The Puck Stops Here

I think it is clear now that Plan A for the lockout for Gary Bettman and the NHL management was to break the NHLPA during the lockout. So far that hasn't happened. They have failed in Plan A. For the good of the NHL they need a good Plan B (there are many reasons to doubt that they have one).

I think their miscalculation on Plan A came from the basketball experiences of several owners (who own NBA and NHL teams) and most importantly Gary Bettman, who came to the NHL from the NBA where he was number two to commissioner David Stern. They saw how the NBA players union folded and accepted the NBA offer. They thought it would happen in hockey.

There is a fundamental difference in the kind of players the leagues have. The NBA is a largely inner city urban American crowd. These players often grew up in the "concrete jungle" and learned that they have to do whatever they can to get as much money for themselves as they can.

The NHL is largely composed of Canadians, Europeans and people from northern US states (the ones that voted for John Kerry). Hockey is a relatively expensive sport to play (compared to basketball). One must be able to afford much more equipment plus ice time to develop. Hockey is a middle class game. Hockey is established in the more socialist parts of the world where central bargaining unions are commonplace. Many NHL players have parents who were in unions and directly saw the benefits they brought to their families. Hockey players are sticking together. And we fans dont get to see any NHL hockey this year because the owners miscalculated. They thought the union would break like in the NBA.