swflyers25
7-20-05, 1:36 PM
Jul. 20, 2005. 01:14 PM
Pronger clarifies role behind the scenes
CANADIAN PRESS
There may be more than a tentative labour deal to sort out during NHL player meetings this week.
Throughout the NHL lockout, there were stories that some players were more involved behind the scenes than others. And perhaps without the blessing of their union leadership.
Not true, says Chris Pronger. The St. Louis Blues player representative insists rumours of him, Jarome Iginla, Robert Esche and Jeremy Roenick getting directly involved in February are greatly exaggerated.
"What Jeremy Roenick has been doing? I don't talk to him so I don't know," Pronger said before a player rep meeting Wednesday. ``I did talk to Iginla and Esche but I talked to a lot of other players as well."
According to stories in the Ottawa Sun and Philadelphia Inquirer in mid-February, the four players tried to broker a deal behind the union's back. Roenick was quoted in the Inquirer at the time saying the four players had called NHL chief legal officer Bill Daly directly.
Pronger scoffs at the notion he was doing anything untoward.
"I don't think anybody was trying to usurp leadership," Pronger said. "Trevor (Linden) is obviously president and the executive committee is there to do a job and that's what they were doing. I don't think anybody was trying to usurp them."
But he admits he got involved to the point where he made sure everyone knew where he stood as the league moved towards cancelling the season, hoping a deal could be struck to avoid that.
"You're a human being and you've got ideas and if you're not letting them be heard and letting your opinions be heard, then you're not going to feel good about yourself six months down the line if you could have helped the process or help them come up with ideas to help bridge the gap or whatever the case may be," Pronger said. "Just because you're speaking your mind and letting your opinions be known doesn't mean they have to use them."
Iginla also denied being part of such a group when asked about it by The Canadian Press on back on Feb. 19.
In the end, it appears Pronger was simply trying to help out best he could but his efforts weren't welcomed by the executive committee.
Perhaps also in the line of fire this week will be NHLPA executive director Bob Goodenow, whose leadership has come under question after the players gave in on the salary cap.
Pronger wouldn't bite on that one.
"That's not my decision right now, I'm here to look at this deal, I'm not worried about who's the leader of the union right now," he said.
Pronger said the proposed deal won't be liked by all.
"You're not going to please everyone all the time, it's going to be good for some and bad for others, but it's a deal we have to live with at this stage. We've entrusted the executive committee to do the job. They've been locked in a room for the last 12 weeks hammering this down. They deserve a lot of credit for getting an agreement with the league."
The player rep meeting began at noon EDT and was slated to be followed by a full players' meeting beginning around 6 p.m., a session that was scheduled to go late into the night.
The meeting resumes Thursday morning before a ratification vote is finally taken. A news conference with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and Goodenow is scheduled for around 5 p.m. Thursday following the players' vote.
The Star (http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1121854078870&call_pageid=968867503640&col=970081593064&t=TS_Home)
Pronger clarifies role behind the scenes
CANADIAN PRESS
There may be more than a tentative labour deal to sort out during NHL player meetings this week.
Throughout the NHL lockout, there were stories that some players were more involved behind the scenes than others. And perhaps without the blessing of their union leadership.
Not true, says Chris Pronger. The St. Louis Blues player representative insists rumours of him, Jarome Iginla, Robert Esche and Jeremy Roenick getting directly involved in February are greatly exaggerated.
"What Jeremy Roenick has been doing? I don't talk to him so I don't know," Pronger said before a player rep meeting Wednesday. ``I did talk to Iginla and Esche but I talked to a lot of other players as well."
According to stories in the Ottawa Sun and Philadelphia Inquirer in mid-February, the four players tried to broker a deal behind the union's back. Roenick was quoted in the Inquirer at the time saying the four players had called NHL chief legal officer Bill Daly directly.
Pronger scoffs at the notion he was doing anything untoward.
"I don't think anybody was trying to usurp leadership," Pronger said. "Trevor (Linden) is obviously president and the executive committee is there to do a job and that's what they were doing. I don't think anybody was trying to usurp them."
But he admits he got involved to the point where he made sure everyone knew where he stood as the league moved towards cancelling the season, hoping a deal could be struck to avoid that.
"You're a human being and you've got ideas and if you're not letting them be heard and letting your opinions be heard, then you're not going to feel good about yourself six months down the line if you could have helped the process or help them come up with ideas to help bridge the gap or whatever the case may be," Pronger said. "Just because you're speaking your mind and letting your opinions be known doesn't mean they have to use them."
Iginla also denied being part of such a group when asked about it by The Canadian Press on back on Feb. 19.
In the end, it appears Pronger was simply trying to help out best he could but his efforts weren't welcomed by the executive committee.
Perhaps also in the line of fire this week will be NHLPA executive director Bob Goodenow, whose leadership has come under question after the players gave in on the salary cap.
Pronger wouldn't bite on that one.
"That's not my decision right now, I'm here to look at this deal, I'm not worried about who's the leader of the union right now," he said.
Pronger said the proposed deal won't be liked by all.
"You're not going to please everyone all the time, it's going to be good for some and bad for others, but it's a deal we have to live with at this stage. We've entrusted the executive committee to do the job. They've been locked in a room for the last 12 weeks hammering this down. They deserve a lot of credit for getting an agreement with the league."
The player rep meeting began at noon EDT and was slated to be followed by a full players' meeting beginning around 6 p.m., a session that was scheduled to go late into the night.
The meeting resumes Thursday morning before a ratification vote is finally taken. A news conference with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and Goodenow is scheduled for around 5 p.m. Thursday following the players' vote.
The Star (http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1121854078870&call_pageid=968867503640&col=970081593064&t=TS_Home)