NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman stopped short of guaranteeing his league will drop the puck on its targeted Jan. 1 date, instead calling plans for next season a "work in progress." Bettman, appearing yesterday at SBJ's Dealmakers in Sports virtual event, said this cautious approach is "influenced largely by what we’re hearing from medical experts." Bettman took issue with the recent portrayal of the league's talks with the NHLPA, calling it "unfortunate" and "inaccurate." Bettman specifically denied the league has moved the goalposts on the revised CBA earlier this year. "We're not actually having negotiations and we're not seeking to renegotiate," he said (Thomas Leary, THE DAILY).
IN THE DETAILS: TSN.ca's Frank Seravalli noted the NHLPA yesterday "declined to comment" when presented with Bettman's remarks and his "characterization of the NHL's financial ask." While Bettman is "correct in the NHL has not asked for an amendment to the total amount of money changing hands between the NHL and NHLPA, others do see it as a 'renegotiation' since the terms of player salaries for the 2021 season were specifically spelled out in the Memorandum of Understanding ratified in July." Players are due 72% of their stated salaries in '21, with 20% "taken off the top to owners to repay their revenue shortfall from 2019-20's paused season." In a "not-so-subtle way, Bettman sent a message to players listening on Wednesday, saying that the longer the debt lingers, the lower future salary caps will be, thus limiting future earnings" (TSN.ca, 12/2). Octagon Hockey agent Allan Walsh tweeted in response to Bettman's comments: "The deal was negotiated 4 months ago. It was entirely foreseeable that fans would not be allowed into buildings for most of the 2020-21 season when the deal was signed. Bottom line, some owners don’t like the deal and want better terms." He added, "Don’t you love how Gary Bettman keeps stressing he’s not seeking to renegotiate the CBA extension as he attempts to renegotiate the CBA extension agreed to between the parties 4 months ago?" (TWITTER.com, 12/2).
CRACKS IN THE ICE? THE ATHLETIC's Pierre LeBrun reported Bettman and NHLPA Exec Dir Don Fehr "have spoken three times over the past four to five days after a two-week cone of silence," but no one around the game "has ever felt more unclear about how this could end." Both sides "will tell you they are still very much focused on having a season with puck drop sometime in January." But beyond that, how "exactly this financial stalemate ends remains a mystery." Bettman is "in a tough spot with some of his owners." LeBrun: "I'm not convinced that if it was solely up to Bettman that the NHL commissioner would have gone this route. But I think there's pressure from some owners to alleviate cash concerns for this season. So that's what Bettman is doing" (THEATHLETIC.com, 12/2). Former NHLer John Scott tweeted, "Tough decisions to be made by the players in the next few weeks. Bite the bullet and take the massive pay cut (escrow/salary deferral) or pass the buck and leave a huge bill for years to come. Say what you want about Bettman but the guy is a master at working the players" (TWITTER.com, 12/3). The Hockey News' Ken Campbell said some owners "have looked at the NBA return to play and what they did with their players association, and they’re saying we should have done better. There are a handful of owners this year that don’t want to play at all" ("The Hockey Times Podcast," SI.com, 12/1).
SPIRIT OF COOPERATION: Bettman said that the NHL is "willing to condense training camps" and "will likely have teams just play one or two exhibition games." But SPORTSNET.ca's Chris Johnston wrote the start date for the regular season also "hinges heavily on the spread of COVID-19 and regional health restrictions." The success of the recent Stanley Cup Playoffs "was built on a spirit of cooperation between the NHL and NHLPA, not to mention the buy-in of players" inside the bubbles. That is "what makes this maneuvering towards the 2020-21 season so interesting." There "doesn't seem to be quite the same level of goodwill" (SPORTSNET.ca, 12/2). In Chicago, Charlie Roumeliotis wrote the "time is ticking, and it would be wise of the NHL to start earlier than later to give itself wiggle room in case it needs to make up games on the fly" (NBCSPORTSCHICAGO.com, 12/2). The Hockey News' Campbell said starting Jan. 1 is a "pipedream," as the league is "running out of runway" ("The Hockey Times Podcast," SI.com, 12/1).
JUST CALL IT? In Pittsburgh, Mark Madden wrote October '21 "would be the best idea" in regard to an NHL season start date. Barring "utter failure of the covid vaccine," it is "difficult to imagine that hockey still won't be able to sell tickets by then." Getting in debt to the players is a "dangerous game for NHL teams to play." When that deferred money comes due, "what if the vaccine flops, and ticket sales started later than hoped for?" If hockey starts in January, February or March, tickets "might be sold partway through the season and for the playoffs." Madden: "But, again, what if they're not?" It "might be best for the NHL and for the sport to start again in October of '21." It is "likely that tickets could be sold, and it gets the league back on its usual calendar" (TRIBLIVE.com, 12/2).
