nomorekids said:
I'm not sure some of you are too well-versed in labor negotiations.
First off, this was not going to happen until a deadline was set. Is the deadline a little late? Maybe, but better late than never.
Second, the players' offer of 52 million was ridiculous. The owners' offer of 40 million wasn't AS ridiculous, but it was bad. HOWEVER...that's the name of the game, folks. When you're buying a car or negotiating a CBA, you START BIG. The NHLPA knew damn well they weren't getting a 52 million cap and know just as well they're not getting a 49 million cap. Similarly, the Owners aren't going to get a 42.5 million cap and they know it. Each side will creep toward the middle. The next offer isn't going to be the one that gets it. You'll likely see something like:
NHL: 44 million, and that's our final offer
NHLPA: 46 million, and that's OUR final offer
NHL: 45 million, and you can keep this and this
Deal.
Don't abandon hope yet. We're closer than you think.
Look, that would make sense if the players had leverage and had equal bargaining power. They dont. They have no leverage. The owners were and are prepared to cancel the season. This is the point need to wrap their heads around: the owners are ready and (key word here) PREPARED FOR the ramifications cancelling the season. The players arent. Goodenow was either a) pressured by players to make a move or b) accepted the cap stance in order to look rosier in front of the NLRB when they challenge the league's declaration of impasse. Either way, both choices imply a lack of leverage. The owners dont have any pressure coming from anywhere to not cancel the season; as has been said millions of times, they are losing less by not playing than by playing. They will also be legally able to declare impasse tommorow if they wanted to, and implement a new CBA of their liking in September. Tom Hicks today said the following "All I know is that the Stars will be playing hockey in September, be it players from the NHLPA or not" -- impasse must then be challenged by the PA, and they must prove that the impasse was legally unneccessary and that unfair labour practices had taken place on the side of the league so that they could do that. The problem is they have no ammo. The last 24 hrs was an attempt to get some.
Why I am so sure the league has already won? By declaring impasse, the league will implement a smaller hard cap. Gary said as much by saying in one of his notes that "the amount will not be as much" when talking of the future CBA. He can slap a 31 Mil cap on, especially when he explains to the NLRB that the loss of revenues of the killed season allows for a smaller cap to, say, re-build their revenues. Thats a hypothetical, but you get my point.
So, nomorekids, I understand what you are saying, but youre saying it as if the league and players are on an equal playing field. They arent. The league holds all the cards. The players have absolutely no leverage. At all. Period. And you might not believe me tonight, but youll believe me when Bettman cancels the season @ 1pm tommorow.
Everyone in here is saying "theres a deal to be had". The deal is the 42.5 Mil that Gary has put down. Thats that. Because if they dont take it, the league'll restart in September with a hard cap 10 million bucks less. Win Win situation for the owners.
