- Darren Dreger via twitter: A meeting between Gary Bettman and Don Fehr didn’t happen yesterday according to some overnight reports. Gary awless via twitter: There are no meetings schedualed so far for today according to the NHL.
- Katie Strang via twitter: Gary Bettman’s response to what it would take for the sides to get back to the table, “A reason to.” Bettman added the NHL made the “very best offer” and one contingent on an 82 game season. Bettman said it only gets more difficult from here.
- Sean Gentille via twitter: Bettman, “We suggested either talk to us about what we proposed or make an offer of your own, and they’ve declined to do either.”
- Andy Strickland via twitter: Sources say Don Fehr has convinced the players that the longer they remain firm, the better the deal is down the road.
- Tom Gulitti via twitter: Fehr, “The players made multiple core-economic proposals on Thursday that were a significant move in the owners direction. We are and continue to be ready to meet to discuss how to resolve our remaining differences, with no preconditions. For whatever reason, the owners are not.” … “At the same time they are refusing to meet, they are winding the clock down to yet another artificial deadline they created.”
- Gary Lawless via twitter: From a league source, don’t expect any games to be cancelled today.
- Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: Bettman confirmed yesterday that if a deal isn’t done by today’s deadline, a 82 game schedual is unlikely.
“It looks like the 82-game season is not going to be a reality,” said Bettman.
“I would say they’re at is an impasse,” a league insider said. “They made some progress last week by moving closer in numbers. Now, neither side wants to budge and neither wants to come off its position.”
Sources say the NHLPA doesn’t think the NHL has put forth their best offer, and this is just posturing. They believe the owners never had any intention of starting the season before November and after the players have missed a couple paychecks. The NHL will likely cancel 4 weeks of games on Friday. The NHL may have a drop-dead date of November 20th for the Winter Classic, though some say it’s earlier.
“Sure, you can play an abbreviated season,” Bettman said. “I would rather play a full season, and I am sure our fans would rather we play a full season.
That’s why we made the offer we did. That was our fourth offer against really one offer from the union in all the time that we’ve been negotiating.”
- James Mirtle via twitter: Rogers said they have lost about $8 million on the Maple Leafs and MLSE after the first 3 months of ownership. The Maple Leafs could lose more than any other team because the lockout.
- TSN Radio via twitter: Bob McKenzie said that the All-Star Game would be cancelled before the Winter Classic. The Classic could be cancelled in the first week of November.