Let’s talk about contraction
Jonathan Willis
December 14 2012 11:54AM
Contraction is a favourite concept of hockey writers around North America. For those who simply want to see higher-calibre hockey, it’s a beautiful dream – fewer teams means higher quality players at the highest level, something that can’t help but result in better hockey. Most recently, though, contraction has emerged as a preferred cudgel with which to beat the NHLPA.
“No progress” in lockout talks, but the end is near all the same
Jonathan Willis
December 12 2012 05:08PM
Remember last week, when negotiations between the NHL and NHLPA collapsed? Don Fehr gave a press conference, saying the two sides were close, then came back and said that talks had broken off, and then Gary Bettman gave what was likely the angriest media availability of his NHL tenure, insisting that the owner’s offer of $300 million in “make whole” payments was now off the table.
The two sides met on Wednesday, and despite the rhetoric seem not to have moved much at all from their positions during the ‘owners/players only’ meetings.
Best of the Nation - 12.9.12
Jonathan Willis
December 09 2012 08:59AM
Lots of interesting stuff across the Nation websites this week, including an exclusive interview with an NHL head coach, 2013 Draft talk, a look at how goalies perform as they age, and obligatory stuff on the NHL lockout. Read more, after the jump!
No more “out of market” games?
Jonathan Willis
December 07 2012 03:33PM
If you’re a fan of an out-of-market team, or a fan of a local team but travelling, getting a hockey game on television can be an extremely frustrating experience.
That’s why, according to a report on Forbes.com, a group of fans has brought a lawsuit against Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League. Their aim? To have a court rule that the current model is in violation of U.S. antitrust law.
Negotiations between NHL, NHLPA fall apart
Jonathan Willis
December 06 2012 06:43PM
Donald Fehr and Gary Bettman held dueling press conferences on Thursday night, and the news was not good. After initially suggesting both sides were close, Don Fehr announced that the NHL had rejected the players’ associations’ latest offer. Gary Bettman followed Fehr up, and announced that the NHL was removing all of the concessions placed on the table in the last meeting.
