Looks like things are progressing even without the major players. Here's an excerpt from a blogger that heard Leafs Lunch today:
"Goodenow and Linden are in Vancouver today dealing with the NHLPA certification process in B.C. Saskin and Gartner are at the CBA meeting."
It looks like the moderates are taking care of the CBA while Goodenow is taking care of of some legal issues with Linden.
And it also looks like Kevin Gibson from 640 Toronto has some interesting info to share:
"The reason why the meetings shift this week from Toronto to New York is because Bettman needs to be back in New York on Wednesday for the Board of Governors to vote on the sale of Anaheim. I imagine that they will discuss the CBA as well. Once the sale is approved, Anaheim will choose a new nickname and announce the signing of Brian Burke as their new GM.
As far as the CBA talks go, it appears that the end is near, how many times have we said that? One player I spoke to yesterday said that the players are on stand by to vote but he wouldn't be surprised if it was next week as they've been told that this week will be four meetings of fine tuning issues most specifically the unrestricted free agent age, but this by no means is a deal breaker, all of the supposed deal breakers have been taken care of. I reported awhile go that the NHL players would be in the Olympics mainly because that is what NBC wants and yesterday it was leaked that the players will be in Torino and Vancouver. Hockey Canada has already asked Quinn and crew to come back to coach in February, so the next thing to take care of is getting the CBA squared away and then have a camp in Calgary in August, just like Team Canada had in August of 2001, should be some interesting selections on that team.
Looks like the players are going to get the Olympics, which is actually a good thing for the game. Hopefully the end of June this will all be done (FINALLY)."
. . . . . But I do agree, the end is in sight.
