Archive for the ‘CBA’ Category

From mediation to decertification, let the process begin

Posted by Justin Bourne under CBA, Lockout News on Nov 27, 2012

Welp, it’s finally happened. I’ve complained about the NHL and NHLPA not using a mediator (as the NFL and NBA did) to reach a resolution a number of times on this site. I figured they hadn’t yet because the NHL wouldn’t like what they had to hear, and thus knew it would be pointless to go down that road.

What I didn’t know, is that when the NFL and NBA brought in federal mediators…it didn’t work. Like, at all.

James Mirtle explained today:

[...]Both the NFL and NBA went through it during their lockouts in 2011 and, other than consuming a few days, the non-binding process didn’t solve much. The NBA experience was particularly relevant as it came almost exactly 12 months ago during what was supposed to be the early portion of that league’s regular season.

George Cohen, the mediator in that case, coaxed the league and players into three marathon days of meetings that were kept largely out of the media. The end result, however, wasn’t much progress.

“No useful purpose would be served by requesting the parties to continue the mediation process at this time,” Cohen said at the end of Day 3.

Well, shit.  Read the rest of this entry »

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Rumours: NHLPA’s new proposal moves their offer considerably closer to owners

Posted by Justin Bourne under CBA, Lockout News, Rumours on Nov 21, 2012

The Twitters are all abuzz this afternoon, as rumours out of the NHL/NHLPA CBA meeting seem to be relatively positive. The word on the street? The latest offer from the PA has them just $182 million apart over five years from the NHL. Here’s the reaction so far:

Damn. Too late.

Read the rest of this entry »

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The NHL turned down the NHLPA’s request to meet today, complete with a flippant Bill Daly quote

Posted by Justin Bourne under CBA, NHL, NHLPA on Oct 24, 2012

This is what Daly thought of the NHL's request (pic from newstodaydigest.com)

Well here’s a frustrating tidbit that popped up on the Twitter machine last night: The NHLPA requested a meeting with the NHL today, and the league told them to go suck an egg, in slightly more professional terms.

The players executive board had a conference call on Tuesday night, which they followed up with the request.

Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star wrote on what came next:

“We informed the NHL we are willing to meet (Wednesday) or any other date, without preconditions, to try to reach an agreement,” the union said in a statement. “We hope to hear from them soon.”

The answer came quickly — no.

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said because the players were unwilling to bargain off the league’s last proposal, there’d be no point.

“Given their rejection of our proposal and their indication that they aren’t prepared to make a new one, what is there to meet about?” Daly wrote to the Star in an email.

If I may steal a line from Peter Griffin, that last line really grinds my gears. “What is there to meet about?” Eff you, man. Read the rest of this entry »

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Thoughts on 30 Thoughts: NHL lockout enters crucial week, Luongo and more

Posted by Justin Bourne under 10 Thoughts, CBA, Roberto Luongo on Oct 23, 2012

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

“Thoughts on 30 Thoughts” is a feature that looks at Elliotte Friedman’s terrific weekly post “30 Thoughts.” Justin Bourne selects his 10 favourite tidbits, and elaborates.

It’s been awhile since we’ve had a new “30 Thoughts” article from Elliotte Friedman, but yesterday he gifted one to the world. He covered the obvious stuff – lockout progress – but also the Roberto Luongo situation, NHLers in the AHL and more. Let’s dive in.

Last edition: Zach Parise ran the show in free agency

Friedman’s column, October 22nd: NHL lockout enters crucial week

Opening:

Elliotte crunches the numbers in the opening and breaks down just how quickly the league and PA would have to tidy up loose ends for there to be a full 82 game season. Bettman has made it pretty clear that his personal deadline for that is Thursday (the 25th), but Friedman figures there’s a handful of days wiggle room there, especially if the League torches the All-Star Game:

The now-vapourized NHL schedule ran from October 11 until April 13. That’s 185 days. If you cancel the All-Star Game (and you have to believe that’s likely), the league only needs 180 days, because that’s a five-day break.

I had to include that paragraph, because I love imagining the long, thoughtful debate about cancelling the ASG game – in Columbus, a team with almost zero all-stars – or not. I picture “The Bob’s” talking about it like they talked about Tom Smykowski in Office Space. “He’s gone.” “Useless.” Read the rest of this entry »

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How a “make-whole” salary cap would provide a win-win lockout solution

Posted by 67Sound under CBA, Ideas, The Lockout on Oct 19, 2012

(Editor’s note: Breaking: I’m not a lawyer. Therefore, my opinions on the lockout and the ongoing CBA negotiations are roughly as valuable as that of the guy I met the other day who told me that “NBC cancelled the season today.” Got it. 

Fortunately, I am friends with a (kinda concerning?) number of lawyers, some of whom also happen to be hockey fans. 

One of them, @67Sound, offered up a “quixotic” lockout solution (a quick trip to dictionary.com explains that “quixotic” means “exceedingly unrealistic; unrealistic and impractical.”), which turns out to be less quixotic, and more completely reasonable and excellent. It makes sense, and could work.

Give it a read and see what you think, then let’s hash this thing out in the comment section.) Read the rest of this entry »

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