NHL Lockout: Who's to Blame? - Devmcdonnell's Blog

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Devmcdonnell's Blog

NHL Lockout: Who's to Blame? Stuck

Posted on December 10, 2012 at 10:00 AM.

(9)

Well, the owners and players had some very good dialog and both sides made significant moves to put an end to this excruciating lock out, yet where are we�still locked out. Why? Who is to blame? Everyone has very different opinions on this matter, but who do I think is the culprit? Honestly, Everyone is to blame. Yes, both sides and even us, the fans are to blame but I will save that for another post. As I�m sure we all know, this lock out occurred because of the owners�I mean, it is a lock out and not a player�s strike, so why would anyone be leaning toward sympathizing with the owners?

Let�s be honest, the owners created a problem with their poor business decisions and awful contracts. They made their bed and in any other scenario, I would be inclined to argue that they must sleep in it too, but if that were to be the case, half the league would drop out due to bankruptcy. NHL teams are bleeding money, and just like with any other bleeding business they need to either increase revenue or decrease expenditures. There are about 8 teams of the total 30 NHL franchises that report a profit every year, the rest are either barely breaking even or operating at a loss. We need to remember that the NHL is a business and if it wasn�t for these billionaires fronting the money for the teams that we love, there would be no NHL hockey. While there is steady growth in revenue within the league, most of the distribution is lopsided (as we see with the meager 8 profitable teams) and regardless, there is not enough growth to support some of these teams� expenses. Therefore the owners obviously agree that the best strategy is to cut costs (not an easy thing to do) and with the players receiving 57% of hockey related revenue, this is an area they can definitely cut back on. While yes, the first few proposals that the owners brought to the table were completely absurd, they have become more and more reasonable and in my opinion, fair. It is the owners who have taken significant steps forward toward starting the 2012 season only to be shrugged off by Donald Fehr and the NHLPA.

After the meetings this week, a sense of optimism was felt throughout the air. Both sides seemed to radiate trust in each other and displayed a commitment to getting a deal done to begin a shortened season. This of course all happened while leaders of both sides (Bettman, Fehr) were absent from the bargaining table. Both sides took significant steps toward each other in an effort to put an end to this lockout. Enter Donald Fehr and all optimism was swept away with a shake of his head. As both players and owners alike began to see a light at the end of the tunnel, Fehr advised the players to hold out so they could get more. More?! The owners originally wanted to give you $200 mil with 5 year contract term limits, and restrictions on arbitration and free agency rights. Now they propose $300 mil, which is $100 mil more than what they were originally willing to pay (the players are looking for $383 mil), plus extended contract term limits up to 7 years for resigned players, and they agreed to leave arbitration and free agency rights alone. This was a proposal that many owners were extremely reluctant to suggest because they felt they were giving too much, but in the interest of starting the season, they gritted their teeth and put the proposal on the table. This, in my opinion is a significant move by the owners to get a deal done and to get the players back on the ice. It�s all about meeting in the middle, that�s what a compromise is, but it just seems as if Fehr is expecting the owners to submit to him and to giving the NHLPA everything that they are demanding. That�s not negotiating, that�s a shakedown and the NHL owners simply won�t allow that. This is why the lock out will not be ending anytime soon and as long as Donald Fehr is at the helm of the NHLPA, we are in it for the long haul.

What the players need to understand is that Fehr is leading them down a path that will hinder the game significantly, and all the growth that the game has built and sustained for the last few years will be thrown out the window. Sponsorship dollars will evaporate, as no one wants to sponsor a sport that has missed 2 seasons within the last 7 years due to lockouts. It�s simply too risky. ****** fans will no longer buy tickets to games or watch on TV, the game will be forgotten. The longer this lockout looms, the more value that the NHL has built will diminish�including the hockey related revenue that both sides are fighting tooth and nail for. Sure the players can hold out for more, maybe they can get the league to bow to their demands, but when all is said and done, 50% of 0 is 0 (nothing).

Who do YOU think is to Blame?
I would love to know who you think is really to blame for this lock out. Please comment with your thoughts!!

Comments

# 1 UnLeadedApe @ Dec 8

I am just mad that a lot of people (other than the players) are out of work because of this.

# 2 DJ @ Dec 8

Good blog and I agree with you: both sides share blame in this. I had just started to get back into the sport the last 3 years, and now, there's a chance ANOTHER season will be lost. I don't know if I'll come back and support the league if that is the case.

# 3 Bubba_Zanetti @ Dec 10

Looking forward to your future post where you lay part of the blame on the fans (!?!?) for this mess.

# 4 GlennN @ Dec 10

I certainly agree there is plenty of blame to go around, and that both sides share in creating this mess. However, I am more angry at the owners, who, within mere days of the lockout, signed monsterous long-term deals, and are now seeking a limit against the very deals they JUST voluntarily made. It simply escapes both logic and fairness.

# 5 jwilphl @ Dec 10

The players wanted Fehr for this very reason. They felt they got strong-armed in the last bargaining agreement, and they didn't want to get taken advantage of again. Well now they are getting exactly what they wanted--a hardliner who isn't going to accept anything but top dollar. That said he isn't the only one to blame. The owners have done a fair amount of nonsense posturing and gaming through this whole ordeal. Quite honestly as long as Fehr and Bettman are involved, I find it unlikely a season occurs. If the sides agree to meet without those two again, perhaps a deal will be done, but otherwise I guess the season is done.

# 6 marine5942 @ Dec 10

i am a bartender at the wells fargo center and this lockout is killing me financially. A millionaire will never beat a billionaire. I agree that both sides are to blame, and I despise Gary Bettman. a deal should have been reached last week, the owners gave in enough to get a deal done. Hockey or no hockey, these owners will still be filthy rich, and the players will feel the effect real soon if not already.

# 7 PES3Paul @ Dec 11

Did anybody not see this stuff coming when the NHLPA elected Donald freakin' Fehr as their president? The man who caused one sport's season to be cancelled? And now he's on the verge of going 2 for 2.

# 8 Devmcdonnell @ Dec 20

You all have hit the nail on the head with the biggest shames of this entire ordeal. The fact that all these people are out of work because of this battle for money is disgraceful. Furthermore, it's a complete shame that this game that i love so much is taking 3 giant steps backwards after taking 2 steps forward. All the traction that they have gained over the last few years is irrelevant and I am baffled at how these intelligent business men don't understand this.

In response tojwilphl, I completely agree with you. Yes the owners are just as to blame as the players. Their first few proposals were a joke and I have not turned a blind eye to the egregious contract signings in the 11th hour before the lockout. These owners threw all sorts of money around assuming that these contract amounts would decrease with the new CBA, this is something that is disgraceful. All contracts signed prior to the expiration of the last CBA should be honored as in these respects, the owners must lay in the bed that they have made. However, in order to preserve the game that we all love so much, change is needed, and it's needed now.