I would argue that it probably wasn't a great idea to use Nash saying "this is what it is all about" in a promo for the coyotes moving ti Utah
The PA “lost” the 2005 and 2013 CBA negotiations, making concessions they did not want to. The 2020 MOU was pretty much neutral, maintaining the 2013 status quo.
I don’t see any reason to expect the PA will “win” the next 2026 CBA negotiations. The NHL is going to be strongly against adding arena or other franchise/business influencing requirements into the CBA—they want to retain those rights for themselves.
The NHLPA is among the weaker as major sports unions go, I’d rank the four major NA unions as
1) MLB
…big gap
2) NBA
…moderate gap
3) NHL
…smaller, but discernible gap
4) NFL
I don't expect the next CBA to be win/loss. The perception they lost the CBA battles are fine, but the fact they did is part of why the PA isn't the same PA it was even 2 years ago. It has been reported as well that Walsh did a lot behind scenes to get involved in this and push the move.
Regardless it is shortsighted to look at the players of today and suggest that they do not want more of a voice in things. All of them are trying to figure out how to monetarily maximize their careers more than ever before and at younger ages. Any option to do that will be something they will be more active in and people (agents) around them will push for them to be more active in for the betterment of their financial future.
The extreme apathy and willingness to follow shit leadership that resulted in those "losses" you referenced seems to have changed after the harsh impacts of escrow the last few years. Nothing seems to make people stand up and pay more attention than their paycheck...
Not at all a shot at the coyotes, but selling more season tickets in two hours than the previous arena had in capacity is stark comparison of the situations...