That is well put ...
I see it similar .. There are two lines in the Lemieux Article that support this ..
1) "The only way that Wayne and I would have gotten involved is because we believed there was a new proposal coming from the Players' Association," Lemieux told the Post-Gazette. "We were told by some of the players we were talking to that there would be a new proposal on the table at the $45 (million) level."
2) Lemieux also acknowledged that if the union did make the $45 million offer, he's not sure it would have been accepted by the league.
Two completely different things ..
The Union came to try to save the season and likely would have offered the 45 M but came to negotiate on the other issue.. Salary Arbitration, Revenue Sharing etc ..
If Lemieux is mad because the NHLPA did not offer 45 Mil and if the NHL had no intentions of accepting it then why where Gretzky and Lemieux there in the first place ..
YOU NAILED IT
The union was ready to negotiate -- the league wasn't. Gretzky and Lemieux get embarassed.
Based on Lemieux own words that was always the expected outcome by the NHL..and saving the season was never a NHL thought ..
Lemieux last quote should have been Wayne and I came here with the thought that the OWNERS were WILLING to meet at 45.0 and when NHLPA offered the 45.0 the season could have been saved, and Bettman hinted at the same 45.0 when he cancelled the season... He would have every right to be mad if the Owners were willing to meet in the middle and the NHLPA did not budge .. and offer 45.0 as Mario and Wayne were promised .. but this had no chance from the beginning of working out and the NHL thought the Union was coming to surrender and they read that all wrong .. ..
Saskin's last words we are farther apart now then before .. Is that what you would expect if both sides intended to strike a deal and save a season ???