arty:
NHL season to be saved?
New York, NY (Sports Network) - The NHL and its players' union will meet in New York on Saturday, just three days after league commissioner Gary Bettman announced the cancellation of the 2004-05 season.
The request for a meeting was made by the league on Thursday night, and the players' association announced its acceptance in a statement Friday.
The Hockey News, quoting an anonymous player close to the negotiations, reported Friday evening that the sides have already reached an agreement in principle on a collective bargaining agreement that includes a salary cap of $45 million.
When asked by The Hockey News if it was possible a deal would not get done, the source responded, "not that I can see. I couldn't possibly imagine the idea that somebody is going to try to make a name for themselves in the last minute here."
Prior to Bettman's announcement Wednesday, the latest proposal from the NHL asked for a hard salary cap around $42 million, with a minimum cap of $32 million. The players' union was offering a $49-million cap.
In an effort to offset the union's staunch unwillingness to accept any form of cost certainty, the league's proposal also included concessions to allow for a reduction in the age limit on unrestricted free agency and a revised salary arbitration system among others.
But it was not enough, and the NHL became the first professional sports league in United States history to have an entire season wiped out due to a labor dispute.
But since Wednesday, rumors have circulated about "back channel" discussions involving both sides. The Hockey News and TSN Canada both reported that Phoenix Coyotes managing partner Wayne Gretzky and Pittsburgh Penguins chairman Mario Lemieux have been involved in those discussions.
"I believe all (that) stuff is pretty accurate," The Hockey News source said.
In all, more than 1,200 games have been eliminated so far. If the season remains halted, it will be the first time since 1919 that the Stanley Cup will not be awarded. That year, a flu epidemic caused the cancellation of the final series.
02/18 22:46:38 ET
New York, NY (Sports Network) - The NHL and its players' union will meet in New York on Saturday, just three days after league commissioner Gary Bettman announced the cancellation of the 2004-05 season.
The request for a meeting was made by the league on Thursday night, and the players' association announced its acceptance in a statement Friday.
The Hockey News, quoting an anonymous player close to the negotiations, reported Friday evening that the sides have already reached an agreement in principle on a collective bargaining agreement that includes a salary cap of $45 million.
When asked by The Hockey News if it was possible a deal would not get done, the source responded, "not that I can see. I couldn't possibly imagine the idea that somebody is going to try to make a name for themselves in the last minute here."
Prior to Bettman's announcement Wednesday, the latest proposal from the NHL asked for a hard salary cap around $42 million, with a minimum cap of $32 million. The players' union was offering a $49-million cap.
In an effort to offset the union's staunch unwillingness to accept any form of cost certainty, the league's proposal also included concessions to allow for a reduction in the age limit on unrestricted free agency and a revised salary arbitration system among others.
But it was not enough, and the NHL became the first professional sports league in United States history to have an entire season wiped out due to a labor dispute.
But since Wednesday, rumors have circulated about "back channel" discussions involving both sides. The Hockey News and TSN Canada both reported that Phoenix Coyotes managing partner Wayne Gretzky and Pittsburgh Penguins chairman Mario Lemieux have been involved in those discussions.
"I believe all (that) stuff is pretty accurate," The Hockey News source said.
In all, more than 1,200 games have been eliminated so far. If the season remains halted, it will be the first time since 1919 that the Stanley Cup will not be awarded. That year, a flu epidemic caused the cancellation of the final series.
02/18 22:46:38 ET
Think they might have finally realized what alot of us around here said, and thats they possibly might not survive an entire lost season...
Its gonna be bad enough the way it is now, but an entire lost season could have substantially crippled the sport..
Its gonna be bad enough the way it is now, but an entire lost season could have substantially crippled the sport..
