September 13, 2012; New York, NY, USA; NHL commissioner Gary Bettman speaks during a press conference at the Crowne Plaza Times Square. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-US PRESSWIRE
It shouldn’t be a surprise to any one at this point, but the league, Gary Bettman and the team owners proved this afternoon that their offer to the NHLPA a few days ago was not a serious one, but simply a PR move. After being presented with three counter-proposals from the NHLPA earlier, Bettman and team ended their meeting within an hour and left Toronto without even a plan to further read or consider the offers presented to them, or continue to negotiate further for the day.
Further proof, as expected previously when it was leaked that the league had hired a dubious focus group to find out how to manipulate fans to start favoring the owners (as opposed to the players who most fans have sympathized with), that the NHL’s recent offer to the players was nothing more than an empty PR move without substance. The league had no intention of getting a deal done.
Most fans are smarter then this. Thanks for nothing, NHL.
Jer doesn’t anticipate a miracle that will save the rest of this season. Follow him on Twitter @JerMeansWell.