NHL talks go nowhere; mediator needed
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NHL talks go nowhere; mediator needed
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
This is how embarrassing things have gotten for the NHL and the NHL Players Association: They couldn't even agree on what the labor talks were about on Wednesday in New York City.
Bill Daly, the NHL's deputy commissioner, said there were no conversations about economic issues. Steve Fehr, legal counsel for the NHLPA, said there were.
Can both sides please hire a mediator to steer these negotiations on track?
Little to no progress was made at Wednesday's two meetings.
"Disappointing" is how Daly characterized it.
The lockout has reached 26 days since the collective-bargaining agreement expired on Sept. 15.
Daly estimated the league had lost $240 million with the cancellation of preseason games and the first two weeks of the regular season. He said the league is still waiting for the NHLPA to make a counter-offer on how to divide hockey-related revenue.
“We understand that they've been working on some concepts, some ideas...just make the proposal,” he told reporters.
In another development, an Alberta labor board denied the NHLPA’s request and ruled that the league’s lockout of players from the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames can continue.
Declaring the lockout illegal in the province wouldn't help the league and players reach a settlement, the board said.
The NHLPA claimed that the Oilers and Flames are Alberta businesses and must abide by provincial rules.
Bullies scheduled. The Wells Fargo Center will be empty Thursday, which was supposed to be the Flyers’ opener against Boston. To give fans their hockey fix, XFINITY Live! Philadelphia, located down the street from the arena, will show HBO’s Broad Street Bullies documentary at 7 p.m. Thursday, and some of the players from that team will make appearances.
Follow Sam Carchidi on Twitter @BroadStBull.
I'd like to know how much of the billions in profits the 1000s of NHL arena concession stand, security, admissions, etc. workers stand to share in these negotiations. Oh that's right. All they really get is to stretch their pay checks even further until this all shakes out. I don't really care how this affects the fans, as so many people are screaming about. These many employees who will miss out on valuable clock-in time are the true losers in this whole thing. (Disclaimer- I am in fact assuming they otherwise aren't getting paid for the time missed not working hockey games. I could be wrong & if so I apologize for speaking out of turn.)— toph314- KHL, KHL, KHL— albrock
- You'll Get Nothing and Like It!— NYPHILLYPHAN
- Boycott everything the NHL sells. Don't buy shirts, gifts, anything sold in NHL stadiums including a beer and the crappy food they sell (if there is a game to go to). Don't ask players for autographs, don't support their charities, don't buy products they advertise for.
The owners and the players are all selfish, greedy pigs. Send a message. They are ruining pro hockey.— bluefish 
Good riddance hockey! Don't come back now, ya' hear?- as a lifelong fan...47yrs old, I really don't care if the sport ever comes back. I've had enough of the greed, the holdouts, the $8 beers, the egos (I'm talking every sport now)...I deep down don't really care and I live and die with the Flyers...bleed orange and black. Maybe I'll change my mind but I really couldn't care less.— cleflyer
- 'Can both sides please hire a mediator to steer these negotiations on track?'
Um, YEAH!
Wtf here.— Poppys
