Comments on: Was canceling the Winter Classic what CBA negotiations needed?

By: comeonnowguys

comeonnowguys — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 14:14:18 +0000

You give Bettman WAY too much credit.

By: thedavesiknowiknow

thedavesiknowiknow — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 04:43:32 +0000

By: lostpuppysyndrome

lostpuppysyndrome — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 23:32:03 +0000

Just got a mental image of Gary Bettman as Keyser Soze…

By: id4joey

id4joey — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 22:48:38 +0000

I believe the actions of the ownership are part of a well defined and orchestrated psychlogical plan to force the player’s hand. The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. Is the NHL ownership willing to loose a full season? Why not? They’ve done it before. Do players want to loose one year’s salary? Why would they? Never have in my lifetime. And those who were affected by 04/05 said it wasn’t worth it and 240 players never played another game in the NHL post 04/05 lockout. So, no.

Canceling the 82 game season was the first power move demonstrated by the ownership. If that didn’t get the PA’s attention, then cancel the WC. How is that for a power move? Oh! But wait said the owners to GB. That’s a lot of money we could use if you can salvage the WC and get the deal that we want Ok said GB. Can we cancel the WC early enough to reinstate it if we have an agreement? Mr Ilitch, how would you like that? What is the latest drop dead date GB asked. Hmmm! Can you work with mid Nov?

So, they use canceling the WC as leverage to put pressure on the PA, and give themselves and option to bring back the WC.

Note: the names have been changed to protect the guilty

By: stakex

stakex — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 22:11:01 +0000

In a sense I think your right… this was the owners “shooting the hostage” so to speak.

Because lets face it, the loss of the Winter Classic doesn’t hurt the players at all, and there really isn’t a huge impact on the owners either. However it is a big PR bananza for the league and its Bettmans time in the spotlight. Showing a willingness to do away with it without even trying to save it, might have been a kick in the ass to the players.

Or, pehraps the WC being cancelled didn’t help at all and instead its the fact the season is on the line and both sides don’t want to lose an entire year. If there is no deal fairly soon, there won’t be a season. So its hard to tell whats actually causing this latest push in the talks.

By: mmcneels81

mmcneels81 — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 20:59:47 +0000

This is one of the most nonsensical mockeries I’ve ever seen. I don’t like things that don’t make sense.

By: capesouth

capesouth — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 20:38:23 +0000

I don’t think so. What’s going to happen, and both sides already know this which is why the lockout is idiotic, is that both sides will compromise to the point where both are happy. This doesn’t end until both sides are satisfied. So, it’s not like the NHL cancelling the Classic convinced them to go back to the bargaining table. It was their decision to cancel this early, anyways.

By: silversun60

silversun60 — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 20:26:20 +0000

I think it eliminated any perceived leverage the NHLPA had over the league. I’d bet the NHLPA’s thinking was “They want the Winter Classic… think of how much $$ they will lose by cancelling it”. Cancelling it showed the league was serious.

But hey… I’m only a stupid “best fan in the world” who will apparently flock back like sheep once they are back…

By: noisetheorem

noisetheorem — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 20:24:42 +0000

Until there is an agreement, both sides can kiss my Golden Tate.