Back To The Drawing Board As Lockout Roller Coaster Continues

It was the news that hockey fans were dreading and it came to fruition on Thursday afternoon.  The NHL and NHLPA met and instead of negotiating off of Tuesday’s proposal from the owners, the PA instead ignored it and presented not one, not two, but three separate proposals to the league, all of which were ultimately dismissed by the NHL.

September 12, 2012; New York, NY, USA; NHLPA executive director Don Fehr during a press conference at the 2012 NHLPA summer player meetings at the Marriott Marquis. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-US PRESSWIRE

The players’ proposals included getting to the 50-50 split in 5 years, 3 years, an immediately, providing that all currently in force contracts are honored.

This is a disturbing trend as it seems the two sides are farther apart today than they were when the lockout started.  A wise person (ok it was me) tweeted out Wednesday, that if the NHL proposal was not negotiated off of and wasn’t going to be the basis for an agreement, then the season might be in jeopardy.  On Wednesday, I was getting ready to start my team by team previews in anticipation of the season starting soon.   I have put that plan back on the shelf, because after hearing both sides talk on Thursday following the ONE HOUR meeting I am more pessimistic than ever that we will see any hockey at all this season.