It’s not such a bad deal, honestly. If the NHLPA decides to make a few concessions to let the Kovalchuk, Luongo and Hossa deals stand, they aren’t giving up much that they wouldn’t soon have to anyway.

But is this really a proper way for the NHL to achieve its goals?

Couldn’t new rules about long-term deals have waited until the next CBA was drafted, or would that have given the Player’s Association too much time to get healthy again? Wouldn’t the PA be giving up a sizable bargaining chip for those same talks by agreeing to this ultimatum?

In any case, the ramifications one way or the other are intriguing.

I was talking to a friend last night—a fan of the Pittsburgh Penguins—who wondered, at least half seriously, about the ‘what ifs’ that would follow if the NHLPA doesn’t want to give any ground.

The Penguins still need that first line wing. No one played the part better than Marian Hossa. Would Ray Shero give it another go?

Where else could those three land if thrown back into the waters of free agency?

How does a first line with Hossa and Kovalchuk sound somewhere like Long Island? Well, it probably sounds insane, but things could get a little crazy depending on what happens Friday when this mess is sorted out.

It is, after all, about more than just a contract.