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Fehr claims canceled games don’t make economic sense for NHL

Donald Fehr

National Hockey League Players Association Executive Director Donald Fehr arrives for talks, in New York, Friday, Nov. 9, 2012. The NHL and NHL Players’ Association are back in the boardroom. The sides have gathered for a fourth straight day of collective bargaining talks the longest run of meetings they’ve had during these negotiations to end the lockout.(AP Photo/Richard Drew)National Hockey League Players Association executive director Donald Fehr arrives for talks with the NHL, Friday, Nov. 9, 2012, in New York. The league and the players’ association met Friday for the fourth straight day and fifth time in seven days, trying to reach an agreement to end the lockout. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

AP

As per tradition, the NHLPA has released a statement on the heels of an NHL announcement that a block of games (this one through Dec. 14) has been canceled due to the lockout.

Here’s the latest union declaration, courtesy executive director Donald Fehr:

“On Wednesday, the players presented a comprehensive proposal, once again moving in the owners’ direction in order to get the game back on the ice. The gap that remains on the core economic issues is $182 million. On Wednesday, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said that the league is losing $18-20 million per day during the lockout, therefore two more weeks of canceled games far exceeds the current economic gap. It makes the NHL’s announcement of further game cancellations, including the 2013 All-Star Weekend, all the more unnecessary, and disappointing for all hockey fans – especially those in Columbus. The players remain ready to negotiate but we require a willing negotiating partner.”

Of course, the sum of $182 million isn’t the only gap separating the two sides. There’s also a whole host of contractual issues, plus the owners probably don’t like the players’ request to be protected from the “aftermath” of the work stoppage.