FW,
Part of the problem is that Fehr is very, very when it comes to this stuff and Bettman isn't used to dealing with this sort of hard line PA representative.  The owners are dirty bastards.  They sign players to long term deals the day before the CBA expired and then they cry poor when it expires.  These are the owners who are hoping that salaries get scaled back because then they got the players for a bargain price.  Pretty greasy if you ask me.  To me, a deal is a deal and all signed deals before the expiration of the expired CBA should be honoured.  It's pretty simple if you as me.  Now going forward on new deals...... that's a whole new game for the owners and the players of the new deals.