Sports Then and Now

The NHLPA and NHL have reached a tentative agreement to end the 2012-13 NHL Lockout

Most people are pretty unhappy when they have to be awake at six in the morning, and usually I am right there with them. Today is different though, not because I woke up on the “right” side of the bed this morning, but because the NHLPA and NHL have reached a tentative agreement to end the NHL Lockout.

The news broke early this morning by the media in attendance including TSN analyst and former Bruin Aaron Ward, TSN’s Darren Dreger, and ESPN’s Pierre Lebrun. The story from TSN can be read here.

“We have reached an agreement on the framework of a new collective bargaining agreement,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed to reporters early Sunday morning. “I want to thank Don Fehr. We still have more work to do, but it’s good to be at this point.”

While details are few at this time and are the typical “more to follow” variety; it is known that the new deal is 10 years in length. The tentative deal was finally reached after a marathon session of negotiations which eclipsed nearly 16 hours and led into the early morning of today.

It also appears as if the deal features a salary cap of $64.3 million in the second year which is a common ground for both parties as the owners wanted for the cap to be $60 million. It is this concession that is believed to hold major significance in reaching a deal between both parties.

According to ESPN and TSN analyst Pierre Lebrun, the NHL has both 50 game and 48 games schedules drawn up depending on how long it takes to ratify the new CBA. It is unknown at this time as to how long that process will take. What I can tell you is that the NHL Lockout is all but over. There are still some minor things to be done, but for all intents and purposes, we will be seeing hockey pretty soon.

More information will come out over time and we here at Boston Sports Then & Now will keep you all abreast of it as it is released. For now you can all sit back, relax, and think about your beloved black & gold taking the ice at the TD Garden sometime in the next couple of weeks.

You can follow me on twitter for any and all NHL, Bruins, and hockey related news here: Mattjacob64

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The NHL Lockout is TWO MONTHS old already and the fans are trying to SURVIVE.

And find things to do until the NHL & NHLPA get their heads out of their……

You can fill in the blank!

Until then here are some ideas how to spend your time outside of wishing BODILY HARM on Gary Bettman.

If Fans Accept It Now, It Will Be Easier To Cope.

The NHL continues their BULLYING tactics against the NHLPA. Their “take it or leave it” mentality has cost hockey fans everywhere the thing they LOVE. “The Grinch That Will Steal Another Season” AKA Gary Bettman announced that all games in November have been cancelled.

Can it get ANY WORSE?

Yup.

Rumors are swirling that Bettman The Bastard will cancel the NHL All-Star Game & the Winter Classic this coming Monday. The league is going to scrap one of the few things they have done right…..the spectacle and money making machine that is the Winter Classic. The game was to feature the Red Wings and Maple Leafs at the Big House at the University Of Michigan.

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Donald Fehr Is Not Going To Accept An Unfair Proposal Just To Do It.

The CAUTIOUS optimism with the NHL’s latest proposal has NOT been met with great enthusiasm. Bob McKenzie of TSN obtained Donald Fehr’s letter to players & agents:

 “Simply put, the owners’ new proposal, while not quite as Draconian as their previous proposals, still represents enormous reductions in player salaries and individual contracting rights. As you will see, at the 5 per cent industry growth rate the owners predict, the salary reduction over six years exceeds $1.6 billion. What do the owners offer in return?”

– “The proposal does represent movement from their last negotiating position, but still represents very large, immediate and continuing concessions by players to owners, in salary and benefits (the Players’ Share) and in individual player contracting rules.”

On some of the specific aspects of the NHL proposal:

– “They want to “clarify” HRR definition and rules. It is not immediately clear what this means, but so far all of their ideas in this regard have had the effect of reducing HRR, and thereby lowering salaries.”

– “The Players’ Share is reduced to 50 per cent from 57 per cent immediately — this season. This is a reduction in the share of 12.3 per cent. On last year’s revenue numbers, this would mean that players’ salaries would be cut by about $231 million.”

– “The proposal includes a “Make Whole” provision, to compensate players for the anticipated reduction in absolute dollars from last year (2011-12), to this year and next year. However, it would work like this. The Players Share in subsequent years would be reduced so that this “Make Whole” payment would be made. It is players paying players, not owners paying players. That is, players are “made whole” for reduced salaries in one year by reducing their salaries in later years.”

– “Finally, they also proposed that the players could appeal supplemental or commissioner discipline to a neutral arbitration, on a “clearly erroneous” standard, which, as a practical manner, makes it very unlikely that any decision would be overturned.”

The final two paragraphs of the letter sums up where Fehr believes the process is at and reinforces the players’ position on all issues:

– “We do not yet know whether this proposal is a serious attempt to negotiate an agreement, or just another step down the road. The next several days will be, in large part, an effort to discover the answer to that question.”

– “Bear in mind the approach that the Players have taken to these negotiations. It is:

– Given the enormous concessions players made in the last round, plus 7 years of record revenue reaching $3.3 billion last season, there is no reason for a reduction in the amount the players receive.

– Players are willing to take reduced share going forward so that the NHL can grow out of whatever problems some franchises face.

– The player contracting rights secured in the last negotiations should be, at minimum, maintained.

– Revenue sharing needs to be enhanced and structured so as to encourage revenue growth by the receiving teams.

– The overall agreement has to be fair and equitable for both parties. Bargaining is both give and take.”

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Gary Bettman Does Not Care About The Fans Or The Game.

The NHL Lockout is a month old and games have been cancelled through October 24th.

Hockey fans were praying for hockey by Thanksgiving or at the worst by the Winter Classic. Or some MOST were thinking another season would go up in flames due to GREED.

Today the NHL presented their latest deal which entails the following:

The NHL put a new offer on the bargaining table for the NHL Players’ Association on Tuesday morning, which includes a 50/50 split of hockey-related revenue and contingent on an 82-game season beginning Nov. 2.

“We hope we’ve given our best shot,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman told reporters on Tuesday afternoon.

Best shot really? How about your best shot back in 2004-5 so this mess NEVER happened?

This is a NO WIN SITUATION for the NHLPA.  If they take the deal they lose 7% of the revenue that the owners AGREED to back in the LAST lockout. Now The players have to play more games during a condensed schedule.

Which means….MORE INJURIES, so the NHL can re-coop their losses.

If the NHLPA turns down this offer, they now look like the “BAD GUYS” in this. The NHL would win the PR battle that they are losing right now by a LANDSLIDE.

The owners & “GREEDY GARY” have backed the NHLPA in the corner. The players will have to accept the offer or the fans will turn on them. Just what the NHL wants.

It’s A SHOTGUN WEDDING!

I want hockey more than anyone, but I also want this league to become stable and not the LAUGHING STOCK of organized sports.

If I was Donald Fehr, I would tell Gary Bettman to SHOVE IT!

Bettman does not care about you (the fans), the players or the game. He just wants to line the pockets of the owners…..as he twists his handlebar mustache and while he sports his EVIL grin.

More On This Developing Story:

CSNNE –NHL makes 50/50 offer to NHLPA in negotiations

NHL.com-Commissioner Bettman media availability transcript