NHL Cancels More Games: What Message Does It Send to the Players?

The longer the NHL goes without a new Collective Bargaining Agreement with its players, the more games it will cancel and that action will send shock waves through the hockey world.

The latest round of cancellations, which includes games through Nov. 1, means that 135 games have been cancelled thus far in the lockout (source: USA Today).

Players and fans who were hoping for a quick agreement when the NHL presented its so-called "50-50 plan" Oct. 16 have had those hopes dashed. All parties must realize that much more work needs to be done before an agreement can be reached and hockey can be played again.

However, while this latest move is somewhat painful to all involved, it's not all that significant.

If there are additional cancellations because no agreement has been reached before Oct. 26, that's much more significant.

Gary Bettman's last offer consisted of the NHLPA and the NHL splitting Hockey Related Revenue on a 50-50 basis (source: TSN.ca). While the initial reaction of the players was somewhat positive—it was referred to as a good starting point—the players presented three counter-proposals.

Bettman characterized them as a "step backwards" and seemingly threw his hands up in frustration as if he didn't know what to do next (source: Washington Post).

Perhaps that reaction was to send a message to players that they had better accept the Oct. 16 deal or their incomes will be slashed severely this season.

That reaction and the subsequent cancellation of additional games is designed to spur the players to capitulate to the owners' offer by the Oct. 26 deadline.

That seems unlikely.

While some individual players are feeling the pressure of the work stoppage and would probably be thrilled to go back to work under nearly any conditions, labor's leadership is not going to let that happen.

Here's why: Prior to the start of these negotiations, the NHL and the NHLPA were operating under a CBA that saw the players getting 57 percent of the revenues (source: SI.com).

The NHL originally offered 46 percent in the current set of negotiations before increasing the players' share to 50 percent. That's still seven percent below what the players received last year. There's little to make rational players and NHLPA leader Donald Fehr think that the league's offer is advantageous.

The message the players are getting is that they need to get back to the table and the process of negotiating.

Of course, it takes two to go through this procedure and that means that Bettman and Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly must be willing to go as well.

If both sides really want an agreement—and the owners' Oct. 16 offer shows that appears to be a distinct possibility—then it's not about formal proposals and counter-proposals. Instead, it's about rational give and take with an eye on fairness and progress.

The players don't have to roll over. But they do have to start negotiating again, or at least let the NHL bosses know that they have the strong desire to get back to the negotiating table.