NHL commissioner spoke on Tuesday about the ongoing conversations between the NHL and the NHLPA, and made it clear he is not happy with the medias portrayal of the conversations.
Bettman described the medias portrayal to this point as “unfortunate” and “inaccurate”, all while trying to claim the league is not attempting to renegotiate anything with their players.
“We have been very clear, absolute, unequivocal,” said Bettman. “This is not an attempt to renegotiate.”
Bettman stressed that the league is doing everything they can to get through this season so that everything can get back to normal with the help of vaccinations by next fall.
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“We are hopeful and optimistic based on everything we are hearing that we can get back to normalcy in 21/22,” Bettman said.
Bettman also said that this process has been stressing for both sides, and he believes that the players owe the NHL more than anyone had imagined. Some fans have voiced that they believe these comments are hypocritical given all the players have done over the past six months to continue playing. First was the players agreeing to leave their families and be stuck in bubbles for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and then they agreed to a 10 per cent pay cut. Now, the league is asking them to take an even bigger pay cut all while bringing up that the players “owe them”.While a 2020-21 season is still hopeful, comments like these make it clear the two sides are not close at agreeing on a deal at the moment. Despite the league yet again saying yesterday they hope to have the season begin on January 1, that seems almost impossible at this point. If there was to be a season, it would likely begin in early February and be just 48 games in length.
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