Reaction to Bettman's NHL lockout deadline

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said Thursday that the NHL has imposed a deadline of Sept. 15 for a new collective bargaining agreement or the league's players would be locked out.

Now, Bettman isn't popular with the CBC Community. Many blame him for the lockout that cancelled the 2004-05 season, so the comments on our story reflected that.

• "I don't think Bettman gets the point. Lockouts work when the average employee is living paycheque to paycheque. But in this case the 'average employee' has to decide if the lockout means they will someday have to retire with $100 million, or $90 million in the bank. It is the fans he is punishing, but that's Bettman's way," said Ugh-What-The.
  
  
• "The players would never survive a lockout. It is highly unlikely they have money put away due to their meagre salaries. How cruel can the owners get? Think about their families. The average Joes in Canada and the U.S. losing their jobs and having their wages cut back is minor in nature compared to this. I will be watching this closely as this I am sure will impact my life," said rudy69, with tongue firmly planted in cheek.
  
  
• "I did labour relations for a while, way back. Maybe I've been out of it for too long but I cannot for the life of me understand why Bettman would throw a bucket of cold water on negotiations at this point by pulling out the gun and waving it around and starting to threaten putting it to the head of the NHLPA. It's as if he wants the talking to stop," said Grouchathome.
  
  
• "News Flash! Bettman works for the owners. Believe me, this is the owners' worst nightmare. Many fans now have choices: other sports, games, activities and multiple other interests. After a lifetime of playing and watching hockey I am less interested than ever. Watching about 80 boring games in which the players injure all the skilled ones, and then putting up with goons and Torres types in the playoffs. The Crosby-type players out? Well, guess what? So am I," said Mentalist.
  
  
• "Who cares about the NHL? Just start a completely new league without those jokers involved at all. The players, fans, etc. won't change just because the league's name changes. If Bettman wants to drive the NHL into the ground, let him. He and the owners need the players and fans much more than the other way around," said brospeed2001.
  
  
• "At the end of the day, the NHL is an entertainment business. Yeah sure, it's a national sport and all that, but even the most devout fans will only pay so much to watch the game. As soon as the cost exceeds the benefit, the customer will refuse to pay. And recently, there haven't been too many benefits for pro hockey fans. Entertainment is a luxury, and luxuries are the first thing to go in a tough economy. Bettman, the team owners and the players are shooting themselves in the foot," said Vegan Carnivore.
  
  
• "I want to see a league like the CFL - regular guys with regular jobs who play for love of sport. Make the Stanley Cup what it once was - a challenge cup - and lose the slick schmaltzy drama. Canadians haven't touched it in decades anyway. No more grueling 80-plus game seasons designed to grind money out of wallets. No more changing jerseys every season, with three different colours, just to stack up the souvenir stands. A new league? Heck ya, I'd support that. Boot all the millionaires and billionaires to the curb," said Arctic_Ice.
  
  
• "If the season is cancelled, I think I may be done with hockey. This is getting ridiculous. Plus, I'm a Leafs fan," said talkischeap82.

Thank you, as always, for following our news coverage. Please feel free to comment on or challenge any of these points and continue the conversation below.