Were they or is that just in your eyes. I think its time the everyone stop blaming someone for this entire mess and try looking to the future and what is going to happen. Everyone is to blame for this but the players do what players do, they stuck to together through the tough times. Maybe their misjudged their union leadership, but that doesn't necessarily make them wrong. If everyone knew what would happen, I guess none of us would ever make a mistakes. No one us would ever date anyone that we don't end up marrying since that is the same thing, a bad judge of character. None of us would ever buy a lottery ticket and not end up winning big, because that is the same thing a gamble. They misjudged their leadership and took a gamble and lost. It doesn't make them wrong. \
Couldn't you blame Bettman and the NHL also. They were paid to get a deal done and they didn't. They also misjudged how strong the union was. They thought they could crush it. Now I am sure many of you will tell me that the union has been crushed, but that just isn't so. The players are still strong and standing by each other. None is being replaced (although you all wish, just can't figure out why since you hate the players so much).
But instead of doing all that how about everyone just concentrate on the future. Look ahead as to what is to happen. The players will win if the game of hockey wins. Neither the NHL or the players can judge this CBA as a total win or total loss. Both sides got something out of it they wanted, so just stop blaming each side, ripping each other apart and concentrate on the game instead of looking back saying what everyone should have done.