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7-18-05, 8:43 PM
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This REALLY is it
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Stan Fischler / FOX Sports Net
Posted: 4 hours ago
The fate of the National Hockey League will be determined from Tuesday through Thursday.
That's when the NHL Players' Association convenes in Toronto for what will be the most momentous vote in league history.
An "aye" vote in favor of the new collective bargaining agreement will put the league on track for a revolutionary and exciting new future.
A rejection by the 700 or so membership will dispatch the NHL into the world of abject chaos too gloomy to even consider.
But the "nay" vote could happen.
With all the hullabaloo over the 600-page CBA, the fact is it won't be worth its weight in trash if a majority of stickhandlers turn thumbs down.
So, before any cartwheels are turned in front of NHL headquarters at Rockefeller Center, these points must be remembered.
FACT I: It hasn't happened yet.
FACT II: The vote takes place after what loom as two tumultuous days of union meetings in Toronto starting Tuesday.
FACT III: There has been enough negative talk to at least assume that many players are dissatisfied with the deal.
What are the chances of rejection?
"It's possible," one NHL club president tells me. "This will depend on Bob Goodenow and his pitch to the players."
Goodenow, the union boss ? who was TKOed in the CBA negotiations ? has several options. To wit.
URGE APPROVAL: He hated the salary cap and linkage but the owners got it anyway. Goodenow could simply urge the players to vote in favor while supplying his personal postscript, "I did my best. Go with it."
MY REACTION: Knowing Bob ? who I depicted all along as not knowing how to make a deal ? I highly doubt that he will do that.
STAY AMBIVALENT: He can withdraw from any further lobbying and let the players choose their future. Since Goodenow essentially was pushed aside by his top aide, Ted Saskin, and NHLPA president Trevor Linden, Goodenow could remain on the fence.
MY REACTION: Since that, too, is not his style, don't expect that to happen either.
URGE REJECTION: There are those who believe that Goodenow still maintains a loyal cadre of militants who will spread the word that the union should "just say no!" What that will accomplish, except make things worse for the NHLPA, nobody knows. Then again Goodenow will never win a Nobel Prize for logic.
MY REACTION: I believe that Goodenow will do everything in his power to destroy the deal.
One NHLer told the allegely player-friendly Eklunds Hockey Report of Philadelphia that, "We are all expecting the big speech from Bob on why we should not vote for the deal. Those of us that are going are ready to hear that."
The player said he would approve the CBA.
"Really," added the player, "what are the options? We need to make it work for us."
The question is: How many players' votes can he obtain to ruin the 2005-06 season?
At the moment it is difficult to determine how the majority of the rank-and-file feel at this time.
Many players have already stated that they are unhappy with the CBA's terms yet those very same individuals ? Jeremy Roenick is a good example ? indicate that they will not vote against the revolutionary document.
Ditto for Bobby Holik. In an interview with the New York Daily News' John Dellapina, the Rangers' (for the moment) center, says he will vote in favor of the pact.
"If there's a chance players won't ratify this," Holik told Dellapina, "we're even less intelligent than people say we are. It only gets worse."
Holik is right about that.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has said, over and over again, that the longer the players wait before making the deal, the worse their situation would become.
At least Holik understands. But I wonder how many others do; especially among Goodenow's militants.
"There is a chance enough guys might vote 'No'," Coyotes center Mike Ricci told David Vest of the Arizona Republic. "It will be interesting to see what will happen when push comes to shove. I wouldn't be surprised either way."
Teammate Shane Doan believes ? perhaps wishfully ? otherwise.
"I don't think the (NHLPA) executive committee would bring something back to the membership if they didn't think it would pass," Doan told Vest.
The wild card remains Goodenow and his strategy.
In what might be his last hurrah ? or better still Bob's Bronx cheer ? the players' leader appears determined to close loose lips before the players vote.
Writing in the Ottawa Sun, Bruce Garrioch reported that "Goodenow has issued a stern warning to NHL players and agents: Keep your mouths shut."
The warning, of course, is too late.
NHLPA members such as Manny Legace of the Detroit Red Wings, Sean Avery of the Los Angeles Kings and Roenick of the Philadelphia Flyers already have publicly ripped either Goodenow or the deal negotiated by his union, or both.
My personal guess is that Holik's point will be seconded by a majority of players; that nothing will be gained by a rejection whereas an entire league could be lost if the anti-CBA militants prevail.
One prominent team vice president puts it very simply to me. He believes that the players, as a group, may not like the CBA but they virtually have to approve it.
"Too many of them are broke," the team official tells me. "They have to have the money; they have to get paid. Granted, there may be some knuckleheads who would urge rejection, but they are in the minority.
Another NHL analyst predicts that the vote will be "2-1 in favor of the CBA."
Likewise, Calgary Sun columnist Randy Sportak warns union members that if they reject the pact, it could ruin the league.
"Do you think fans in NHL cities knowing the NHLPA's executive has negotiated a deal in good faith, will ever support players who voted down expecting to get something better than a deal that pays a minimum salary of $450,000?" asks Sportak.
Still, it's a tough call.
As Wayne Gretzky told David Vest, "Nothing would surprise me. I have no idea how the players will vote."
But The Great One senses that the Holik feeling will prevail.
"I would hope," Gretzky concluded, "and what I've heard from people is, that the players are eager to get back on the ice."
The trouble is, Goodenow is NOT a player and he may be the least eager of all to see it happen.
Stay tuned. This IS it.
Known as "The Hockey Maven" in both local and national circles, Stan Fischler is one of the most outspoken authorities on the game of hockey.
Fischler can be seen offering NHL analysis on Fox Sports Net and MSG Network. He also provides studio interviews and pre- and post-game features and reports for both the Islanders and Devils on FSN.
His columns appear regularly on MSGNetwork.com.
Fox (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/story/3769598)
This REALLY is it
Story Tools: Print Email XML
Stan Fischler / FOX Sports Net
Posted: 4 hours ago
The fate of the National Hockey League will be determined from Tuesday through Thursday.
That's when the NHL Players' Association convenes in Toronto for what will be the most momentous vote in league history.
An "aye" vote in favor of the new collective bargaining agreement will put the league on track for a revolutionary and exciting new future.
A rejection by the 700 or so membership will dispatch the NHL into the world of abject chaos too gloomy to even consider.
But the "nay" vote could happen.
With all the hullabaloo over the 600-page CBA, the fact is it won't be worth its weight in trash if a majority of stickhandlers turn thumbs down.
So, before any cartwheels are turned in front of NHL headquarters at Rockefeller Center, these points must be remembered.
FACT I: It hasn't happened yet.
FACT II: The vote takes place after what loom as two tumultuous days of union meetings in Toronto starting Tuesday.
FACT III: There has been enough negative talk to at least assume that many players are dissatisfied with the deal.
What are the chances of rejection?
"It's possible," one NHL club president tells me. "This will depend on Bob Goodenow and his pitch to the players."
Goodenow, the union boss ? who was TKOed in the CBA negotiations ? has several options. To wit.
URGE APPROVAL: He hated the salary cap and linkage but the owners got it anyway. Goodenow could simply urge the players to vote in favor while supplying his personal postscript, "I did my best. Go with it."
MY REACTION: Knowing Bob ? who I depicted all along as not knowing how to make a deal ? I highly doubt that he will do that.
STAY AMBIVALENT: He can withdraw from any further lobbying and let the players choose their future. Since Goodenow essentially was pushed aside by his top aide, Ted Saskin, and NHLPA president Trevor Linden, Goodenow could remain on the fence.
MY REACTION: Since that, too, is not his style, don't expect that to happen either.
URGE REJECTION: There are those who believe that Goodenow still maintains a loyal cadre of militants who will spread the word that the union should "just say no!" What that will accomplish, except make things worse for the NHLPA, nobody knows. Then again Goodenow will never win a Nobel Prize for logic.
MY REACTION: I believe that Goodenow will do everything in his power to destroy the deal.
One NHLer told the allegely player-friendly Eklunds Hockey Report of Philadelphia that, "We are all expecting the big speech from Bob on why we should not vote for the deal. Those of us that are going are ready to hear that."
The player said he would approve the CBA.
"Really," added the player, "what are the options? We need to make it work for us."
The question is: How many players' votes can he obtain to ruin the 2005-06 season?
At the moment it is difficult to determine how the majority of the rank-and-file feel at this time.
Many players have already stated that they are unhappy with the CBA's terms yet those very same individuals ? Jeremy Roenick is a good example ? indicate that they will not vote against the revolutionary document.
Ditto for Bobby Holik. In an interview with the New York Daily News' John Dellapina, the Rangers' (for the moment) center, says he will vote in favor of the pact.
"If there's a chance players won't ratify this," Holik told Dellapina, "we're even less intelligent than people say we are. It only gets worse."
Holik is right about that.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has said, over and over again, that the longer the players wait before making the deal, the worse their situation would become.
At least Holik understands. But I wonder how many others do; especially among Goodenow's militants.
"There is a chance enough guys might vote 'No'," Coyotes center Mike Ricci told David Vest of the Arizona Republic. "It will be interesting to see what will happen when push comes to shove. I wouldn't be surprised either way."
Teammate Shane Doan believes ? perhaps wishfully ? otherwise.
"I don't think the (NHLPA) executive committee would bring something back to the membership if they didn't think it would pass," Doan told Vest.
The wild card remains Goodenow and his strategy.
In what might be his last hurrah ? or better still Bob's Bronx cheer ? the players' leader appears determined to close loose lips before the players vote.
Writing in the Ottawa Sun, Bruce Garrioch reported that "Goodenow has issued a stern warning to NHL players and agents: Keep your mouths shut."
The warning, of course, is too late.
NHLPA members such as Manny Legace of the Detroit Red Wings, Sean Avery of the Los Angeles Kings and Roenick of the Philadelphia Flyers already have publicly ripped either Goodenow or the deal negotiated by his union, or both.
My personal guess is that Holik's point will be seconded by a majority of players; that nothing will be gained by a rejection whereas an entire league could be lost if the anti-CBA militants prevail.
One prominent team vice president puts it very simply to me. He believes that the players, as a group, may not like the CBA but they virtually have to approve it.
"Too many of them are broke," the team official tells me. "They have to have the money; they have to get paid. Granted, there may be some knuckleheads who would urge rejection, but they are in the minority.
Another NHL analyst predicts that the vote will be "2-1 in favor of the CBA."
Likewise, Calgary Sun columnist Randy Sportak warns union members that if they reject the pact, it could ruin the league.
"Do you think fans in NHL cities knowing the NHLPA's executive has negotiated a deal in good faith, will ever support players who voted down expecting to get something better than a deal that pays a minimum salary of $450,000?" asks Sportak.
Still, it's a tough call.
As Wayne Gretzky told David Vest, "Nothing would surprise me. I have no idea how the players will vote."
But The Great One senses that the Holik feeling will prevail.
"I would hope," Gretzky concluded, "and what I've heard from people is, that the players are eager to get back on the ice."
The trouble is, Goodenow is NOT a player and he may be the least eager of all to see it happen.
Stay tuned. This IS it.
Known as "The Hockey Maven" in both local and national circles, Stan Fischler is one of the most outspoken authorities on the game of hockey.
Fischler can be seen offering NHL analysis on Fox Sports Net and MSG Network. He also provides studio interviews and pre- and post-game features and reports for both the Islanders and Devils on FSN.
His columns appear regularly on MSGNetwork.com.
Fox (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/story/3769598)