from Nicholas J. Cotsonika of Yahoo,

There is a deal to be made. Forget how we got here – the NHL insulting the players with its first offer, the NHLPA frustrating the owners with its stalling and alternative proposals – and look at where we are now.

The NHLPA is negotiating off the NHL's framework. The players have accepted 50 percent of hockey-related revenue – the crown jewel of this negotiation, and the amount the owners targeted from the beginning – after a transition period. They have accepted concepts like term limits on contracts and restrictions to prevent back-diving deals. They have accepted the idea of a long-term labor agreement.

There are still gaps, but they are not unbridgeable. The NHL needs to restore its offer of $300 million in "make-whole" or transition payments, and the NHLPA needs to drop non-starters like escrow caps and agree to a 10-year CBA with an out after eight years. Then the sides need to compromise on how long to limit contracts, how much salaries can vary from year to year, how to set the salary range and more.

It won't be easy, but it's not that hard. Again, there is too little left to gain for anyone and too much to lose for everyone. This needs to get done.

more