What looked like a promising week for the NHL turned into more of the same Thursday when the owners rejected the players' latest offer and left negotiations without a new CBA. Furthermore, there are no further negotiating sessions planned.
The sides had seemingly made progress this week fueled by players/owners only meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday, but things hit a roadblock on Thursday when Gary Bettman re-entered the picture and the players asked for mediators to be brought back as well. The owners didn't go for that, nor did they go for what the players sought in their new proposal.
"We have moved dramatically, we are proposing a long-term system that will play the players billions and billions of dollars over its term, but we have to have a system that works right," Bettman said. "It's all part of the package. I am disappointed beyond belief that we are where we are tonight. We're going to have to take a deep breath and try and regroup."
Said Fehr: "This looks like it's not going to be resolved in the immediate future."
For more on the NHL lockout and the Bruins, visit weei.com/bruins [1].
Links:
[1] http://www.weei.com/bruins
[2] http://www.weei.com/category/boston/bruins