NHL CBA Negotiations Starting to Heat Up, Is a Lockout Impending?

The NHL owners took their first shot at the players during the most recent CBA negotiations. Up until the most recent meeting, the talks had been described as "cordial" by deputy commissioner Bill Daly in a public statement (h/t Brian Stubits of CBS Sports).

With the latest talks between the two sides, it is quite possible that the two sides may be negotiating for a few months and a lockout and work stoppage could ensue. 

The first strike by the owners was centered around hockey-related revenue. The current system has the players receiving 57 percent of the total pie.

The owners submitted an offer that would cut this number by 11 percent to a new split of 54/46 in favor of the owners, according to Renaud P Lavoie of RDS. This was laughable even though first meetings are often the most outrageous. However, the hits kept on coming for this meeting.

The next proposal would change the free-agency system completely. According to Lavoie, owners proposed that players would have to play 10 seasons before becoming an unrestricted free agent. Contracts would also feature a five-year limit and there would be no more salary arbitration.

And on top of that, entry-level deals would become five years long. Suggesting one of those ideas to become a part of a new CBA would likely be laughable, but if the owners expect all three tenets to become apart of a new CBA, they are sorely misinformed. 

They owners want to take away a percentage of revenue, limit a player's ability to make a decent salary as a UFA, take away a player's right to go to arbitration for more money and limit their flexibility.

When owners like Craig Leipold are dishing out $198 million for two players, how can the majority of owners cry poor and suggest articles that would take money away from the players?

This may have been a first formal offer, but Adam Proteau of The Hockey News even showed some concern for an impending lockout.

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"The moment the proposal was presented, every player in the room knew Gary had just written off 1st 3 months of the season." - an NHL agent

— Adam Proteau (@Proteautype) July 14, 2012

I realize this is a first offer. But this is a major retrenchment attempt when the business has never been better! Breathtaking arrogance.

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— Adam Proteau (@Proteautype) July 14, 2012

 

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The NHL took a huge hit during the last lockout and another one might kill the league. When the league is coming off year after year of record-setting revenues, you would think the two sides would be a bit realistic in negotiations. 

This is only the beginning of what could be a long summer of talks, so stay here at Bleacher Report for the latest NHL CBA news.