IMO the players are employees...nothing more. So I don't think they are justified in claiming a partnership. Just for arguments sake however, lets say their position is justified and they deserve to be partners with the owners. The NHLPA's current stance is that they don't trust the books....okay, why not be proactive and suggest that the league and the NHLPA jointly commision a forensic accountant to audit the books. Oh ya... I forgot...they (NHLPA) don't want do this beacause there is no forensic accountant alive who can determine all revenue sources and therefore they wouldn't get their due. What a load of crap. Truth is, the players are afraid to do this because of what they might find. They are terrified of losing the only leverage they believe they have. Their entire postion is based on an assumption which they refuse to verify.
Until the NHLPA makes some overtures to verify the books they have zero credibility IMO. The players, however, do have a great idea.... claim a partnership while investing a grand total of zero dollars and therefore lose no money if the league falters, but if the league flouishes they gain. If the players are sincere in their desire for a partnership then maybe they should 'invest' a percentage of their salary to benefit all teams...call it revenue sharing.
Until the players are willing to absorb the losses as well as benefit from any gains, they certainly don't qualify as a partner. But I guess if you think you can get all of the benefits if being an employee and all the benefits of being a 'partner' all rolled up into one...go for it.
After all, as the NHLPA has stated, their stance has the good of the game at heart. :lol