NHLPA ready for negotiations, Donald Fehr hints at possibility of season without new deal -NHL Update
The National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) is taking the upcoming negotiations for a new labour deal very seriously as Wednesday, June 27, 2012, marked the end to the executive board meetings, but according to Donald Fehr, there is a scary side
to all that looks good as well.
NHLPA executive director, Donald Fehr, came out on Wednesday and regarded the upcoming regular season as one which could be played without a renewed CBA intact. It is certainly a scary situation since the season might all of a sudden come to a halt, but
Fehr is still optimistic.
Best case scenario would obviously be that the NHL initiate talks with the Players’ Association and a new deal be reached as soon as possible, but the former has not hinted at doing so any time soon.
According to NHL commissioner, Gary Bettman, the league is making a lot of money; $3.1 billion last season to be exact and players definitely will be going into the negotiations wanting their fair share of the pie.
"The players understand what happened last time. Of course they do," Fehr said. "Every agreement that you make, however, stands on its own and you have to go forward. And you don't start the negotiations by announcing that you want a less favourable arrangement."
Fortunately, the NHL has been doing quite well these past few years after the current CBA was signed back following a 2004-2005 season lockout. Hoping to avoid the same for the upcoming season, the NHLPA is excited to get into talks soon.
"The league and the game have had a good couple of years and, in particular, this year," Fehr said. "The object is to get a deal done which can continue that momentum and continue it uninterrupted. We certainly hope to do that."
Recent reports have indicated that talks could kick off between the two stakeholders as soon as this upcoming Friday, but that was from the Players’ Association’s side.
Until the league officially gives a date, nothing can be said about when or where the talks will take place and how long it could take them to work a new labour deal out.
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