FLYLine4LIFE said:
Agreed to Hard Cap, Agreed to drop the number down from 52 million or whatever high number it was at first, Linkage to the Cap, and of course the 24% rollback.
Or...
Agreed to do the above for publicity, at the 12th hour when there was absolutely no chance of them being held to do so, as there would never be an agreement, regardless.
It's 11:59PM, I agree to give in on about every concession before the 12AM deadline, but fillibuster on the last item to purpoefully reneg on my offer, YET I look like I'm bargaining in good faith and giving in on everything.
Offering to have my VERY LIMITED remaining contracts reduced by 24% (though the vast vast majority will erase the 24% within 2 years), agree to lower the cap figure and agree to a cap I will never see due to my firm negotiating apathy, then never go back to resolve the issues, then cry to the media when nothing gets done, all the while, not negotiating until that 12th hour.
Both sides' agendas are very much alive and will continue to drive their efforts. No linkage or no cap or no this or that. This will drag the void on forever. To think the PA or NHL will yield to common sense is rediculous, so long as both sides think the other will lose.
So you applaud the PA's concessions, though temporary and meaningless, and others applaud the NHL's concessions as meaningless as they are. I'll applaud when something gets signed and remain judgemental of the pink elephant offers Goodenow and Bettman tell the press they made, take-it-or-leave-it by nature, as they fight obstinately to continue this war of attrition/p***ing contest.