Anyway... it's turning back south again, as I figured... here come the marvelous owners... I hate them so viciously...
NHL To Reject Union Proposal Outright:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=1945492"We believe the Union's offer was more about trying to unify the players and ensure player solidarity with what they would perceive as a very substantial proposal than it was about making a good faith effort to reach agreement with us ..." Daly writes. " ... The Union needed the 'rallying point' that it felt this offer would provide with the players to effectuate this strategy. Under this scenario, the Union will likely [and quickly] break off negotiations."
Daly also pokes holes in the union's specific proposals, while alluding to the NHL's position, writing:
The 24-percent rollback amount was adequate but should be structured among players "in a more equitable manner";
The proposed entry-level system "can still easily be circumvented";
The changes to the qualifying offer system "certainly would not result in the savings of the magnitude projected by the Union";
The salary arbitration alterations "would have very limited impact (if any) on a Club's or League-wide economics ... We intend to reiterate our proposal to eliminate salary arbitration in our next offer to the Union";
The luxury tax system demonstrates the union's "continuing objective to avoid at all costs placing meaningful restraints on a Club's ability to spend excessively on player salaries";
