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Bettman: “I hope it’s clear that our intention is to make a deal”

Gary Bettman

National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman speaks to reporters about on going labor talks with the NHL Players Association outside the league’s headquarters in New York, Tuesday, July 31, 2012. The current collective bargaining agreement ends on Sept. 15, and the NHL season is scheduled to open on Oct. 11. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

AP

Contrary to Zach Parise’s comments, Gary Bettman claims that the owners want to wrap up a new CBA.

Renaud P. Lavoie has the quote:

“I hope it’s clear that our intention is to make a deal,” Bettman said. “We hope it’s fair.”

Speaking of “fair,” Bettman also discussed the much-debated league revenue issue.

“You need to consider what’s fair because we run the league at 43 percent of the revenues,” Bettman said.

If you want more specifics, here is how Bettman described how players’ shares would be handled through the first three years:

Bettman said that salaries are likely to go up after that third season.

The money quote came when Bettman said that the league’s latest proposal “moved more money” than the NHLPA’s counter, as Travis Hughes collected.

“Our counter-proposal was more significant that the NHLPA proposal,” Bettman said. “The counter-proposal moved more money than the initial proposal made by the players’ association.”

Agent Allan Walsh provided this counter-argument, though:

Stay tuned as the debates about escrow and “hockey-related revenue” - among other things - continue.

Related

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Parise’s pointed words for Bettman

Bettman calls proposal “significant, meaningful”

Meetings involve arguments about terminology

Sides debate escrow

Bettman says he wants to make a deal