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Gary Bettman and the NHL owners are going about this the wrong way. The league should have opened its training camps. It should be planning to go forward with the season. It should have invited the players back for one more year of business as usual. Well, business almost as usual.
If the players are unwilling to accept the simple math that portrays the NHL as a league in financial tatters, math that's impossible to refute, then there are other means of making the point, other ways for franchises to remedy the bottom line.
The Sabres were scheduled to open the regular season Oct. 15 in Columbus. Typically, they'd charter a jet equipped with all first-class seats, arrive late afternoon the day before the game and check into one of the city's finer hotels. They'd receive a day-and-a-half's worth of contractually stipulated meal money, about $120, because everyone knows that, unless somebody subsidizes your food budget, you eat nothing but beans and franks on $1.8 million a year.
But wait. It gets better. For road games the organization always springs for a team meal. Before and after the game. Cost to the players: zilch. So players get meal money for meals they don't have to purchase! And you thought Build-A-Bears were pampered?
Organizations provide these perks of their own free will. They want to give their players the best chance to succeed. And what do the players do in return? Slash 'em across the shins with a hockey stick and question their integrity.
Nothing in the collective bargaining agreement says a franchise has to charter a customized plane with enough leg room for a team of giraffes. Nothing says clubs have to stay in posh hotels. Nothing says the franchise has to foot the bill twice for road meals, or whisk the players back home right after the game.
So stop already.
The itinerary for the Sabres' first road trip could look something like this:
Oct. 14: Depart Amtrak from Buffalo 11:30 p.m. Arrive in Cleveland 2:47 a.m. Depart Cleveland 4:35 a.m. Arrive in Columbus 6:55 a.m.
Oct. 15: Check into Motel 6 (they're leaving the light on). No team-supplied pregame meal, but there's a Bob's Big Boy across the street. Cab to arena. Play Blue Jackets. Depart via Amtrak at 11:20 p.m. Arrive in Cleveland 2:10 a.m. Depart Cleveland 3:50 a.m. Arrive in Buffalo 6:49 a.m.
Oct. 16: Morning skate for home opener against Devils 9:30 a.m. Need sticks? There's a pay phone in the lobby. Order and pay for them yourself.
If the players are unwilling to accept the simple math that portrays the NHL as a league in financial tatters, math that's impossible to refute, then there are other means of making the point, other ways for franchises to remedy the bottom line.
The Sabres were scheduled to open the regular season Oct. 15 in Columbus. Typically, they'd charter a jet equipped with all first-class seats, arrive late afternoon the day before the game and check into one of the city's finer hotels. They'd receive a day-and-a-half's worth of contractually stipulated meal money, about $120, because everyone knows that, unless somebody subsidizes your food budget, you eat nothing but beans and franks on $1.8 million a year.
But wait. It gets better. For road games the organization always springs for a team meal. Before and after the game. Cost to the players: zilch. So players get meal money for meals they don't have to purchase! And you thought Build-A-Bears were pampered?
Organizations provide these perks of their own free will. They want to give their players the best chance to succeed. And what do the players do in return? Slash 'em across the shins with a hockey stick and question their integrity.
Nothing in the collective bargaining agreement says a franchise has to charter a customized plane with enough leg room for a team of giraffes. Nothing says clubs have to stay in posh hotels. Nothing says the franchise has to foot the bill twice for road meals, or whisk the players back home right after the game.
So stop already.
The itinerary for the Sabres' first road trip could look something like this:
Oct. 14: Depart Amtrak from Buffalo 11:30 p.m. Arrive in Cleveland 2:47 a.m. Depart Cleveland 4:35 a.m. Arrive in Columbus 6:55 a.m.
Oct. 15: Check into Motel 6 (they're leaving the light on). No team-supplied pregame meal, but there's a Bob's Big Boy across the street. Cab to arena. Play Blue Jackets. Depart via Amtrak at 11:20 p.m. Arrive in Cleveland 2:10 a.m. Depart Cleveland 3:50 a.m. Arrive in Buffalo 6:49 a.m.
Oct. 16: Morning skate for home opener against Devils 9:30 a.m. Need sticks? There's a pay phone in the lobby. Order and pay for them yourself.
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