from Mark Spector of Sportsnet,

If both these sides are as committed to playing hockey as they'd like us to think, why isn't anyone talking about binding arbitration? Let's bring in a mediator, let him look at the two sides' best offers, and find a middle ground.

Basically, the two sides are fighting over seven percent of the revenues. We believe, as do most folks, that if the split was moved to 50-50 the owners would say, "Let's play," and they could work out the other elements (contract term, age of unrestricted free agency, etc.) over time.

So, next time one of these yahoos declares "we're doing everything in our power to get the game back on the ice," ask them why they haven't used mediation?

more CBA talk...