Seven_Nation_Army said:
Its all the Rangers and Leafs fault for offering Holik what they offered him
9 ******* million for a checking line center
That's why the word IMPASSE should become a very known word on these boards...because I'm already starting the countdown to it.
That's exactly right. The NHL has a good case for having the impasse approved due to the fact that two MAJOR leagues already impose a cap and have done A-Okay with it.
I think the NHL has no other choice. The PA keeps saying they don't have a negotiating partner but the league doesn't have one either simply because neither of them wish to begin a dialogue about the points they are both willing to accept.
Also, the NHL has the research on their side to support their end of it. They have the Levitt report - which is an iron horse - and have offered on two occasions to have Levitt personally go over it and answer any questions with the NHLPA. Both times they refused.
If anything, the league has done a lot to make the NHLPA aware of their position and the PA's simple answer has always come down to "we don't trust your numbers" and "we won't accept a cap." There's no real hard data there. If they don't accept the numbers - tell us why.
It'll be interesting to see what happens when either of the two sides tries to open up a dialogue again with each other. If nothing comes of anything by around Christmas I don't see any reason why the league shouldn't pursue an impasse. They can prove they've tried to find a reasonable means through negotiation and been refused time and time again by an "unreasonable negotiating partner". If approved they can start the league again and the players can either accept or strike.
It'll be interesting to see what happens.