The narrow window closed. An 82-game season is no longer possible after the NHL kept their word by cancelling games through November 30. A week ago, the league gave us false hope by proposing a 50/50 split of revenue with the NHLPA contingent on players agreeing to immediate salary cuts. They still tried to work off it by making three different counter offers. However, none of the three came close to what Gary Bettman (rather the owners) wanted. Each had the players starting with over 50 percent of the share gradually decreasing to a split with the promise that owners would fulfill existing contracts.

Not surprisingly, even with some of the game’s biggest names on hand, the league immediately rejected each deal without hesitation. Bettman then did damage control by expressing dissatisfaction over what was offered. He still left the October 26 deadline open. There was a better chance of you or I becoming President than both sides reaching a new CBA that’d allow a full season to start November 2.

“The National Hockey League deeply regrets having to take this action,” Bill Daly told the AP in a statement. “We acknowledge and accept that there is joint responsibility in collective bargaining and, though we are profoundly disappointed that a new agreement has not been attained to this point, we remain committed to achieving an agreement that is fair for the Players and the Clubs – one that will be good for the game and our fans.“

Daly’s statements always irk me worse than Bettman. There’s just something about him I don’t like. I get that he’s representing the owners along with the commish who at least had something to smile about the other day at the Barclays Center with the Islanders coming to Brooklyn. Here’s the question. How many of those owners really are on the same page with main culprits Jeremy Jacobs and Ed Snider? It’s again worth noting that it didn’t take a majority to lockout the players. Like a broken record, it falls under Bettman’s watch. But if you read between the lines, it seems like he’s more interested in playing. His reputation is on the line. Three lockouts under his tenure isn’t what he had in mind. That’s why he wants a settlement. This is about selfish owners like Jacobs who want a bigger piece of the pie. This isn’t about being right like last time. It’s about a cash grab.

They can talk all they want about revenue sharing, which is a key area both sides agree on. It’s about greed. Plain and simple. The sport’s never been better generating record revenues of approximately $3 billion. From that standpoint, Bettman’s done his job while increasing exposure with the Winter Classic. Unfortunately, word is spreading that by next week they’ll cancel the league’s most publicized event- risking the possibility of losing an entire season. Bill Murray called. He wants his role back.

“This is deeply disappointing for all hockey fans and everyone who makes their living from hockey, including the players,” Donald Fehr said. “But it comes as no surprise.” 

“Last week the owners gave us what amounts to a “take-it-or-leave-it” proposal. We responded with the framework for three proposals on the players’ share, each of which moved significantly, towards their stated desire for a 50-50 split of HRR, with the only condition being that they honour contracts they have already signed. Honouring contracts signed between owners and players is a reasonable request. Unfortunately, after considering them for only 10 minutes they rejected all of our proposals.”

If you’ve followed me on Twitter at NewYorkPuck, you know I’m on the player’s side in this mess. I can’t find fault with wanting owners to take responsibility for the contracts they handed out. That shouldn’t be up for debate. The only area I think Fehr can do a better job on is reaching a split of revenue. He insists that his players would lose if they accepted the deal. I agree that the two sides should be more willing to negotiate if they want a better conclusion than ’04-05. If they care about the fans and most importantly, team personnel who are hurting economically, then they’ll be more desperate to work it out. Unfortunately, that’s not how it looks.

It is amazing to watch these two sides go back and forth again like a bitter old couple. Don’t they realize the damage they’re doing? Hockey might be front and center in Canada but it’s fifth on the depth chart in The States even behind golf. Hell. Horse racing is bigger due to all the gambling. That’s why NBC preempts playoff games for the triple crown. Sure. Bettman’s right when he says that hockey fans are loyal. Look at the record numbers that returned post-lockout. However, they’re already losing the casual observer who they targeted with changes like the shootout, no two-line pass and Brodeur rule- making the game more exciting.

More and more diehard puckers are running out of patience. I’m not alone in stating that I can get my hockey fix through the KHL, AHL, NCAA and Juniors. They can keep telling themselves we’re running back. You might jump as soon as an agreement as reached. But I won’t. There’s not much to be thankful for if you’re an NHL fan. Scrooge exists.