BREAKING PROFITS #WakeMeWhenItsOver
@TheNYRBlog there's not gonna be any season. pack this shit up. see you in September. league is a #joke.
@shnoobles Agreed. Doesn't mean there still isn't time to get something done, but man the situation is bleak.
@TheNYRBlog Exactly. I'd be more positive if they'd just make progress. They repeatedly haven't, so I'm going to stay negative
@TheNYRBlog I'm so frustrated about this mediation thing. Two days is not enough time to see if something works!
@TheNYRBlog Definite possibility. So tired of this lockout, it's such a rollercoaster every week-tiny bit of hope, major let down, repeat.
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I love that after only 2 days they think it's done. I just feel like everyone of these guys just don't want to work. Could they atleast give it a week? I think the fact that we have no voice in this is what's making me feel most violated. How could these grown men look at our economic situation as a country and decide that they don't want 3.3 billion? I feel sick.
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@GLENsatherVSglennDANZIG I'm with you. Two days? What is this BS? Like we've been saying since the beginning of this whole mess, WHERE IS THE URGENCY? Its like they just don't care. Maybe they really don't, I dunno. I guess they're all still getting paid so what the hell.
They're all being gigantic spoiled children and its disgusting.
@erichan @GLENsatherVSglennDANZIG It is possible that the parties are so far apart that it would be a waste of time for the mediators to stick around.
PS. It is time for the owners to resume play with replacement players like the NFL.did a few years ago. It would make the players realize that tey either sign the agreement or go work in the car wash or Mc Donalds or other fast food chains for minimum wage.See how that will work out for them.
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@GLENsatherVSglennDANZIG I agree. You know it's a cluster F if after just two days the mediators feel there's no chance for a deal.
