It’s a Lockout

NHL Owners and Players can't agree on new CBA

TEAMRadio.ca September 15, 2012 9:09pm PST

The NHL’s collective bargaining agreement expired at Midnight et on Saturday night and with no significant progress on a new deal, the NHL has officially locked out its players.

The league and the NHL Players’ Association touched base on Saturday leading up to the deadline, but no formal negotiation meetings were held.

“We talked with the Union this morning and in light of the fact that they have nothing new to offer, or any substantive response to our last proposal, there would be nothing gained by convening a bargaining session at this time,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told TSN. “I’m sure that we will remain in contact in the coming days.”

A work stoppage was expected for some time and all but solidified on Thursday when the owners voted unanimously in favour of a lockout should no new CBA be reached.

Several attempts were made to prevent a lockout over the past couple of weeks, including injunction requests in both Alberta and Quebec courts. The Quebec Labour Board however, denied the players’ request for an injunction on Friday.

The players’ association also stated their willingness to continue playing under the old CBA while negotiations continue, but NHL commissioner Gary Bettman had been adamant the league would not operate without a new deal first being reached.

The biggest sticking point in negotiations has been revenue sharing, with owners proposing players cut their share of hockey-related revenue over a six-year period. The players’ share under the old CBA was 57 per cent; the league’s latest proposal would cut that number to 49 per cent, dropping to 47 per cent by the end of the six years.

The NHLPA’s counter offer starts at 54.3 per cent share for the players, and ends at 52.7 per cent.

Hockey related revenue has grown from $2.1 billion to $3.3 billion under the expiring contract – signed in 2005 – that ended the league’s last work stoppage.

Individual teams will now begin to announce the cancellation of training camps – set to open next week – and the league is expected to announce the cancellation of pre-season games.

It’s unclear now when the two sides will meet again. There has been speculation that the league would not want to cancel the annual Winter Classic played on New Year’s Day – scheduled this year between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs at the University of Michigan’s ‘Big House’ – and will work to have a deal in place before then.

Courtesy TSN.ca

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5 Comments

Jay says:

September 16, 2012 at 12:43 pm

I’m sitting here thinking about what will be missed. Team 1040 won’t be on 24/7 nothing to read, no early season brag sessions, trying to get a deal for seats, who’s going to make the lineup, no excuse to leave the office early to watch a game, blogs will be a bore, and this just touch’s the surface.
Other than here we go again; “now what? Boy; this is getting really old, and so am I, deal should have been done ions ago.
PEDRAM SHAKIBAFAR says:

September 16, 2012 at 1:56 pm

DEAR TEAMTRADIO:
SOD TO SEE NHL NOT STARET PR-SEAN, OR SEAN ON TIME. NHL NOT THINK ABUT ALL THIS STTAF WORK AT THE GAME, LOING THERE JOBE, AND INCOME. SOD THE ONERY ONLY THINK ABUT HOW SAVE MOONY.
Name ger says:

September 17, 2012 at 1:29 pm

milliionairs and billionairs fighting like dogs, totally the true meaning of greed, shameful and dysfunctional, what about the fans who pay for everything, the players and owners say piss on the fans, so as for the lockout I could carel less, piss on the league and especially Gary Bettman. Disgruntled Ex NHL fan. Ger
Name Mike says:

September 18, 2012 at 2:34 pm

I’ve played hockey since I was 4, I’m 58 years young now, still love the sport but I’m frustrated with the basically total disregard and disrespect delivered by both the Players and the Owners – layoffs have started already with some service industry businesses.
I also hear that talks have stopped and the two grossly immature sides have gone to their respective very expensive sand boxes to pout while the people that have supported their vulgar existence are now losing jobs, losing relationships and could possibly be losing more than either side of this embarrassing work conflict.

The NHL should be ashamed of itself for letting their executive in conjunction with the owners to allow another disruption in providing a really great game to both play and watch, not mutate into childish squabbling over profit and loss tables.

I have been following the tweets and notes on several chat lanes and the NHL and the Players better plan on smaller crowds, smaller profits and evaporating markets – the US marginally accepts hockey vs baseball, football and basketball – wake up and soon, what you may be seeking will vanish and the end result will be infinite.

On a positive note, Team 1040 Rocks – keep up the great job guys – Mike.
Big Bad Voodo Daddy says:

September 19, 2012 at 12:10 pm

bring back the Voodo in place of the Canucks until the new deal is ratified. I can’t stand to watch another year of 24/7 poker again!