Frank Seravalli: NHL talks for new contract break off
NEW YORK - From the time the NHL and NHL Players Association first began meeting on June 24, talks between the two sides toward a new contract have always been characterized as cordial and nonconfrontational - despite their bitter history.
On Friday, negotiations took a turn toward nasty for the first time, with only 2 weeks left to get a deal done before a lockout begins on Sept. 15.
The two sides decided to break off talks on Friday before the holiday weekend, with neither being able even to agree on which one made the call to halt negotiations.
It was the dramatic ending to a week's worth of negotiations in New York that every hockey fan feared.
"What I thought was starting as a promising week after we made our substantial counterproposal on Tuesday ended, I guess, in disappointment," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said. "There seems to be no rush by the union to make a deal."
The NHL made its proposal on Tuesday and the Players Association, led by executive director Donald Fehr, made its counterproposal on Friday. According to reports, the NHLPA responded to the NHL's 6-year proposal with a 3-year system and an option for a fourth that would enable players to recoup some of their lost income if revenue continued to increase at record levels.
"They see no point in discussing or responding to the proposals we put forward at the meeting today," Fehr said, "if the players are not prepared to make an automatic reset on their aggregate salary levels. That is to say, as we understand it, a meaningful, absolute reduction in dollar terms for next year as compared to last year."
In its most simple terms, the NHL is attempting to bring the players' share of the revenue pie down from 57 percent last season to 46 percent, to be more in line with two other major professional sports. The NHL realized a record revenue of $3.3 billion last season - the seventh straight season under this 7-year collective bargaining agreement that they set a new record.
NFL players receive 48.5 percent of a much larger pie ($10 billion) and NBA players receive a 49 percent share of a more similar pie (approximately $4.1 billion).
Bettman called the NHLPA's offer a "response" and not a "proposal." He then accused Fehr's group of "stonewalling," saying that the two sides are not operating under the same deadlines.
The NHL views the Sept. 15 expiration date of this CBA as a drop-dead date. It has been long thought that players won't start to budge until Oct. 11, the opening day of next season. Players receive only 13 paychecks in a season (bimonthly) and will lose their first on Oct. 15 in the case of a lockout.
"In the last 24 hours, at least four [player] agents have said that the players don't view Sept. 15 to be the real deadline," Bettman said. "[I'm] not sure why they're saying that. Once we get past Sept. 14, I think the dynamic changes. The damage to the business changes the dynamic of the negotiation. From our standpoint, we're hoping they can view it as Sept. 15."
Now, after supposed progress this week, the two sides will engage in a high-stakes game of chicken to see which one will come back to the table first. Both Bettman and Fehr said that they would be open to hearing new ideas, but that right now, there was no point to continue discussions.
The two sides - responsible for the only blemish on the Stanley Cup that reads, "2004-05: Season Not Played"- went months without negotiating 8 years ago.
As of this weekend, no future bargaining sessions are on the agenda. With 2 weeks to go, the first shots have been fired. For the first time since 2004, we have another bitter war on our hands.
"I didn't decide to recess," Bettman said. "That's not accurate. What we said is we're not going to respond further in light of their nonmovement. We have each other's numbers. We're happy to meet anytime there's something to say."
Fehr said: "We will not be discussing these issues again until there's an indication from the NHL until they are prepared to do so. Hopefully, that will come soon."
The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
Contact Frank Seravalli at seravaf@phillynews.com. Follow him on Twitter @DNFlyers. For more Flyers coverage and opinion, read his blog at www.philly.com/FrequentFlyers.
