GordieHoweHatTrick
Registered User
I think this is the best way to explain the leverage situation right now.
Players need the NHL to continue living the lifestyle that they have been living as no other league will provide them with the salaries and benefits that the NHL offers.
Owners need players to make money from hockey; However, they do NOT need players to make money from all of the other businesses they are involved in.
The reality is that the NHL holds all the leverage and they have no problem digging in and canceling the season to eventually get to a point where they feel the CBA is fair.
I think you're making yourself look a little silly insinuating the Owners want to cancel a season just to get everything they want in these negotiations. Sure, they have leverage (everyone knows this) but I just don't think they're dumb enough to think they could lock the league whenever they please and continue to rake in record revenues. It's in both parties best interest to get a season going, unfortunately it's also important for the Owners to get their "fair" share of cost certainty and it's also important to the players that Owners honour existing contracts. It's not black and white.