NEW YORK – With the departure of the federal mediator this week, the National Hockey League lock-out is now hurtling toward a dismal conclusion. NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly issued a statement today regarding a potential meeting between select NHL owners and players this week.
“We have confirmed with the Union that we will attempt to schedule a Players/Owners-only meeting for some time on Tuesday afternoon in New York. No further details have been confirmed at this point. We expect the following NHL Owners to attend: Ron Burkle (Pittsburgh Penguins), Mark Chipman (Winnipeg Jets), Murray Edwards (Calgary Flames), Jeremy Jacobs (Boston Bruins), Larry Tanenbaum (Toronto Maple Leafs) and Jeff Vinik (Tampa Bay Lightning). We will provide further details when available and as appropriate.”
Impacting the negotiations now are the timeline to get some semblance of season started on or about January 1, 2013. The prospects seem slim as neither side appears willing to budge from their stated position.
Owners, while losing money, are losing money than if the season were played.
The real loss at this point is the multitude of jobs in each arena around the league. Lay-offs and out-right firings have already been instituted to save cash and protect personnel where possible with unemployment benefits. But nothing can replace the salary of those who depend on these seasonal gigs.
It is hard to see where this new tactic of owners and players sitting in a room can accomplish anything where months, no preceding years, have led to this debacle.
Notable absences in the list of owners are the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers who have been described as anxious to reach a settlement.
Curious.
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