As predicted by Darren Dreger yesterday after the CBA negotiation meltdown (when the owners took their puck and went home, refusing to engage in negotiation), the NHL has announced the cancellation of more regular season games in the latest move of their PR assault.
Picture courtesy of Reddit Hockey
After proving yesterday that the league’s latest offer to the NHLPA was in fact not a good faith offer but merely an attempt to win over fan favor, the NHL’s continuing its push to win over the easily misled by conveniently timing this round of cancellations directly after their mischaracterization of the NHLPA’s three counter offers from yesterday. Presumably, the NHL is betting on the league’s tantrum yesterday and cancelled games today being blamed on the NHLPA by the fans.
It was a predictable move, but unfortunately will likely work to sway some favor in the league’s direction for those not paying attention. And that’s why the NHL is paying the big bucks to dubious PR firms; this stuff works.
Here’s the NHL’s short and to-the-point release today:
"NHL announces cancellation of 2012-13 regular-season schedule through November 1NEW YORK – The National Hockey League announced today the cancellation of the 2012-13 regular-season schedule through November 1. A total of 135 regular-season games were scheduled for Oct. 11 through Nov. 1.The cancellation was necessary because of the absence of a Collective Bargaining Agreement between the NHL Players’ Association and the NHL."
Jer doesn’t anticipate a miracle that will save the rest of this season. Follow him on Twitter @JerMeansWell.