THE CBA: VERGE OF A DONE DEAL?
Robin Brownlee
January 05 2013 04:57PM
It's completely understandable that a great many of NHL fans have taken a "Whatever, just tell me when it's done" stance toward updates about ongoing CBA negotiations (now that there actually are some) as days have turned into weeks and weeks have turned into months. Fair enough.
With information about what's been going on between Gary Bettman and NHL owners and Donald Fehr and the NHLPA at a premium, disinterest and contempt for the whole drawn-out process abounds, even as the parties involved and reporters have hunkered down in New York with a drop-dead date – Jason Gregor has been saying Jan. 11 for months – approaching.
That said, and admitting I loathe to do so, having mostly resisted the urge to document every development and non-development, it looks and sounds to me as if Bettman and Fehr have made substantial progress this weekend and are grinding their way toward a deal. I'm clearly not alone.
Former player Jeff O'Neill went as far as to make a bogus announcement on Twitter today that a deal was done and that training camp would open Jan. 12. I'm assuming, of course, it was O'Neill's account and that he wasn't hacked again, as he claimed after making stupid remarks about Bettman weeks ago.
Done deal? Not yet, but there have been enough snippets of optimism from observers far more plugged in than O'Neill, like Bill Watters of Sportsnet, to cite one example, this afternoon to suggest the sides are down to the details, and the devils contained within.
WHAT THEY SAY
First, here's what we got from O'Neill in the early afternoon:
BREAKING- #NHLLOCKOUT is over. Camp opens Jan 12. 50 game season. #lockout
Then, from Brett Hedican:
I'm hearing that the #NHL #Lockout is over! Let's get back 2 watching the greatest gm on earth! & let's not allow this to ever happen again!
I'm guessing that if a deal does get done, it won’t be O'Neill or Hedican who breaks the story. Here's what Watters and others had to say in the wake of O'Neill's tweet as meeting continued in New York.
Sources confirm that @odognine2 is just messing with people on twitter. He's good at it!
Relieved to hear from the PA@RealKyper that there could be a deal within 24 hrs.What happened to the Disclaimer?Have the players taken over
Definitely still a few significant issues that need resolution, but NHL and NHLPA also trying to hammer it out
Making progress. Not tonite but will be done. Motivation is to play more than 48 games..nice change in whats motivating each side.
I know. I know. "Whatever . . ." But, given what we're hearing, it might not be long until somebody – likely in the most frantic thumb-typing display in Twitter history in the rush to be first – does tell us that it's done. Mercy, already. I hope so.
Listen to Robin Brownlee Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the Jason Gregor Show on TEAM 1260.
TreenasOil will almost certainly break the story.
@Puritania
Looks like I'm going to bed at 1:35 pm.
EDIT 1.) 7 minutes and counting
EDIT 2.) 32 minutes
This guy is amazing. How can he play so long? How can I listen for so long? Its too late, I've gone too far.
Pleas enjoy it with me.
EDIT 3.) 1 hour not even this guy can keep me awake no more#@$% this I'm going to bed
~bring on the cup contending minnesota wild!~
The easy choice as #Dregerface winner from the other night in NYC
A new CBA must be official now:
Tracy @TreenasOil
Good to be back in Edmonton had a wonderful trip back home to Denmark now back just in time for the start of the season
This means bikini girl called the start to the season, right? Right?
YEAH BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Let's play!
To my brothers and sisters of ON
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxopViU98Xo
We're back in business!
It would be nice to see 50 games. Now that the WJC is over this needs to get done quick.
...gawd on second look ...that's Dreger in the behind Oswald... U cheeky bugger Brownlee
I'll believe it when I actually see a game on the ice. I think the details that both sides should be discussing is how much of a severance package both Fehr and Bettman should get. I can wait to see hockey without those guys!
Honestly, if the game loses the season I gain a bunch of money (from tickets and rexall moonshine), and time with my family.
If the game comes back, I will watch. However jaded I feel, i look forward to watching these young kids learn to fly together.
So, to me it is a win, win. That is the truth for a number of NHL fans out there.
@Johe
But what what about Open Gagham's size?
Me too!
All i want is hockey. Id be content watching all the okc games, but nhl is more accessible so.... Bring on the season!!
...gawd I always loved that picture of Oswald getting shot in Dallas...brilliant... historic!
If the announcement of a new CBA is followed by the resignation of Fehr and The Count then it was almost worth it!
This tweet from Kevin Dupont at the Boston Globe as of about 7:25 p.m.
Kevin Paul Dupont@GlobeKPD
Vet agent: deal as good as done, league now taking it to final hour, grabbing what's left to take off table.
Oilers domination to follow!
#Lockout2013
@Robin Brownlee
I believe Lowetide has dubbed her "bra and panties".
That's an odd way to refer to Milhouse ;)
Still going . . .
Darren Dreger@DarrenDreger
Marathon in Manhattan continues. Told lots of caucusing (good word) and the bargaining process remains strong.
My Bday is Jan. 12.. What a gift this could be!
TSN reporting the Wild pulled Granlund from the Aeros pregame warm up to prevent the chance of injury.So is the end of the lock out that close or is the kid that fragile?
@Czar
don't tell DSF ...it'll throw him into coniptions
I thought it was "Fussy Britches"
For the love of God, just sign the freaking papers and let's get back to hockey! I miss it!
I won't believe it till I see it. But this gives me slight pause and a glimmer of hope.
Jeff O'Neill is a dink. Apparently he "trolls" people on twitter a lot. I'm sure he thinks he is downright hilarious.
Lets Go Oilers.!..
FINALLY, HOCKEY HAS RETURNED TO THE FANS!!!!!!!!!
Lets Go Oilers.!..
Score a goal...............
Score a goal......................
Score a goal...........Score a goal.......Score a goal
Score a goal...............
Score a goal.......................
Lets Go Oilers.!...Score a goal............................
Also, self propsing.
Welcome to the Wiserhood my friend, props.
WOOHOO. Now I can finally concentrate on the important thing... who to fire.
Haha. You have to wonder? It's GoatBoy Horcoff of course.
I thought it would be Tambo,no?
Better question is; how did Bettman and Fehr stay up for so long? I believe they probably took a good 4-5 hour nap in the boardroom at some point in the day.
@Idries Shah
Nah. It's always Horcoff's fault.
@Idries Shah
Horcoff
@Johe
Hatecoff