Quote:
Originally Posted by Resolute 14
If it was anyone else, I would be stating "you aren't that naive".
How much influence the NHLPA could have had if it added its voice to the NHL's position rather than undermine it is an unknown. However, the CBA is not relevant to that part. In terms of the NHL and NHLPA making its own deal, they could have done so as a modification of the CBA or as a separate arrangement - which the 2014 agreement technically was, iirc.
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Did the league invite the PA to be involved in the negotiations? Undermining their position? Everyone knew they wanted to go, and the IOC knew participation was the league's call whether the players wanted to go or not. Are you really under the delusion that the IOC played hardball assuming the PA would sway the league to just allow them to go and that's why the deal fell apart? Even if that were the case, that's on the IOC and their incompetence, not the players. The IOC should have realized who they were negotiating with and focus on their concerns, not the players'.