2012 CBA Negotiations Thread

[Bender]

I think we'll be watching NHL hockey again soon!

Same here, all the optimism from earlier bargaining sessions seemed to be media generated. This time, you can see a change in tone from the principles.
Same here

I think its a good idea to be cautiously optimistic but the tsn panel predicted correctly that having Burkle, Crosby there really helped as the Pitts owner is known for being a broker of deals. And having both sides say it was the best day so far in the process has to count for something. But Fehr says there's.still lots of work to be done. This thing needs to end soon if they're going salvage anything.

 

[Deebo]

If a deal is reached in the next few days, I really hope Burke makes an exception to his holiday roster freeze rule.

 

[Corn Flake]

drosennhl: Meetings have resumed. Bettman and Fehr are NOT in the room, as was originally planned.

Thank goodness. After a productive day without them how could you possibly consider bringing them into the room... do that when there is a final call to make.

I shook my head when I heard that Ron Birkle helped build his billion dollar grocery store empire on his very successful ability to negotiate with unions and keep them happy.

Why in the world did they hide this guy in the back room for so long?

Oh Gary.... when will you ever realize the bad cop strategy is a thing of the past?

 

[Corn Flake]

If a deal is reached in the next few days, I really hope Burke makes an exception to his holiday roster freeze rule.

*repeatedly bangs head on desk at the thought of this becoming an issue*

 

[Corn Flake]

I think we'll be watching NHL hockey again soon!

Same here, all the optimism from earlier bargaining sessions seemed to be media generated. This time, you can see a change in tone from the principles.
Same here

The fact that Daly and S. Fehr stood together last night to meet the media was the most telling sign of all, IMO.. it doesn't mean anything grandios has been agreed to but I really think it means they are finally working together, and maybe kind of on the same page.

 

[Champ Kind]

If this thing comes together as a result of the owners and players meeting directly, I would say that Gary B better start polishing up his resume.  Same goes for the Fehr crew.

Goes to show you that the whole 'Management vs. Labour' mentality is really driven, or at least exagerrated, by people who stand to gain the most from the perceived conflict.  Buzz Hargrove called the direct meeting of players and owners a mistake.  Anyone think Buzz is right?

 

[rdowdall]

If this thing comes together as a result of the owners and players meeting directly, I would say that Gary B better start polishing up his resume.  Same goes for the Fehr crew.

Goes to show you that the whole 'Management vs. Labour' mentality is really driven, or at least exagerrated, by people who stand to gain the most from the perceived conflict.  Buzz Hargrove called the direct meeting of players and owners a mistake.  Anyone think Buzz is right?

I'd have to hear why he thought they were a mistake before I commented.  If he had valid reasons then I would have to consider them.  If not, and it was just because that he felt that it's not the way it should be done, then I would disagree with him.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Not meeting until after the Board of Governors meeting.  Both sides just met internally this morning, didn't want to rush meeting before the BoG.

Source: Every NHL twitter source roughly 10 seconds apart.

 

[Deebo]

Not meeting until after the Board of Governors meeting.  Both sides just met internally this morning, didn't want to rush meeting before the BoG.

Source: Every NHL twitter source roughly 10 seconds apart.

Word also is that the players will have "something" for the owners.

 

[Champ Kind]

If this thing comes together as a result of the owners and players meeting directly, I would say that Gary B better start polishing up his resume.  Same goes for the Fehr crew.

Goes to show you that the whole 'Management vs. Labour' mentality is really driven, or at least exagerrated, by people who stand to gain the most from the perceived conflict.  Buzz Hargrove called the direct meeting of players and owners a mistake.  Anyone think Buzz is right?

I'd have to hear why he thought they were a mistake before I commented.  If he had valid reasons then I would have to consider them.  If not, and it was just because that he felt that it's not the way it should be done, then I would disagree with him.

I think, most likely, Buzz' viewpoint came from the fact that as a career labour negotiator, he thinks the representation is an integral past of the process.  I suppose, in this instance at least, having the Bettmans and Fehrs of the world leading the negotiation wasn't exactly working.

 

[lc9]

Well this all seems like good news.  I was optimistic as soon as I heard that there would be a owners/players meeting only.  Let the people with the most to gain/lose talk it out, reasonable parties can come to an agreement.  I don't find Betteman or Fehr to be reasonable men. 

 

[lamajama]

Don't forget about the giant tool in the room...Jeremy Jacobs.

 

[Corn Flake]

If this thing comes together as a result of the owners and players meeting directly, I would say that Gary B better start polishing up his resume.  Same goes for the Fehr crew.

Goes to show you that the whole 'Management vs. Labour' mentality is really driven, or at least exagerrated, by people who stand to gain the most from the perceived conflict.  Buzz Hargrove called the direct meeting of players and owners a mistake.  Anyone think Buzz is right?

I think Buzz was right for sure. It was a smart play call by the owners (Gary?) and it kind of forced the union to say yes to it.  They had little choice. I think the owners would have started to make very loud noises about cancelling the season if the PA hadn't agreed.

As for Bettman & Fehr... well Fehr was essentially only signed on to get the players through this CBA and help them find a new leader (aka get his brother installed) so he could go back into retirement. I would expect he's thinking the same still. 

As for Gary, I think you underestimate his craftiness and intelligence to think that the player/owner meeting without him being there will somehow corner him as a failure.  What will really matter - and he knows it - is the bottom line of what the owners sent him out to accomplish with the CBA and whether or not they got what they wanted or not.  There have been whispers that he promised the owners another crushed union like the last time, but I think that's BS.  How close are they to their original goals of revenue split and contract limits is the real factor in Gary's future.

Personally, I don't think he's going anywhere, sorry to say. I think the future would be a lot better with Bill Daly in charge.  Gary's style is just too arrogant and hard headed for there to be real partnership between the PA and the league.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Don't forget about the giant tool in the room...Jeremy Jacobs.

Hopefully someone accidentally locked him in the broom closet.

 

[LuncheonMeat]

I wonder, if they could possibly get a tentative deal in place by Friday (before turning things over to the lawyers), would it be possible to shoe-horn in a 60 game season?

 

[rdowdall]

I wonder, if they could possibly get a tentative deal in place by Friday (before turning things over to the lawyers), would it be possible to shoe-horn in a 60 game season?

I think it's possible.  They would have to streamline some stuff to get there though.

If they do get this done and there is a season Which benefits the Leafs more, a shorter season, longer season or a cancelled season?

 

[OldTimeHockey]

I wonder, if they could possibly get a tentative deal in place by Friday (before turning things over to the lawyers), would it be possible to shoe-horn in a 60 game season?

I think it's possible.  They would have to streamline some stuff to get there though.

If they do get this done and there is a season, which benefits the Leafs more, a shorter season or a longer one, or a cancelled one?

Fixed!

 

[rdowdall]

I wonder, if they could possibly get a tentative deal in place by Friday (before turning things over to the lawyers), would it be possible to shoe-horn in a 60 game season?

I think it's possible.  They would have to streamline some stuff to get there though.

If they do get this done and there is a season, which benefits the Leafs more, a shorter season or a longer one, or a cancelled one?

Fixed!

I was going to respond to the post about 60 games with "Why, you want to see the Leafs lose more?", but I thought that might be considered trolling, instead of funny.

 

[Redleaf]

I wonder, if they could possibly get a tentative deal in place by Friday (before turning things over to the lawyers), would it be possible to shoe-horn in a 60 game season?

I think it's possible.  They would have to streamline some stuff to get there though.

If they do get this done and there is a season Which benefits the Leafs more, a shorter season, longer season or a cancelled season?

I'm guessing a shortened season would benefit the Leafs more, especially if Burke is able to bring in Luongo. (Less time to drop out of the playoff race on the last month or two)

Of course I joke, but I really believe if the team can play like they did for most of last season, before the drop off, (and what's to say they couldn't?) they could really open up some eyes around the league in a shortened season. Might be the best thing that's happened to this team with the younger guys having more development time and not being rushed into the foray like most years. I like the additions of JVR, McClement, Ranger and Komarov, and guys like Frattin, Gardiner, Kadri, and Holzer should hit the ground running. Promises to be interesting if nothing else.

 

[Guru Tugginmypuddah]

I have a bottle of Dom Perignon that I am putting on ice!