Comment: Put yourself in the Owner's situation.  Are you willing to risk say 15% of your annual salary along with the chance of being recognized as elite by all your peers for some unknown salary increase in the future?  Imagine if the Oilers lost McDavid next year for the balance of the season (like the Islanders lost Tavares in 2014) and the impact that would have on their SC chances and monetary payoff from a SC run.  It is easy to say players want to go so let them go but the Owners have a significant investment at stake for clearly undefined results.

If I were an Owner, I would let the players go as I believe in the tradeoff but I can understand how many small minded, internally focused Owners would be reluctant to make the same decision.

And the issue is as much with Rene Fasel as it is with Bettman.  If this player demand was so strong, then Fehr should have negotiated it months ago.  This supposed "take it or leave it" offer is an excuse.  He is s*cking and bl*wing at the same time.