Negotiations are starting to look up for NHL
It’s day 81 of the NHL lockout and finally the word “promising” is starting to be said by many sources. On Wednesday, Gary Bettman gave a statement to the press after a Board of Governors meeting but didn’t have much to say. However, after Tuesday’s labor talks and more talks Wednesday that started at 2:30 p.m., things might just be looking up.
“We are pleased with the process that is ongoing, and out of respect for that process, I don’t have anything else to say and I’m not going to take any questions,” said Bettman Wednesday afternoon.
According to the LA Times, there were talks between players and owners twice on Tuesday that resumed Wednesday with more negotiation. The NHL has put a ban on team officials talking about the negotiations, so no real new information has come out the last few days. However, there seems to be a major shift in the attitudes of those involved in the closed-door meetings.
Tuesday’s meetings featured 18 players and harnessed the star power of players like Jonathan Toews, Sidney Crosby, and Shane Doan. Crosby and Penguin’s owner Ron Burkle apparently helped start to smooth things over in the boardroom, which is definitely a step in the right direction.
After the Board of Governors meeting, the press tried their best to get statements, but only got short bits from some team officials.
“We feel good about the information we got,” said Columbus Blue Jackets’ president of hockey operations, John Davidson.
Annaheim Ducks general manager Bob Murray echoed his sentiment saying, “it’s going fine. It’s going good. You know that I’m not supposed to say anything.”
It’s the first time many people have heard positive statements regarding talks from someone as close to the issues as Bettman and team officials.
