from Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun,
Twenty-four hours after the latest breakdown in talks between the NHL and the players union, NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr explained to QMI Agency why it might be a long lockout....
Here is an edited transcript of Fehr's discussion:
QMI: Did Gary Bettman tell you the last offer Tuesday was take-it-or-leave-it?
FEHR: "All I can tell you is that my sense in the meeting (Thursday): They reviewed our proposals. It took them 12 or 15 minutes, said they rejected them, said their offer on Tuesday was their very best offer and that outside of what he called 'minor tweaks' that was it. He said this in front of 19 players. When I said, 'So, a tweak means something small and insubstantial' or words to that effect, he said 'Yes.' That's sort of the way it ends. Except Gary said at the end of the meeting if the players were prepared to accept their offer in its entirety, minor tweaks, I could call him about the 'make whole' provision which has players paying players for the reduced salaries in the first two years. I just have to go on the basis of what I heard."
QMI: Were you upset the league took your proposals, looked at them for 12-to-15 minutes and dismissed them?
FEHR: "I don't get upset. I don't get excited. It's just another indication that this is going to be fairly long road."
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