from Larry Brooks of the NY Post,

To hear it from his sympathizers, Gary Bettman is not to blame for the third lockout of his regime. The NHL commissioner, we’re supposed to believe, is nothing more than an extraordinarily well-paid messenger for the owners.

If the Board of Governors’ intent is to reach a negotiated settlement of the lockout, then either a different message or a different messenger to deliver the message should be on the agenda.

Because, we’re told, nothing infuriated the union rank-and-file more on Wednesday when the league rejected the NHL Players’ Association’s proposal in short order than the commissioner’s insinuation the players have been unwilling to engage in serious bargaining.

And nothing through this lockout — in which everyone understands the outcome will be measured only by the scope of player concessions — has united the players more dramatically in support of Don Fehr than the way in which the league two days ago dismissed the union’s proposal out of hand.

continued