Well, it looks like it is official, hockey is a done player for this year (and likely never going to make it back to where it is now). I expect that the league will retract ALL offers ont he table, and come back with one with a salary cap of about 30 million tied to revenue without exception - and they will put it out there as "take it or leave it, not going to negotiate anymore".
Bob Goodenow is also a done player. I listed to player comments on the radio last night ("if we were going to agree to a salary cap, why didn't we do it in September instead of waiting for 5 months and costing me a year's salary?" was one of the better comments). I would expect the players to get together and move him out the door if this doesn't get fixed shortly.
I also expect the league to move to bust the union in one form or another, using whatever techniques are at hand. Most of the players just want to play hockey, this money issue is more to do with a handful of frightfully overpaid players that would lose big time if there was a salary cap in place. It wouldn't take much to push many of those players to opt out or otherwise make moves to change the structure and management of their union.
It's a sad sad day.
Alex
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