The financial losses are starting to pile up as a result of the NHL lockout.
And on Tuesday, the league made that public.
In speaking to reporters after talks finished up for the day between the NHL and the NHLPA, Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly estimated that the league has lost $100 million in revenues from the canceled preseason.
“Today,” he said, “was not overly encouraging.”
And though they can pick up at any time, for the moment, there are no further talks scheduled. That only further increases speculation that regular-season games could be lost, with an announcement sometime this week. The season was slated to begin Oct. 11.
“We are closer by definition (to canceling regular season games),” Daly said. “We are focused on minimizing the damage.”
Tuesday’s bargaining session focused on the definition of hockey-related revenue, and featured NHLPA head Donald Fehr, his brother, Steve, the special counsel to the players’ association, and Winnipeg Jets defenseman Ron Hainsey.
“They have made some incremental moves,” said Donald Fehr, who expects to informally talk with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman by Wednesday. “It’s clear that the players have made substantial moves toward the owners and the owners have made substantial moves away from the players.”
As there has been throughout the process, there is still a glaring difference in opinion.
“We’re looking for a long-term deal that’s fair to the players, league and fans,” Daly said. “Certainly, we’re trying to be as creative as (we can be).”
Donald Fehr did not dispute Daly’s figure of $100 million, saying “it might be a revenue number.” He did note, though, that it could be a loss without factoring in arena operating costs. Meanwhile, Steve Fehr disputed the notion that no progress had been made.
“I don’t know (that) I would agree with (that) phrase,” he said. “Talks can resume anytime they’re ready.”
Daly, in an e-mail to the Associated Press, said the league has not projected potential damage caused by the cancelation of any regular-season games. Clearly, the hope is that it won’t have to address that matter, but the clock is ticking.
“What we have repeatedly tried to communicate is that we need to hear from them to move this process along,” Daly wrote in the e-mail. “And we do think that’s the only thing that is going to allow us to gain traction. But that doesn’t mean we stop everything we’re doing and simply wait around for a proposal.
“If there is something we feel we can do to move the process forward, I’m sure we won’t hesitate to do it.”
According to Daly, the sides met for close to two hours Tuesday. One aspect that could expedite the negotiations moving forward — perhaps next week — is mediation. And both sides acknowledged that possibility has been broached.
“I’ve had that discussion with Gary, briefly,” Donald Fehr said. “There hasn’t been further discussion. We’re not averse to help.”
In the meantime, media outlets are making plans to keep fans happy during yet another stoppage. On Tuesday, Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League announced it will broadcast games in the United States on ESPN3. It plans to air five games this month on ESPN3, the online streaming service. Wednesday’s game between Dynamo Moscow and Ak Bars Kazan will be the first game televised.
Now in its third week, the lockout has forced many players to head overseas to play on month-to-month contracts. Others who are eligible to play at the lower levels opened training camp last week with American Hockey League affiliates. Still, there are several players who remain in North America, and continue to work out among themselves. On Tuesday in Minnesota, several members of the Wild got together for a skate.
“It is disappointing. The NHLPA is trying pretty hard to get something done. Every offer we make, we’re trying to make it better and better every time and it just seems like they’re getting stubborn and they want to stick to their offer,” Wild forward Pierre-Marc Bouchard said. “So, we’ll see what happens next.”
Bouchard was joined by defenseman Ryan Suter, one of two prized free-agent signees for Minnesota this summer. Suter and forward Zach Parise, who led the New Jersey Devils to the Stanley Cup Finals last season, both agreed to join the Wild on the same day in July.
“Obviously the players, we want to get out there and play, but we also know that something has to be fixed,” Suter said. “We can’t keep going through this every few years to try to come up with something. As players, we want it to be solved right. We want it to be the correct thing for years to come.”
NHL defines preseason financial losses as lockout continues
NHL defines preseason financial losses as lockout continues
Canada’s Lee sets pace, Kim in the hunt for LIV Golf wild card spots
- LIV Golf Promotions in Florida offers top 3 finishers a chance to play in 2026 regular season
LECANTO: Canada’s Richard T. Lee has proved the player to watch during the first three days at LIV Golf Promotions and is now well-placed for a wild-card spot in the 2026 LIV Golf season.
Anthony Kim, meanwhile, found another gear on the back nine on Saturday, putting him in a better position to return to full-time status in the league.
The final 18 holes of the 36-hole shootout at Black Diamond Ranch take place on Sunday with a potentially career-changing reward for the top three finishers — guaranteed LIV Golf wild-card status for 2026. In addition, the top 10 and ties earn exemptions into the Asian Tour’s International Series.
For the second time this week, Lee led the field with a bogey-free 6-under 64. The 35-year-old will take a two-shot lead over his closest pursuers going into Sunday, giving him a significant advantage. However, he does not plan to take his foot off the gas.
“Honestly, I don’t think it would be comfortable for any player to have a two-shot lead on the last day,” said Lee, who has two eagles, 13 birdies and just one bogey in his 54 competitive holes this week. “I’ll just put my hat on and just play my golf.”
Kim is among three players who are tied for second after shooting a bogey-free 4-under 66, along with South Africa’s Oliver Bekker and Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond. Denmark’s Lucas Bjerregaard is solo fifth after his 3-under 67, with five other players lurking at 1 under.
Kim, who played as a wild card in the past two seasons following his return to competitive golf after a 12-year retirement, was just 1 under through 12 holes on Saturday. But he made consecutive lengthy birdie putts at the 13th and 14th holes, birdied the par-5 16th, then saved par with a 15-footer at the par-4 18th that circled the cup before dropping.
“I have an opportunity to get one of those spots,” said the 40-year-old, the only American to advance to the weekend. “That’s what I asked for coming into this week and put myself in a good position. Now I’ve just got to go finish.”
Kim would not be in this position had he not made an 8-foot birdie putt on the 18th on Friday to make the cut on the number.
“I knew that if I didn’t make birdie on 18 [Friday] that my chances of playing on LIV next year were gone, and to me that’s a big deal,” Kim said. “I’d like to play at the highest level against the best players. It meant a lot to me.”
Bekker was part of LIV Golf’s inaugural field at the 2022 London tournament. Four seasons later, he’s excited about the opportunity to return to the league as a full-time member.
“Thinking back on it now, I had the opportunity to play a few more events, and now I’m like, well, maybe I should have played them,” he said. “The water was a bit rough at that stage and didn’t know what was going to happen, so I played it a bit safe. Luckily, I’ve been given another opportunity this week, and hopefully I can take it.”
Janewattananond won four tournaments in 2019 when he became a top 50 world player and, aged 30, still has years left in his competitive career. After shooting a second-round 67 to advance to the weekend, he shot a 66 on Saturday that included four birdies in a six-hole stretch to end his front nine.
“It’s a very big prize at the end of the day,” he said. “Those three spots up for grabs, it would give me freedom to play wherever I want and security for my family.”
The 34-year-old Bjerregaard, a two-time winner on the DP World Tour, said earning full-time LIV Golf status would be career-changing.
“Where I am in my career right now, it’s probably that or retirement,” he said. “Yeah, that would mean a lot for sure.”
Although nothing is guaranteed, Lee has played so well this week that there may be just two spots available for the remainder of the field.
“We’re not playing for one spot,” said Janewattananond. “I don’t have to worry about him. I just have to worry about myself.”
“He played great today,” added Bjerregaard, playing in the same group as Lee on Saturday. “But I would be happy with any of the other two spots, so that’s fine. I can finish third. I wouldn’t mind.”
