I told you earlier this month I didn't expect any hockey to be played in October.
That's looking more and more likely after talks between the NHL and Players Association were recessed today after 90 minutes with the parties stalled and no new talks planned.
The players are moving for a four-year deal with Gary Bettman & Co. looking for a longer one and pointing out the NBA signed a 10-year agreement last year. In addition, the players' share of the revenue would drop in the first three years and then bounce back to the 57 percent they currently have in year four. Bettman said that's unacceptable and even used the word "stonewalling" to discuss the players' tactics.
Still hard to see the league's side of this one. The players took a 24 percent rollback in 2004. The owners are the ones who can't get out of their own way handing out huge contracts. There's far more revenue now in this sport than there used to be.
"Someone needs to say something new," Bettman said.
Uh-oh. Maybe the Commish should take some of his own advice.
We already heard rumors of players (notably Evgeni Malkin going to the KHL) who are starting to line up deals in Europe in case there's a lockout. Let's see if that starts to grow.
---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)
