B.J. Crombeen Photo by Bridget Samuels

On the eve of the NHLPA submitting their new CBA proposal to the league, the difference between the two sides seems insurmountable. The owners want to cut back the players’ share of revenues to pre-2004 lockout levels. It goes without saying that the players don’t want to take a huge step back on a game that has seen a huge amount of growth and profitability since the previous work stoppage.

New Lightning right winger B.J. Crombeen has been thrown into the labor negotiations before even playing a shift for his new team. As a member of the players negotiation committee, Crombeen continues to offer a view from the players’ association.

After commissioner Gary Bettman’s speech last Thursday declaring that the owners would not play another season under the current agreement, pessimism coursed throughout hockey fandom. Can we hope for a season that starts on time once the NHLPA submits their proposal tomorrow?

“They feel strong enough that they don’t want to continue under this agreement and want further concessions from the players. We’re trying to make sense of what they need and what they want. Our proposal is a good proposal. With our proposal we feel we’ll be closer to getting that agreement done,” Crombeen said. (Quote Source: Tampa Bay Times)

Vague and not too terribly comforting. For now we wait and see what happens.