I never became optimistic because there had to be a catch. Even if NHL commissioner Gary Bettman had the right intention, you knew it was too good to be true. Make no mistake. If it were up to solely the much critiqued commish, he would play hockey. Instead, the third lockout under his watch is influenced by a few selfish owners who want to have their cake and eat it. Jeremy Jacobs has become the evil face of this work stoppage with the Bruins owner even getting into it with Fehr following the latest dark cloud that’s riled up fans and players. Fehr and a group of 18 players that included the game’s best player Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews, Jarome Iginla and Shane Doan responded to the league’s proposal with three counter offers. Unfortunately, Bettman and his group rejected them on principle without even reviewing each.

It’s the same old song for Bettman who’s getting lonelier by the second. His remarks never help, almost making it certain that nothing will get done. The teflon commish is an easy target with several players referencing their hatred for him. His flat out denial of their three proposals that included the damaging “we aren’t speaking the same language” and “far apart” commentary that may as well have been recited from ’04 kill any optimism. No wonder approximately 150 players have already bolted for Europe. When Alexander Ovechkin continues to hint that if the NHL doesn’t come off their stance of cutting player salaries, players might not return, it doesn’t help their cause either- making them look greedy. The truth is that if our boss asked you or me to take an immediate paycut, we’d be just as upset. The difference is they make millions which explains public resentment. If you sign a contract, it should be fulfilled. That’s where the owners are wrong, not wanting to take responsibility.

“You come with three proposals and think you have a chance to get a little momentum and make some progress,” explained the game’s brightest star Crosby. “And then you get shut down in 10 minutes. … That doesn’t seem like a group willing to negotiate. It was take it or leave it.”

“The so called 50-50 deal, plus honoring current contracts propose by the NHL Players’ Association earlier today is being misrepresented,” Bill Daly retaliated of the final offer. “It is not a 50-50 deal. It is, most likely a 56% to 57% deal in Year One and never gets to 50% during the proposed five-year term of the agreement. The proposal contemplates paying the players approximately $650 million outside of the players’ share. In effect, the union is proposing to change the accounting rules to be able to say ’50-50,’ when in reality it is not. The union told us that they had not yet ‘run the numbers.’ We did.“

Here’s a question for Mr. Daly. How could you have run the numbers that fast? It seems that one side is more willing to negotiate to save the season. The other is content in taking away $1.6 billion from the players over the six years of the take it or leave it deal they offered. Does that sound fair? Something Fehr alluded to which is why the flat out rejection irked his side. When you have the game’s biggest draw who’s largely responsible for record revenues questioning the NHL/owner motives, it speaks volumes.

“It doesn’t look good right now,” Crosby added. “We are negotiating with a purpose, and I don’t know there is much purpose from their side right now.” “I don’t know how that works. They were expecting one proposal, and they got three. So, do we get three back?”

When Crosby and Ovechkin came in post-lockout, they revitalized hockey. That first season back was much more than anyone could ever have anticipated. Ovechkin took the league by storm earning Calder honors while Crosby became the youngest player ever to reach the century mark in scoring. Both have won the Hart and Sid also led the Pens to their third Cup. They along with Crosby’s sidekick and league MVP Evgeni Malkin, Henrik Lundqvist, Toews and Pavel Datsyuk made the game exciting along with new rules that opened it up. You can cite plenty of other stars like The Sedins, Zdeno Chara along with ambassadors like recently retired all-time great Nick Lidstrom for the game’s fast recovery. That’s the part that gets lost. Without such great players along with the league’s marquee game the Winter Classic, hockey doesn’t reach this point. To lose another year would be so damaging that I don’t even know if I’d support the NHL until there was new leadership. I’m already on the fringe.
If a passionate pucker like myself is fuming, what about your average fan? The ones the game attracts due to the shootout and world wide appeal of Sid The Kid. You think they’ll be back? Come on. While they continue to ruffle feathers, an exciting October is concluding in baseball along with another unpredictable NFL season along with college football. The NBA is on tap along with college hoops. Bettman wants a new deal to be reached in two days by the Oct.25 deadline so a full season can still happen. There have been no talks. However, the NHL has permitted players to open the lines of communication with GMs. Something you never would’ve seen eight years ago. This time, the league is desperate which is why they blinked first.

Assuming nothing gets done, how many more games will be canceled? Is Thanksgiving the next target date? That was my original prediction. All bets are off. The longer it goes on, the worse it looks. I can get my hockey fix through the internet and NCAA games are shown on weekends. Some will flock to AHL arenas or if they’re fortunate to see juniors. There’s still plenty of hockey to follow.

We’re all left with the same lingering question. When will it end? I wish I knew.