League makes 50-50 offer to Players Association to Save Regular Season -NHL Lockout Update
In a surprising move, the National Hockey League (NHL) finally seems to have thought a lot of factors through and made an offer to the Players’ Association on Tuesday, October 16, 2012, along with hinting at their being a full 82-game regular season still on the cards.
According to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, if there is a new labour agreement in force by November 2nd, then there will be a full 82-game season along with the Winter Classic also in the scene.
Gary Bettman is also hopeful that his efforts towards wooing the Players' Association back with a deal that he thinks is more than reasonable will work and eventually help them in getting the puck dropped and a season going.
For the league, the newest offer made by Bettman to Donald Fehr, executive director of the NHLPA, is one that will be for a “long-term” and could save them from any future confrontations on such matters. The length has not been finalised as of yet, but sources are terming it to be a proposal which would last at the very least six years.
"We believe this was a fair offer for a long-term deal and it's one that we hope gets a positive reaction so that we can drop the puck on Nov. 2, which backing up entails at least a one-week training camp," Bettman added. "So, we have about nine or 10 days to put this all to bed, signed, sealed and delivered in order for this offer to be effective and for us to move forward.”
Now, the ball is in Donald Fehr’s and the Players’ Association’s side of the court and they have decided to take Tuesday out in order to go over the offer.
For the fans, this is certainly a positive signal that both stakeholders are working towards a solution and still could have a full season on the cards to play. Answers from the NHLPA should be expected later on this week sometime.
Donald Fehr and the players should be getting together at any moment to either accept the offer or make one of their own, forcing the next 24-48 hours crucial.
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