Just When You Thought It Was Safe......

So, it seems that it took the NHL season to be cancelled for the NHL and the NHLPA to truly get serious about talking about a new CBA.

TSN was the first to bring it to everyone's attention that the NHL and the PA will meet on Saturday in order to maybe save this season and whatever is left and most definitely save the 2005-06 season, as well as the Draft.

Now, the question I have, like everyone else, is why did it take the cancelling of the season for these sides to take the talks into overdrive??

You have to think that the Players didn't want to believe that the Owners, the Board of Governors, and Gary Bettman would actually go through with what people have been buzzing about, that being the season going kaput. Yet, it was a gross miscalculation by the NHLPA in trying to wait out Gary Bettman and the owners hoping they would be the ones to crack first. That didn't happen and an apparent upheavel took place between the members of the NHLPA.

Maybe thoughts and reports of backroom and back-alley talks happening made it hard for many people to believe that the deal was dead. That coupled with the fact many news outlets saying that Gary Bettman left the door open for the season to resume, even after he cancelled it.

But how fractured is the NHLPA in this state?? Many thought that Bob Goodenow and the rest of his minions could actually get something going for the season and make some last minute push. That never happened and reports are saying that the PA was bitter even giving up the "No Cap" motto they've had for the many months leading up to this moment. There are even several players who are "beefing" with Chris Pronger who was the one to help spark the latest talks by contacting NHL CLO Bill Daly.

People had talked about it for a while when players were coming out of the woodworks to say they would be able to look at accepting a Cap if it was right terms and all that jazz, but the NHLPA insisted that there was no problems in the inner workings of the situation. This all but seals the turmoil that many people have been assuming for a few months.

In the end, what will come out of these meetings?? We can only hope for the best, because it really cannot get any worse for this sport. All this could do it make fans even more pissed because once again there's that glimmer of hope in the haystack.

A note to the NHL and the NHLPA-- if you keep toying with the fans; make sure you have a back-up plan when they give up worrying about both of your petty indifferences. You can only toy with people for so long before they stop caring what you do. Make sure that's on your agenda when you are in that meeting room.

This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!