September 13, 2012; New York, NY, USA; NHL commissioner Gary Bettman speaks during a press conference at the Crowne Plaza Times Square. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The classic movie National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is somewhat of a holiday tradition in my house. We make sure to watch it at some point prior to Christmas, as I’m sure many others do as well.

For those who haven’t seen it, Clark W. Griswold sets out to give his family a good old-fashioned fun family Christmas. However, very quickly the Griswold household is overrun by unexpected guests and holiday plans gone awry. Many of the characters unwittingly destroy Clark’s plans and have him on the edge of a nervous breakdown.

To get into the holiday spirit, I thought it might be a good idea to look at the major players in the lockout and what role they would best be suited to play if they were starring in Christmas Vacation. At this point the NHL is in about as big of a mess as the Griswold house on Christmas Eve.

NHLPA playing the role of Russ Griswold: Russ is Clark’s son and seemingly has little interest in all of the holiday festivities, but instead would rather be off playing somewhere with his friends. He goes along with his dad’s plans, even though he sounds lukewarm to everything.

It’s sort of like how the Player’s Association is still backing Donald Fehr, even though about 95% of them are ready for this thing to be over and just want to return to the ice. It’s almost easier for the players to continue following along rather than speaking out and upsetting the apple cart even more.

At one point Russ questions why his dad is going to such an extreme with the lights on the house and Clark says, “You want something you can be proud of, don’t you?” To which Russ half-heartedly replies, “Yeah, I guess so.”

Last year it blew my mind when I learned that Johnny Galecki, who currently plays Leonard on The Big Bang Theory, also portrayed Russ in Christmas Vacation back in 1989.

NHL Fans are playing the role of Art Smith: Art is Clark’s father-in-law and is one of the most negative and pessimistic people you will ever meet. He is set in his routine and his main focus seems to revolve around taking his back pills.

After Clark shows off the beautiful illuminated house with thousands of Christmas lights to the family, everyone is awestruck except for Art. “The little lights are not twinkling,” he says. Clark then solemnly replies, “I know Art…… and thanks for noticing.”

You can’t blame hockey fans at this point for thinking the worst. After losing an entire season eight years ago, and getting our hopes up several times in the past few months, it’s hard to expect any NHL supporter to be full of holiday cheer.

Jeremy Jacobs playing the role of Uncle Lewis: Lewis is Clark’s Uncle, and is a mean old man with little regard for anyone but himself. He destroys the family tree without even offering an apology.

Jacobs, much like Lewis, is set in his ways and not willing to give an inch. There was a report a few weeks ago that Jacobs blasted a Winnipeg Jets front office representative for “speaking out of turn”. A report that all parties later suspiciously denied. Either way Jacobs, much like Lewis did for the Griswold family, isn’t making the proceedings easy on anyone.

Donald Fehr playing the role of Cousin Eddie: Cousin Eddie shows up out of the blue and throws a wrench into the Griswold’s holiday plans. His mere presence makes everyone uneasy and Eddie is constantly screwing things up even though his intentions are good.

At one point earlier this month Jets defenseman Ron Hainsey said that Fehr’s presence in any meeting with owners could be a “deal breaker”.

Bill Daly playing the role of Clark Griswold: Clark is fighting an uphill battle to try and salvage Christmas for his family. Even when his tree is destroyed and their holiday dinner is ruined, he presses on and tries to keep everyone’s spirits high.

It was just yesterday that Daly was asked if he still believes there would be a 2012-13 NHL season, and he said yes. With everything falling apart at the seams around him, Daly is still the optimist of the lockout bunch.

Gary Bettman playing the role of Frank Shirley: Shirley is Clark’s boss and decides to get rid of the annual Christmas bonus. This pushes Clark over the edge as he had already put a down payment on a pool he was hoping to get for the family with his bonus money. Eddie then proceeds to kidnap Shirley so he can explain his actions to Clark.

Bettman is the face of the owners and therefore takes the brunt of the criticism for the state the NHL is now in. He is not the entire cause of the lockout, but he’s the man in charge and perhaps the one best suited to end it.

Ultimately Shirley saves Christmas and gives Clark his bonus with an additional 20%, making the destruction in the Griswold house seem inconsequential. Let’s hope Bettman steps up with a plan or an idea that can save this NHL campaign.

September 12, 2012; New York, NY, USA; NHLPA executive director Don Fehr during a press conference at the 2012 NHLPA summer player meetings at the Marriott Marquis. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The NHL lockout hit an all-time low last night, or so it seems, when hockey fans were informed a deal was near.  But just minutes later, were re-informed a deal is likely not in the “immediate future.”

After positive progress in Tuesday meetings, the two sides broke and appeared to be approaching a deal.  Optimism soared through the roof when NHLPA Executive Donald Fehr took to the podium to announce a deal was very close.  But just as quickly as feelings soared, they were shot out of the sky when Fehr approached the podium a second time with a chilling new development.

With announcements like, “we think we have a complete agreement on dollars” and “we are very close, if not on top of each other, on many other issues,” it seemed like a major development in the lockout.  But as the TSN panel had warned just after the announcement, this was the union’s spin on the matter and that we need to wait for the league’s response.

In an unexpected turn of events, Fehr re-approached the podium to confirm “there has been a development, and it’s not a positive one.”

He said the NHL had left a voicemail with his brother Steve just after or during the original presser, saying the moves the players made in the counter offer were “unacceptable.”  He concluded with a chilling statement to the fans and the media.

“I guess you can tell them that this doesn’t look like this will be resolved in the immediate future”

If this news wasn’t paralyzing enough, Gary Bettman took the podium within the hour, evidently outraged by the entire ordeal.

“I find it incomprehensible for them to come out and say that we’re close; we were never close,” said the league commissioner. “I’m not sure spinning everybody into an emotional roller coaster, saying we might be playing hockey tomorrow, is fair to the fans or the players or the process.”

He concluded by saying that everything offered during the week is now off the table.

Before hockey fans blame everything on Bettman and the owners, the league had made clear it expected a simple ‘yes or no’ response.  That Thursday was not to be a day of negotiations.  Bettman also said the owners were enraged Wednesday at the players’ non-gracious reception of the $98 million offered towards the Make Whole provision.

Given the players were strictly informed this was a ‘take-it-or-leave-it’ offer, it’s surprising that the players were taken aback at the league’s reaction.

However, Bettman went a little over the top by saying it was the league that has been taking all the concessions in the process.

“We kept giving and giving and giving and the union resubmits an offer and comes to all of you and says ‘oh look at this wonderful proposal.’ It was the same thing over and over and over again, just repackaged.”

This statement is likely to outrage the players because they are the ones who are the subject of concession during all aspects of negotiations.  The players are the ones taking a seven percent cut in revenue sharing, are being demanded to take contract length adjustments, among the grand list of issues which characterize this lockout.

Having said that, there is a business angle to consider, that is the league’s vantage point.

While everyone is quick to point out Bettman’s track record and his hattrick in terms of the number of lockouts he’s been at the helm for, they fail to realize that small market franchises have been saved and that  league revenues have soared under his command.

The NHL before Bettman saw a league where large market teams squeezed out smaller market teams or new franchises.  Bettman entered an NHL where the free market was rampant and was beginning to take its toll on the smaller market teams.  Poor bargaining didn’t allow for much growth and as a result, teams like the North Stars, the Flames (Atlanta) were weaseled out.

The affects lingered even shortly after Bettman’s takeover.  The original Winnipeg Jets, the Quebec Nordiques and Hartford Whalers followed suit in the late 90s.  This was a trend Bettman has been so adamant in stopping.

Bettman’s efforts in capping salaries and restricting large markets essentially prevents teams from buying championships.  This is why all the core economic issues are debated so vigorously.

What’s ironic about the league side as whole, is the fact that Bettman aims to restrict large market owners’ power and punish teams who have signed players to whopping contracts.  This virtually sums up every owner in the league.

So despite the persona on Bettman versus Fehr or Bettman versus the players, in actuality, it’s Bettman versus the owners.  His purpose is to protect the owners from themselves and preventing franchises from driving each other into the ground.

While it’s easy to throw Bettman under the bus, it is important to consider the meaning behind his iron fist ruling.

With the way last night unfolded, fans should consider that despite all the negativity, there are some things to note in each of the press conferences.

When Fehr said they are close in terms of dollars, they are.  Even before Tuesday, sources from both sides said there’s no way a season will be lost because of such minor differences.

Just as the possibility of NHLPA decertification looms, so the possibility exists that the league is just posturing once again in order to get a message through to the players.

The owners are aware of the players’ desperation to play.  They are aware there are players who wanted to sign the deal yesterday.  Last night’s debacle could very well be a pressure cooker in order to have those voices rise among the union.

However, that is not to say the league isn’t genuinely angry with last night’s results.  They submitted a take-it-or-leave-it offer, which was then tweaked by the union and announced the two sides were close to a deal.

Although Bettman said everything offered this week is now off the table, it isn’t a doomsday statement.  These things can be put back on the table.

Last night was not a positive note for hockey fans, but there is still time.  The month of December has three weeks left on the calendar and negotiations will resume.