I initially sided with the owners, thinking the players were being greedy. It is clear to me now that is not the case.
The players have made some serious consessions, and the owners have hardly blinked. They are not negotiating in good faith.
I don't want the NHL to turn into what the NFL has become with their salary cap. If it takes an entire year or two of no hockey to ensure that, then so be it. There are lots of alternative ideas to curb spending and keep ticket prices down than to institute a salary cap.
Hockey, unlike football, has never pulled the television ratings to get a big contract. For the NFL, the ratings are high enough to guarantee big money, and the stadiums hold significantly more people.
>>The players have made some serious consessions, and the owners have hardly blinked. They are not negotiating in good faith. <<
This is silly. Good faith means you are there at the table. It doesn't mean you conceed.
If you put your house on the market, and I offer you 5 bucks and you don't come down off your price, are you refusing to negotiate in good faith?
"I don't want the NHL to turn into what the NFL has become with their salary cap."
I agree. AND....
Did ANYONE see the ticket prices for NFL games go DOWN because they instituted a salary cap? NO!
If a hard cap is imposed by the owners, don't expect the 'saved' dollars to end up in your pants pocket!!