Official Lockout Discussion Thread V2.1

[Jntg4]

Lavoie in English now, more clear: Mediator was involved in today's talks and will be Thursday.

 

[Jntg4]

My take: Reports earlier suggested that if no deal was close then the PA would use the disclaimer of interest. They did not use it, and reports of progress were made. However, the mediators were involved and may have played a roll in it not being filed. Neither side is talking much, which I take to be a good thing as neither side went out of the way today to swoon the media like they had before a deal was this close. There is definitely incentive for both sides to get in a 52 game season, so a deal tomorrow would not be a great shock, especially when pensions seem to be the last of the major issues. If no deal is done, I expect this to drag on to the January 11th deadline.

Lavoie tweets meetings at 9AM Central tomorrow. Good sign IMO.

 

[Jntg4]

Dreger: PA did not file disclaimer but will in near future if a deal isn't reached.

Then what was all this about the players needing to decide on filing it by today? Whatever, the fact that they delayed it means there is some hope, otherwise they would have gone through with it.

 

[Jntg4]

LeBrun: NHLPA did not file disclaimer but will ask players for authorization again to do so if talks don't "soon" produce a deal

Tomorrow is key IMO.

 

[Jntg4]

LeBrun: Told mediator has actually been involved all week long - not just today

Shows how little we've actually known.

 

[Jntg4]

Lavoie: L'AJLNH a décidé de ne plus exiger un plafond sur l'argent placé en fiducie (escrow) ce qui représente une grosse concession.
Translator: The NHLPA has decided to no longer require a cap on the money placed in trust (escrow) which is a big concession.

 

[Jntg4]

Lavoie: A cap on escrow has never been formally proposed. But the NHLPA considered it.

 

[Jntg4]

Sides agree to two buyouts per team. Cap to decrease by around 10 million after this season.
http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2013/01/03/report-nhl-agrees-to-two-buyouts-per-team-next-season/

 

[dabynsky]

Imagine if both sides had negotiated in good faith a long time ago...

 

[Jntg4]

To clarify my last post, the actual salary cap has not been agreed to, league wants $60M, players want $65M

 

[Jntg4]

Lavoie: L'AJLNH accepte que les 2 rachats de contrats avant la saison 2013-14 comptent sur la part des revenus des joueurs et non sur le plafond.
Translator: The NHLPA agrees that the two surrenders before the 2013-14 season rely on the income share of the players and not on the ceiling.

 

[Jntg4]

Lavoie: Nothing is done in cba until everything is done, but NHLPA agreed that buyouts before 2013-14 season, will count against players share.

Meanwhile, Aaron Ward of TSN reports that PA on way over to NHL offices for smaller group meeting.

 

[Jntg4]

Players have arrived

 

[Jntg4]

Lavoie: Don Fehr won't participate at this meeting with the league.

WOW!

 

[Jntg4]

John Kay, THN: In a negotiation that's been all about extent of player concessions, PA may be seeking a "win" on pensions. Kind of like breaking a shutout.

 

[Jntg4]

Translator on Lavoie: If negotiations are not moving today, the NHLPA exec could restart the process for a vote on the denial of interest shortly

Just keep it moving then...

 

[Jntg4]

Lavoie: NHLPA executive board will begin the process to have players approval to disclaim if no agreement is concluded by today.

Boom, today also deadline for 52 games.

 

[Jntg4]

Lavoie: Gary Bettman in the room right now, with the mediator for these afternoon talks.

 

[Jntg4]

Eklund says that the league has increased variance offer to 30%, but it is Eklund, so take it with a grain of salt

 

[Jntg4]

Dreger: Vote to authorize disclaimer will happen swiftly, within 48 hrs, however when to start hasn't been determined nor has deadline of decision.