Canceler-in-chief Gary Bettman has delivered a “Bah Humbug” holiday greeting to NHL fans, players, employees and those individuals dependent upon the league for large portions of their respective incomes by continuing to refuse to meet with the NHLPA in an attempt to end Owners’ Lockout III.
For as of last night, not only were there no bargaining sessions scheduled between the parties for this week, but there was no expectation representatives would even speak before tomorrow, The Post was told.
The sides have not met for a negotiating session since the NHL walked away from the owners-players conference Dec. 6 with a message of “take-it-or-leave it” that does not seem to have changed.
Union leadership and the rank-and-file have indicated a willingness to meet at any time without attached conditions but the league has refused, instead citing concerns about “the agenda” and about who will be “directing the dialogue.”
The NHLPA has been given the authority by membership to exercise a disclaimer of interest no later than Jan. 2 as the first step toward dissolving the union and potential court action. The NHL has indicated a drop-dead date for reaching an agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement — and thus avoiding the second full-season cancelation in the last eight years — would come in mid-January.
“There’s not much I can add,” deputy Bill Daly said in an email. “I suspect we will touch base on Wednesday — one way or the other.”