The uncertainty surrounding the NHL's CBA agreement has "prompted the league to call off next fall's games in Europe," according to Chris Johnston of the CP. It will be the first time since '07 that teams "won't kick off the regular season overseas." As many as six teams "have been involved in European games in past seasons." The league and the NHLPA were in "contact about the status of the premiere games for next season." Sources said that the NHL was "willing to schedule them, but an agreement couldn't be reached with the NHLPA over how cancellation costs would be handled in the event of a work stoppage." The league's GMs "wrapped up three days of meetings preaching 'business as usual,'" but the expiration of the current CBA on Sept. 15 means that perhaps "isn't entirely the case." However, there were "few hints at the confrontation to come" during the meetings. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said, "The CBA that we currently have is in effect until Sept. 15 and we told clubs to continue to operate under the CBA." Johnston noted the "majority of time was spent discussing tweaks to the game" (CP, 3/14). In N.Y., Jeff Klein noted the meetings had a "very different feel from the previous two, when major on-ice injuries led the GM’s to recommend rules aimed at reducing an alarming spike in reported concussions." There was "no sense of crisis this year: no major injury immediately before the meeting, and a rate of concussions that has remained level with last year’s." Further, there is "no sense of alarm in the NHL" concerning fighting, as fighting rates dropped 15% from last year. Bettman said, "The game's in a really good place." Klein noted this season, the league "has the impression that teams, players and doctors have gotten a handle on injuries, especially concussions" (NYTIMES.com, 3/14). Bettman said of the GM meetings, “I hope the biggest headline is that the managers spent three days looking at the game, talking to each other and coming to the conclusion that the game is in a really good place.” He added, "The last two years we had some issues we had to deal with. For the better, we haven't had incidents of that nature this year. I think that's a testament to the work that's been done by the managers over the last two years" ("NHL Live," NHL Network, 3/14).
BUSINESS AS USUAL: USA TODAY's Kevin Allen notes the NHL's message to GMs yesterday was to "conduct business as usual this summer," while Bettman negotiates a new CBA. Bettman "reported that hockey-related revenues continued to grow," meaning the $64.3M salary cap would "theoretically rise under the existing deal" (USA TODAY, 3/15). The AP noted Bettman's message to "put the labor issues on the back burner was heeded." After the meetings, several GMs said that the CBA "wasn't discussed." Bettman also said that the league's BOG "has dropped the concept of realignment for now." The "hope of realignment was tabled to avoid 'confrontation' with the NHLPA and because the league" needed to start planning the '12-13 season schedule. Bettman said, "My guess is we'll deal with realignment when we deal with a whole host of other issues, and our hope is we'll get to the place where we think we should be. We thought we had a good plan, and it's one we thought should be in effect. ... We ran out of time, and that's why we said we'll keep what we have. I wasn't looking for a confrontation" (AP, 3/14). In Winnipeg, Gary Lawless writes the "confrontation is coming" regarding realignment, whether it is "during this summer's collective bargaining agreement talks or shortly after negotiations are wrapped." The union "wants to have a say in how the league is aligned and where the teams play games." The league and its owners "don't want to cede that power and a fight is brewing" (WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, 3/15). Meanwhile, the GLOBE & MAIL's James Mirtle writes at issue "more than anything were the two pending gong shows facing the commish that will come to define his 2012." The first is the CBA and the second is the Coyotes' ownership situation. Bettman said of the latter, "We're not planning on moving a franchise. If we have to, we'll deal with (the schedule) at the time" (GLOBE & MAIL, 3/15).
CONFRONTATION COMING? Bettman said that he "doesn't know when talks" concerning the CBA will start. He said, "Ask the (union). We've been ready. But I'm not concerned. There's lots of time." In Toronto, Damien Cox noted the signs "another lockout can be avoided aren't good" (THESTAR.com, 3/14). The NATIONAL POST's Michael Traikos writes Bettman "sounded a bit too casual" when talking about the upcoming CBA negotiations. Traikos: "It was a fitting end to a three-day annual getaway that, for the most part, lacked the type of watershed issues of past years." In many ways, this was the "starting point for negotiations" (NATIONAL POST, 3/15). In Dallas, Mike Heika wrote it appears GMs will "not make rule changes to 'slow down the game,'" and that is a "huge deal." Heika wrote the league has "not gone near far enough in providing mandatory protection for a player's head." NHL VP/Player Safety & Hockey Operations Brendan Shanahan is "trying to change player safety, but even his efforts are being met with resistance, so this isn't an easy job" (DALLASNEWS.com, 3/14).
