{coyotes} NHLPA makes video appeal to fans

Sunday 16 September 2012

{coyotes} NHLPA makes video appeal to fans

In the battle for the hearts and minds of NHL fans on Day 1 of the lockout, the league used words and the players association chose video.

All-Stars Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews, David Backes and others made an appeal directly to fans via YouTube that they weren't the ones who were stopping play for the second time since a lockout canceled the 2004-05 season and led to the players' acceptance of a salary cap. Instead, as the final frame says, "This is an NHL owners lockout."

"It is unfortunate that the business of the game has gotten in the way of the playing of the game and doing what we all love to do," St. Louis Blues captain Backes said.

Added Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby: "I think as players, we understand that the people that suffer the most are the fans."

The video doesn't bog down with details about percentage of hockey-related revenues or revenue sharing or any of the other complex issues that have led to the stalemate.

Instead, the players spell out the message that has been their public theme throughout the negotiations: that they're willing to continue playing while negotiating a new deal, they only want what's fair, they're willing to compromise and they had already made a lot of concessions in 2005.

"The system that is supposedly broken was designed by the NHL owners and the league itself," said Toews, the Chicago Blackhawks captain.

Video: http://youtu.be/RCW0VsfR9FM