MY NHL

It has been almost two weeks since the NHLPA and the NHL last met for CBA discussions resulting in no net progress, which prompted the union to authorize a vote in order to file a disclaimer of interest or quick decertification of the PA against the NHL. The Union voted in favor of the disclaimer, but has until January 2nd to formally use the charge against the league. However, the League has filed as preemptive strike an unfair labor practice charge against the NHLPA with the National Labor Relations Board citing negotiating in bad faith. A "Disclaimer of Interest" does not officially threaten the NHL Season as much as "Decertifcation" does. Decertification means that each individual player can file an antitrust lawsuit against the NHL which could take 6-8 months to resolve within the court system and would thus cancel the Season. A Disclaimer usually means the Union is disbanded and acts a Trade Association, but it can still negotiate while filing antitrust acts ...

There is not doubt that the NHL has done enough damage to itself in the last lockout in 2004-2005 and has yet to fix all of the problems that came about during that work stoppage. Now, it has already done enough damage to pile on to its existing issues remaining from the 2004-2005 Lockout. We all know that hockey fans in Canada will return to go to the Arena's for games, but in the USA, it could be the end of the line for some fans, especially who at the time of the end of the last work stoppage in July 2005, were on the fence whether to return or not, but ultimately decided to forgive the NHL. Here are 5 things that need to be done to sell the game back to fans in America if it loses another season in 8 years? 1. Remove Gary Bettman as the Commissioner of the NHL While I am on the owners side in this labor mess, I do think that Bettman has done enough damage to his reputation especially if the best sports League with the best fans in the world loses another season. Bill Daly ...