The NHL canceled regular-season games through November, as the labor dispute between the league and the players’ association get nowhere
The league canceled games through Nov. 1 last week following a dispiriting proposal-swapping session between the NHL and NHLPA in Toronto. With no progress made since, the league was forced to wipe out another significant block of the regular-season schedule.
A lack of meaningful dialogue between the warring factions means that the league’s marquee event, the Winter Classic, is in jeopardy as well.
The annual outdoor game may be canceled as early as next week, a source with knowledge of the league’s plans told ESPNNewYork.com.
Commissioner Gary Bettman said a decision on the Winter Classic was needed “very soon” when reached Wednesday at a press conference announcing the Islanders move to Brooklyn.
“I’m not going to give you an exact timetable, but at some point in November,” he said. “We will have to commit many millions of dollars to get ready for the Winter Classic, so if there’s still uncertainty, we’re going to have to make a decision and my guess is, we’re not going to commit those dollars unless we have certainty.”
Bettman also indicated Wednesday that the negotiation process — one that has been stagnant without any formal meetings over the past week — was likely to get “more difficult” moving forward.
The league is following through with that promise Friday, when it is expected to not only cancel games but also inform the NHLPA that its last offer is now off the table.
The offer — which included a 50-50 revenue split and provision to “make whole” existing player contracts by using deferred payments — was contingent on playing an 82-game season, deputy commissioner Bill Daly told ESPN.com. With no chance of salvaging a full season, the offer has been rescinded.
The NHLPA has not made any additional offer since its trio of proposals was promptly rejected by the league last week. The union has attempted to stoke negotiations by offering to meet, but the league has spurned those invitations.