Gary Bettman disputes union leader's contention labor agreement was near

It was the most bizarre day of negotiations in a process that already has been nothing short of dizzying.

Even while NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr was holding a news conference in New York on Thursday saying he believed a deal with the NHL on a new collective bargaining agreement was close, the league was leaving a voicemail to a key union negotiator saying it was rejecting the union?s latest proposal and pulling parts of its offer off the table.

After the dust had settled, the only thing clear is that the owners? lockout that reached its 82nd day Thursday continues with no end in sight and the possibility of a lost season looms larger.

?It looks like this is not going to be resolved in the immediate future,? Fehr told reporters a few minutes after saying the sides had agreed on the most significant financial issues, including the league?s Make Whole proposal to pay all contracts in full during a new CBA.

?We are clearly very close, if not on top of one another, in connection with most of the major issues. It comes as a disappointment, obviously.?

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman later said it was ?almost incomprehensible? that Fehr believed the sides were so close and that it had expected the NHLPA to say ?yes or no? to its latest offer and instead got a counteroffer it deemed unacceptable.

?We have moved dramatically and we are proposing a long-term system that will pay the players billions and billions over its term,? Bettman said. ?I am disappointed beyond belief that we are where we are (Thursday night).?

Even if the sides were close to agreeing on the key financial issues - which the league disputes - the NHL is not budging on its proposal of a five-year limit on player contracts and the desire for a 10-year CBA (with an escape clause after eight years). The union has proposed an eight-year CBA with an opt-out option after six years.

The NHLPA also has proposed a maximum of eight years to a player contract. Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly called the term limit on contracts, ?the hill we will die on.?

Thursday?s developments came after two days of intense negotiations that included a group of players meeting six owners in an effort to end the stalemate that began Sept. 15 and has caused the cancellation of games through Dec. 14.

?It?s extremely disappointing that we?ve made another offer to come so close and we?re apparently not any closer than before,? Hawks defenseman Steve Montador, a member of the union?s negotiating committee, said via email. ?(It?s) saddening at this point.?

It?s expected the union will look further into decertification or filing a disclaimer of interest, which would take the process into the court system.

Bettman said he could not foresee the season being any fewer than 48 games so time is running out and the sides are not expected to meet in the next few days.

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?2012 Chicago Tribune

(c)2012 the Chicago Tribune. Distributed by MCT Information Services

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