NHLPA rejects realignment !!!

[wyvernmcd]

(Article from NHL.com)

NHL delays realignment after NHLPA refuses consent

The National Hockey League announced today that it will not move forward with implementation of the Realignment Plan and modified Playoff Format recently approved by the NHL Board of Governors for the 2012-13 NHL season because the NHLPA has refused to provide its consent.

"It is unfortunate that the NHLPA has unreasonably refused to approve a Plan that an overwhelming majority of our Clubs voted to support, and that has received such widespread support from our fans and other members of the hockey community, including Players," said NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly.  "We have now spent the better part of four weeks attempting to satisfy the NHLPA’s purported concerns with the Plan with no success.  Because we have already been forced to delay, and as a result are already late in beginning the process of preparing next season’s schedule, we have no choice but to abandon our intention to implement the Realignment Plan and modified Playoff Format for next season."

"We believe the Union acted unreasonably in violation of the League’s rights.  We intend to evaluate all of our available legal options and to pursue adequate remedies, as appropriate."

As a result of the League’s decision today, the NHL will maintain its current alignment and Playoff Format for the 2012-13 season.

What does this mean? Probably a lockout/strike again since their CBA is expiring at the end of the season. I doubt they will do the realignment without changing some things but now it seems what looked like a good idea for most of the current Western Conference will have to go back to the drawing board and try again.

Thoughts?

[Brian Fein]

WHAT?! Why?!

Oh well, enjoy it while you can.  round and round we go.  F!

[Thundergod]

Cool. Wasn't feeling the new format.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

(Article from NHL.com)

[What does this mean? Probably a lockout/strike again since their CBA is expiring at the end of the season. I doubt they will do the realignment without changing some things but now it seems what looked like a good idea for most of the current Western Conference will have to go back to the drawing board and try again.

Thoughts?

Or it is just going to be a negotiated issue during the bargining.

Owners were dumb here.  You have a collective bargaining agreement.  It ends in one year.  You decided to make changes that are not allowed under it a year before it is set to expire and expect the players to just go along.  Dumb.  You bring the changes you want to the table.

[EDGECRUSHER]

According to the NHLPA, they asked the owners for the travel schedule of the realignment and were not given one. So, they declined until they got one they could do research on.

[wyvernmcd]

According to the NHLPA, they asked the owners for the travel schedule of the realignment and were not given one. So, they declined until they got one they could do research on.

That makes sense, however it seemed that the decision on this from the Board of Governers made a quick decision based on time zones rather than travel for all the teams. I still think this benefits the West conference teams way more than the East teams but there was no consideration of the southern teams other than to force them to make the longer trips for teams that were within their conference/division.

[EDGECRUSHER]

This would all be much easier if we just contracted a bunch of teams and did some name changes. I am sorry Minnesota, but your name sucks. Go back to being the North Stars.

[wyvernmcd]

Acutally, it looked like to me (at least from a South East perspective) that the League was going to try to force the 2 S.E. teams (Florida and Tampa) to put up with the long travel to Canada and back home on a routine basis which would eventually hurt the players, the team, and then the orginization to force a suggestion to the Board to move or contract the two teams. I feel that the south east has been getting better but at a slow pace.

Florida, despite hosting many Summer college pre-season tournaments, and more recently going to host the Division - I hockey finals (the frozen four), there is still no respect for the Florida hockey fan.

I didn't really see the realignment that much different other than it completely favored the West (in my opinion) and they are trying to squeeze out the Florida teams.