NHL, Players Association determined to continue negotiations fruitful for quick resolution of labour deal issue
The National Hockey League (NHL) and NHL Players’ Association (NHLPA), have both made it clear that they are determined to give all time and efforts into resolving the lingering labour deal issues as soon as possible, with the condition of their not being
any more long lasting deadlocks in the future.
With a 2004-2005 NHL lockout still fresh in the minds of fans, players and team owners, going into a lockout is the worst case scenario which both stakeholders hope to avoid at all costs.
It might sound like an easy task but only the negotiators can tell how hard the entire process is really coming out to be, which is why the NHLPA hired the services of someone as experienced as Donald Fehr.
"It takes some time to review proposals, to analyze them, to make sure you understand them and to formulate an appropriate response to the proposal that's made," Fehr said. "Certainly, at this stage of the negotiations, you don't want to do that before you're
ready and before you're sure that you understand it. But, I do expect, as of today at least, that we'll be meeting again [Wednesday] afternoon."
There is still confusion on many points, especially core economic ones, but with willingness from both sides being expresses quite boldly, there can be no third option other than getting a deal done or heading into a limitless lockout.
"We need to get on the same page on the economics," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said, "and we're hoping that by virtue of the proposal we made today that there will be some traction and that there will be a framework for the negotiation."
Currently, the league has made its second offering to the players and there is no surety when the NHLPA will make a counterproposal, which is something the league is currently waiting for. As September 15th, the official expiring date of the current
collective bargaining agreement, gets closer, both sides are feeling the pressure for sure.
Both the league and Players’ Association, are expected to continue meeting each day and could be announcing some major developments in the upcoming days.
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