It's safe to say everyone is thoroughly disgusted at this point with this CBA mess, especially with it threatening the season.
What's been really infuriating is hearing Gary Bettman or Donald Fehr or Bill Daly emerge from some CBA session and talk about "caring about the fans." They all need to save their breath. This isn't "about the fans." It's only about money.
What the NHL and NHLPA need is a mediator to end this money fight. So go ahead, be the mediator. How would you end this impasse? How would you rule? What's fair for both sides?
The floor is open.
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at
Comments
My take would be...
Tue, 10/09/2012 - 14:12 — gf101112Have both men step into a steel cage match inside The Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario Canada. Gary "Public Enemy # 1" Bettman vs. Donald "The Clown" Fehr!!! Bettman is wearing black wrestling tights with a single shoulder strap over his left shoulder. Fehr is wearing wrestling tights similar to a clown suit, (yellow and red colors), with a big white and red smile painted on his face. After the national anthems and introductions, Bettman grabs the micophone and yells "I LOVE THE FANS!!!" the sold out crowd goes bananas and the boo's are heard from Vancouver to Tampa. The match starts and Bettman and Fehr get each other in a stranglehold, their grips tightening by the second!!! The crowd goes bonkers as Steve Fehr jumps into the cage and hits Bettman over the head with a wooden hockey stick, breaking it in two and giving Gary an immediate concussion!!! The referee screams into the microphone "I declare this match...A DRAW!!!". The crowd goes absolutely insane!!! Riots break out throughout North America. The next day the last proposal that was on the table is signed by all parties involved. The first game will be on Janurary 1st 2013.
The owners take home a whopping 2.7 billion dollars from the pay-per-view telecast of the match!!!
How to solve this
Tue, 10/09/2012 - 10:48 — NCBuff_Caniac1) Get a really big bag.
2) Put Bettman and Fehr inside.
3) Put about 100 cats in bag with them.
4) Tell B & F they have one hour to resolve this or else.
5) When they do not resolve within one hour, slowly immerse bag in nearest body of water.
6)If that doesn't work put Fehr's brother and the owners cabal who seem to be leading this lockout into a bag and repeat steps 3-5.
Open bag when they have resolved everything. Only bad thing about this is that it is cruel to the cats.
Don't like cats, eh? How
Tue, 10/09/2012 - 15:18 — HockeydogDon't like cats, eh? How about we put you in the bag instead.
Don't like cats?
Wed, 10/10/2012 - 09:51 — NCBuff_CaniacActually, I love cats. Have three. This was a tongue in cheek suggestion. Besides, no one would be intimidated at the thought of being put in a bag with me and lowered into a river.
The owners have caused this
Mon, 10/08/2012 - 18:16 — CanarseThe owners have caused this mess with a bad CBA that they created in '05. On the other hand the players are messing this up badly. They keep talking about "fair." Who cares what is fair! None of us get paid what is fair. If people were paid by what is fair teachers, police officers and firemen would be the highest paid professions.
The players need to think about what is the best they are going to get. As the clock ticks they lose money they'll never see again. Owners will make the money they lose back and more in a couple years. The Mike Smith article made more sense than anything else I have read on the issue. The number is going to be 50% or close to it. The players need to start negotiating on how they are going to get there. There will be a hit in year one and they need to get over it. If they don't the hit won't be 7% this year, but 100%. Players! Get your heads right and get this thing moving!
Solving the Impasse
Mon, 10/08/2012 - 16:53 — abramsdougHere's a solution that works:
A ten year CBA. Ten year contracts are the maximum length. The cap hit is no less than 50% of the highest year.
Year 1: the players receive 57% of HRR.
Year 2: the players receive 55% of HRR;
Year 3: the players receive 53% of HRR;
Year 4: the players receive 51% of HRR;
Years 5 through 10: the players receive 50% of HRR;
??
Mon, 10/08/2012 - 18:11 — CanarseIsn't that pretty much what the players have offered?
What Players Offered
Tue, 10/09/2012 - 14:01 — abramsdougThe players did not offer the scenario above; but it's a logical extension I believe to have the formula I suggested as an ending point. A major sticking point is that at present the NHL owners want to be relieved of the obligation to pay contracts they willing entered. It's a travesty and runs counter to everything about the Common Law of Contracts. The premise in the United States and Canada given its Common Law background is that legal contracts entered into by competent adults are to be enforced.
Nobody compelled the owners to sign these contracts. The NHLPA is however being unrealistic in suggesting they are not going to make concessions off 57% HRR. What I believe is that both the NHL and the NHLPA are close on the percentages they would accept; but they are so full of distrust and rage that neither side can communicate their real intent for fear of being taken advantage of.
Neither side is willing to make an offer and is trying to outwait the other. It's foolish and amateurish negotiation tactics. It's also an approach guaranteed to irritate, if not alienate, hockey fans. For an entertainment business that is dependent on fan attendance at live games, it's foolhardy.
My Disgust...
Mon, 10/08/2012 - 09:18 — WAStoutWhy do they have to meet to determine when they will meet.
Craft a dual-agenda and go. Stay in a room until it is done.
What is so hard about this?
I honestly believe no one had any intention of playing in October.
The players should propose a
Mon, 10/08/2012 - 07:05 — atrioneThe players should propose a 6 year deal that starts at 51.5% for them and goes down by 1/2 point each year. In the last year, the players share will be 48.5% but they will have averaged a 50/50 split over the term of the deal. Limit the amount the contract after the entry deal can be increased. No changes in HRR or free agency rules. The owners will reject it, of course.
Take the most recent offers
Mon, 10/08/2012 - 06:43 — ctillTake the most recent offers from both sides. 75% of the gap goes to the owners, 25% goes to the players. Done.
Mediator
Mon, 10/08/2012 - 02:22 — egelivinMoe Howard. At least someone would get a hammer to the head. Why you I oughtta...