Quote:
Originally Posted by iggy_oi
I’m not even saying it’s the leagues fault, both sides couldn’t come to an agreement so the league exercised their right to not participate. They didn’t do anything wrong, I just don’t put it all on the players it takes two sides to come to an agreement. If the league offered to continue negotiations or were willing to alter their agreement and the players told them to go pound sand then I would agree it’s all on the players.
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Actually, there are 4 sides. The IOC, the IIHF, the NHL and the NHLPA.
The IOC/IIHF said that the NHL would have to pay for everything and in return receive nothing.
Easy deal to turn down right?
The NHLPA was given a couple opportunities to go. Nothing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by iggy_oi
Where were the players able to budge if the league wasn’t willing to negotiate on their offer?
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What offer? One has to exist for there to be a negotiation.
The League proposed an offer and the players did......nothing.
Maybe they assumed that the League would never simply deny Olympic participation.
They were wrong.
They also did a grand total of 'absolutely nothing' to secure something that they claim to be very dear to their hearts.
So the IIHF/IOC tried to screw the NHL, the NHLPA did a sum total of zero and the NHL just said:
"Okay fine then. Have fun."
And now here we are.
But yeah, its 100% on the players. If they really, truly wanted to be there they were given opportunities that they did absolutely nothing with.
Its not Bettman's fault, you cant blame 'the man' on this one for keeping the poor players down.