January 10, 2012, National Hockey League Board of Governors ratify the new Collective Bargaining Agreement news story for Metro Newspaper in NYC
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BRUCE BENNETT/GETTY IMAGES
Bettman speaks to the media at Wednesday's announcement of the approval of the new CBA.
The NHL is one step closer to dropping the puck on the truncated 2013 regular season.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced in a late afternoon press
conference yesterday that the Board of Governors unanimously voted to
approve the new collective bargaining agreement.
Bettman used the platform to apologize to the players, partners and fans
for the lockout. The NHL’s third lockout in 18 years — all under
Bettman’s stewardship as commissioner — lasted 113 days and cost the
league 625 regular season games.
“We have a lot of work to do,” Bettman said. “The National Hockey League
has a responsibility to earn back your trust and support whether you
watch one game or every game. That effort begins today.”
Bettman was joined by Boston Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs. Jacobs serves
as the Chairman of the Board of Governors, and was a key member of the
league negotiating committee.
“Hockey is back,” Jacobs said.
Bettman was circumspect about the details of the agreement. The CBA will
now be sent to the NHLPA for ratification, and it is expected that
union will sign off of the agreement. It is believed that training camps
will begin Sunday and the 48-game season will start on Jan. 19 with a
slate of rivalry games.
“Now we’re ready to play hockey,” Nashville Predators general manager
David Poile said. “[The season is] going to be a little bit different.
Anything could happen. I’m looking forward to it.”
According to multiple reports, among the games expected to be played on
Jan. 19 will be Maple Leafs-Canadiens, Penguins-Flyers and
Islanders-Rangers. Bettman would not divulge details of the modified
schedule other than saying once “the ratification process is complete,
we will release the schedule instantaneously.”
There will only be intraconference games due to the abbreviated nature
of the season. Highly anticipated intraconference games, such as Rick
Nash’s first game in Columbus as a member of the New York Rangers and
Zach Parise’s return to Newark, will be postponed until the 2013-14
season.
Other than saying the league and the NHLPA needed “to build a
relationship” to guarantee there will never be another lockout, Bettman
offered vague ideas on the NHL’s effort to rebuild “trust and support”
from fans and business partners. Washington Capitals general manager
George McPhee said the league and teams need to “say were going to be
very happy to see [the fans]. I think the best thing we can do is not
talk about it.”
Steve Rosner, a partner at 16W, a Rutherford-based marketing and
consulting firm told Metro in a phone conversation prior to the press
conference that “the league has work to do” to appease fans and sponsors
angered by the length of the lockout.
“I think anything you can do [is a positive],” Rosner said. He predicted
that the first “30-to-60 days” of the season will be key in determining
potential fan reaction and backlash stemming from the lockout. Rosner
also suggested the league and individual teams need to conduct a “PR
push” but noted sponsors “are going to look for make goods.”
Follow NHL writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.
Follow NHL writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.
http://www.metro.us/newyork/sports/article/1159420--board-of-governors-approves-new-nhl-cba
posted by Denis P. Gorman at 9:54 PM
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