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Posted on 12/14/2004 4:11:20 PM PST by Hat-Trick
Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - NHL labor talks came to a halt Tuesday after each side rejected the other's proposal.
The talks lasted about 3 1/2 hours with the league making a one-hour presentation on its counter-proposal, which included a salary cap, prompting the NHL Players' Association to convene for a 2 1/2 hour meeting.
The union then returned to the room and ended the meeting.
As expected, the NHL rejected the NHLPA's proposal, which featured an immediate 24 percent rollback of player salaries, a significant increase from the 10 percent that was rejected in September. Last Thursday's proposal did not, however, feature a salary cap, or the assurance of "cost certainty" that is being sought by the league.
"The unanimous conclusion was the union's proposal does not work," commissioner Gary Bettman said at a news conference. "It is dramatic in its immediate, short-term impact, but is fatally flawed as a system going forward."
The owners instead proposed a rollback based upon a graduated scale, which they believed to be more equitable to the players than an across-the-board rollback.
This "scaled" rollback proposal would be structured to ensure that no player currently earning more than another player would earn less than that other player as a result of being assessed a higher percentage reduction in salary.
The NHL Players' Association then rejected the league's counter-proposal which calls for a system that achieves the economic stability the league states is essential to the long-term viability, health and success of the game.
"My hope is that the union leadership recognizes that the owners' resolve is great," Bettman said. "We only know of one approach to meaningfully fix our problems."
There are no future talks planned to end the NHL lockout which, including Tuesday, has wiped out 414 games.
"As I've said all along, it's about getting the right deal," Bettman said. "I would hope at some point it gets to where it's relevant, if not, we'll start up whenever we have a new deal.
"We haven't focused on what a semblance of a season would be. We're serious about fixing this the right way."
The union's proposal also contained a luxury tax, a revenue sharing plan, a lower cap on entry-level contracts and bonuses and an offer to allow teams to take players to arbitration.
However, since it doesn't guarantee what each team will be required to pay its players, the proposal did not meet the solution the owners are seeking.
"You either know your costs or you don't," Bettman said.
This was the first offer given by the NHL to the players' association since July 21, when it presented six possible concepts to provide a framework for the league's first new collective bargaining agreement in a decade.
All six, though, were formally rejected by the players on August 17. Negotiations that followed over the next month failed to move the sides any closer to resolving the philosophical difference of a salary cap.
12/14 18:38:36 ET
Freep mail or ping me if you want on or off the Hockey Ping List.
The season is over. The NHL needs a major overhaul so if it takes missing a season to get it done so be it.
No matter how this disput ends, the fans will be the losers in the end.
What about the non-hockey-fan taxpayers who voted to fund arenas with the understanding that NHL-quality hockey teams would play there?
Oh, definately.
That's kinda where I'm at right now. Everybody up on the table, feet in the stirrups - time for a great big enema.
As well as those working concessions, parking, arena support staff, etc.
Return to six teams immediately.
Hockey in FloriDUH?
Yup. Now we can schedule more Zig Ziglar motivational days at Nationwide.
The players union just doesn't get it. Goodenow should be tossed after these guys lose a full season of pay.
I posted this opinion earlier, so I ask for your forbearance.
Bill Daly, in an eight page memo describing the owner's positions on the players proposal, said at one point, "The luxury tax system demonstrates the union's "continuing objective to avoid at all costs placing meaningful restraints on a Club's ability to spend excessively on player salaries";"
In other words, "We can't help ourselves!!! We have to spend ourselves out of existence!!!! Please, please, please, SAVE US FROM OUR CHECKBOOKS (or chequebooks if you wish)!!!!!!
How pathetic is this? PATHETIC, PATHETIC, PATHETIC!!!!!
My opinion hasn't changed over the last 8 hours.
The players have to realize that there WILL be a salary cap. They can bitch and moan all they want. The sooner they accept reality, the sooner they will start drawing a salary again. The owners will not budge on this. In the end, the game and the fans will be winners.
Please add me to this ping list. Thanks!
Well, I still have my high school team.
(We're missing 3 skaters in this photo)
Ho-hum, nothing getting done ping.
Re: Columbus Blue Jackets.....
You won't suck for very much longer. You've got great young players there.
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