a4l
4-20-05, 8:56 PM
I am not sure what to think about this latest development. Half of me thinks there may be a ray of hope and the other half thinks it is more of the same.
http://www.cbc.ca/story/sports/national/2005/04/20/Sports/nhl050420.html
C B C . C A S p o r t s O n l i n e - F u l l S t o r y :
NHL meeting ends with ray of hope
Last Updated Wed, 20 Apr 2005 16:38:32 EDT
CBC Sports
There appears to be a small breakthrough in the NHL lockout.
* INDEPTH: Faceoff 2004-05
Commissioner Gary Bettman met with the NHL's board of governors on Wednesday in New York. (CP File Photo)
"The feeling in the room was that we're getting closer to a deal with the players," said Dallas Stars president Jim Lites after a four-hour meeting held by the league's board of governors in New York on Wednesday.
It seems the NHL is now willing to negotiate off the union's concept presented on April 4 in Toronto.
At that meeting, the NHL Players' Association tabled a proposal based on floating team payrolls, with the maximum and minimum limits determined by league revenues on an annual basis, and a payroll tax to further discourage owners from overspending.
The NHL, at first, resisted the idea, but the indication coming out of Wednesday's meeting is that it could lead to more substantive negotiations.
"They're inching towards a settlement," Lites said. "We're on the same page finally."
Carolina Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said the NHLPA's proposal has its merits, "if you work the numbers right."
Commissioner Gary Bettman said Wednesday the league won't start next season on time if a new collective bargaining agreement with the union can't be reached.
"We will continue to plan for the start of next season with an on-time opening in October, that is where our efforts will be," Bettman said. "If we do not have a new collective bargaining agreement, we will not open the season on time.
"If that is an eventuality at that juncture, we will have to start again on what options we will pursue."
Bettman said he planned to contact union executive director Bob Goodenow later on Wednesday to schedule more meetings.
"We will continue to plan and work very hard with the Players' Association to reach a new collective bargaining as soon as possible so that our players can be on the ice for the start of the season," he said.
Speculation has persisted that the league wants to employ replacement players if no agreement is reached by October.
However, Wednesday's meeting could be a signal that the owners would prefer to negotiate a deal with the players.
On Tuesday, the NHL and union negotiated for six hours but no significant progress was made.
The NHL and NHLPA have failed to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement since the players were locked out last Sept. 15. Bettman cancelled the 2004-05 season on Feb. 16.
with files from Canadian Press
http://www.cbc.ca/story/sports/national/2005/04/20/Sports/nhl050420.html
C B C . C A S p o r t s O n l i n e - F u l l S t o r y :
NHL meeting ends with ray of hope
Last Updated Wed, 20 Apr 2005 16:38:32 EDT
CBC Sports
There appears to be a small breakthrough in the NHL lockout.
* INDEPTH: Faceoff 2004-05
Commissioner Gary Bettman met with the NHL's board of governors on Wednesday in New York. (CP File Photo)
"The feeling in the room was that we're getting closer to a deal with the players," said Dallas Stars president Jim Lites after a four-hour meeting held by the league's board of governors in New York on Wednesday.
It seems the NHL is now willing to negotiate off the union's concept presented on April 4 in Toronto.
At that meeting, the NHL Players' Association tabled a proposal based on floating team payrolls, with the maximum and minimum limits determined by league revenues on an annual basis, and a payroll tax to further discourage owners from overspending.
The NHL, at first, resisted the idea, but the indication coming out of Wednesday's meeting is that it could lead to more substantive negotiations.
"They're inching towards a settlement," Lites said. "We're on the same page finally."
Carolina Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said the NHLPA's proposal has its merits, "if you work the numbers right."
Commissioner Gary Bettman said Wednesday the league won't start next season on time if a new collective bargaining agreement with the union can't be reached.
"We will continue to plan for the start of next season with an on-time opening in October, that is where our efforts will be," Bettman said. "If we do not have a new collective bargaining agreement, we will not open the season on time.
"If that is an eventuality at that juncture, we will have to start again on what options we will pursue."
Bettman said he planned to contact union executive director Bob Goodenow later on Wednesday to schedule more meetings.
"We will continue to plan and work very hard with the Players' Association to reach a new collective bargaining as soon as possible so that our players can be on the ice for the start of the season," he said.
Speculation has persisted that the league wants to employ replacement players if no agreement is reached by October.
However, Wednesday's meeting could be a signal that the owners would prefer to negotiate a deal with the players.
On Tuesday, the NHL and union negotiated for six hours but no significant progress was made.
The NHL and NHLPA have failed to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement since the players were locked out last Sept. 15. Bettman cancelled the 2004-05 season on Feb. 16.
with files from Canadian Press