There seems to be many different reactions to the news generated from yesterday's Board of Governors meeting where Gary Bettman said that the league would not start without a collective bargaining agreement with the union. The emotions range from pessimistic to cautious to optimistic to outright cynical.
It isn't any surprise that Larry Brooks falls into the 'outright cynical' category. Larry doesn't bother to talk about the owners' softening their stance on replacement players, because that would force him to ease up on his lambasting of Gary Bettman. Instead, Larry just reports it as another attempt by Bettman to force the union to accept the league's proposal. And he says Bettman has an agenda?
Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun has an interesting take on yesterday's developments. He thinks that the union lost its trump card for the negotiations, as Bob Goodenow and the NHLPA hoped the league would use replacements next year, and that it would be a monumental failure, thereby forcing the league to agree to the union's terms. I don't think I agree with him.
Al Strachan credits the owners with taking a major step towards ending hostilities between the sides.
Bob McKenzie pens a short article, detailing the two messages the league sent yesterday. Bob doesn't see any progress being made in the negotiations, however, and he doesn't bother to explain why.
Alan Hahn of Newsday reports that an impasse and replacement players are not completely out of the realm of possibility come next year.
Scott Burnside over at ESPN gives a good analysis of the owners' decision.
Overall, I am going to take an optimistic outlook on things. Not only did the league come out and say that they have no desire to start next season with anything other than NHLPA players, but Bettman also said he was going to contact Bob Goodenow to set up a more aggressive schedule of CBA meetings. Some of the hostility between the sides may have been eased yesterday, and hopefully that will lead to more civil negotiations. I just hope they leave Jeremy Jacobs home.
The Hartford Wolf Pack get their first-round playoff series under way tonight as they host the Lowell Lock Monsters. The Pack were 5-2-0-1 against Lowell this season. It is a good bet Steve Valiquette will be in net for Hartford, as he was 5-0-0-1 against the Lock Monsters in the regular season.
HDH
Posted by Jim at April 21, 2005 10:39 AMeMail this entry!
|
Recent Articles
|
|
|