Things have gone from bad to worse in the National Hockey League labor dispute.
The league has decided to take their latest proposal offered to the players a few weeks ago off the table.
Hopes of a full 82 game season are gone. The question is now is will there be a season at all. If you ask me, I will have to say no.
During the last lockout in 2004-05, when talks broke off, the two sides did not speak to one another for three months and it looks like this labor dispute is headed down the same road.
On the same day the league took the proposal off the table, they also cancelled games through November 30.
According to the National Hockey League Players Association’s Executive Director, Donald Fehr, the players was rather positive about the proposal, except for one question. Will the contracts of players that had revenue sharing more then 50% would be honored. If this is true, the league answered the player’s question by turning down three counter proposals.
In the past, I never sided with the players. Like most of you, I considered the players just plain greedy. Why the change of heart? Well, As some of you know, I have a blog on SI.com. During the free agency period, I would write in my blog about the signings that were taken place in the NHL.
I couldn’t believe some of the deals the owners were making.
A good example is the Sidney Crosby deal. Here’s a guy who has a history of concussions and yet the Pittsburgh Penguins signed him to a 10-year, $104 million contract. What if he gets injured again? What if its a career ending injury? I thought this signing was ridiculous.
You know what else is ridiculous? Most of the signings were over the $3 million mark.
These owners signed these deals before the lockout and are now saying under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement they will not honor these contracts.
No wonder the players are frustrated.
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