Flyers Season thread

[Geowhizzer]

I know who should get involved in the meetings...

[Geowhizzer]

From today's Inky, there seems to be a glimmer of hope. 

NHL, union: A rescue attempt

By Tim Panaccio
Inquirer Staff Writer

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman left the door open and the NHL Players Association walked through it last night, proposing a six-year, $45 million deal that the league is expected to approve today to save the season.

Both sides will meet this morning in New York, the union said.

On Thursday, a league management source told The Inquirer that if the union offered $45 million, the season would be saved.

"The intent here is to un-cancel the season," Pat Morris, a players' agent, said last night. "They want to get all the bad feelings out of the way and immediately repair the damage to the game."

Lou Lamoriello, the New Jersey Devils' general manager, told the Canadian Press last night, "I've said all along that the most important thing is coming to an agreement. Even after the season was canceled, it was just so important to get together as soon as possible, and I commend both of them for agreeing to do it. And now, get it done."

Earlier yesterday, Lamoriello told The Inquirer he felt it was still possible to get a deal done. "I think our commissioner really opened the door a bit," he said. "I look at this like everybody else does right now. It still takes two parties."

And now the parties appear ready to agree.

On Thursday night, the league requested a meeting and, according to management, player and agent sources, a representative group from the union met last night in Manhattan with an offer that included various levels of salary caps and luxury taxes.

The highest salary cap would have been $45.75 million and the lowest $42.5 million, depending upon which model was agreeable to both parties.

The teams would play a 28-game schedule, which is expected to start the first week of March. The union's group, according to player sources, includes executive director Bob Goodenow, outspoken executive committee member Bill Guerin, union president Trevor Linden and senior director Ted Saskin.

Bettman is expected to be joined by his chief legal counsel, Bill Daly, as well as Phoenix owner Wayne Gretzky and Pittsburgh player/owner Mario Lemieux, both of whom represent small- and middle-market clubs.

Players in Europe last night were being advised to be prepared to rejoin their NHL clubs next week.

Multiple sources say the season needs to be rescued to ensure that the league can have a draft this summer and avoid the potential for litigation involving unsigned players whose rights eligibility would expire.

For instance, unsigned Flyers prospects Jeff Carter and Mike Richards, both first-round picks in the 2003 draft, could conceivably be declared free agents by the courts this summer because they were not signed within the two-year period after having been drafted. And one of those years would have been a lockout year.

On Wednesday, Bettman announced he was canceling the season because the union had turned down his final proposal of a hard cap set at $42.5 million. The union countered with $49 million. At the same time, he left open the possibility of saving the season if the union quickly forwarded an acceptable deal.

Behind the scenes, a group of players had been trying to piece together a proposal based on conversations with other players, agents, owners, and general managers that the league would accept.

Flyers chairman Ed Snider, who helped end the 1994 lockout, has been talking to Bettman daily. Yesterday was no exception.

Snider denied he was pressuring Bettman to either make another offer or accept an offer from the union - if it came across the table. He also denied he was working with Gretzky to bring both parties together, although one NHL player said Gretzky was trying to contact Snider this week on his cell phone.

"It's absolutely untrue," Snider said when asked if he was working with Gretzky and also advising Bettman on a new deal. "I don't negotiate on behalf of the league. It is not my style, and I would not go around Bettman.

"I've talked to Bettman, but not about what he should do or shouldn't do. I've talked to him five times a day for the last month. I don't advise Gary. I don't help him make decisions. I am not calling any of the shots. I just give my opinion."

Snider said he hasn't tried to persuade Bettman on what figure might get a deal done.

"He will ask me my opinion in many instances, and also I will give my opinion unsolicited," Snider said. "But that is strictly between me and Gary. I have not favored any specific deal, and I am not negotiating with Gary and certainly not negotiating with players."

Snider acknowledged his frustration that the sides were just $6.5 million apart.

"I hope the gap is bridged," he said. "I'd like to see a deal made. Bettman has all the numbers and knows what has to be done for the health of the league as a whole. I am sure there are some clubs that would like to see a $35 million cap. Bettman has to satisfy 30 owners. He has to do what is best for the entire league. He can't favor Philadelphia, and he can't favor Nashville."

The Flyers and Predators are worlds apart. The Predators have been part of the hard-line-cap teams from the start, while the Flyers are among the top four revenue producers in the league that could play quite comfortably with a luxury tax because their revenues are so steep - more than $100 million last season. Nashville had revenues under $60 million.

"Nashville is a member of the league, and Bettman has to answer to 30 owners," Snider said. "I am not in a position to negotiate on behalf of 30 owners, nor would I be presumptuous to think I was. What Colorado, Detroit, Philadelphia and New York can afford is not the issue. It's what the league can afford."

[BigEd76]

From Rogers SportsNet:

Sportsnet has learned overseas players Miikka Kiprusoff (Timra) and Aki Berg (Timra) were pulled from their league games Saturday to avoid injury. Fellow NHLer David Aebischer (Lugano) has reportedly packed up his belongings and is awaiting word from the meetings in New York City. Sodertalje, a team which employs numerous pro players, including Scott Thronton, Kyle Calder and Niclas Havelid, have reportedly voted 100 per cent to return to the NHL.

[Eagles76ersFan]

There is so much that hockey needs to fix. It's pointless playing the rest of the season.

[BigEd76]

Well, that didn't work.... 

TSN
ESPN

[Reidme]

There will be no season .... until the league breaks the union, which it is well on its way to doing.

The players offered several paycuts, ranging from 5 to 24%, and finally agreed to a salary cap. They never demanded anything. The reason it isn't getting done, is that the Owners know that the only way to maximize profits in an increasingly marginal sport, is to get rid of the union.

Until today, I was fairly neutral, possibly leaning towards owners. Now it seems clear that the reason it isn't getting settled is because the owners are not bargaining in good faith.

[Geowhizzer]

I'm not dead... I feel happy!

[PhillyGirl]

Not Flyers, but Peter Forsberg's career looks to be over

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Not Flyers, but Peter Forsberg's career looks to be over

He friggin' should have been.   

[PhillyGirl]

Ironic that his career might end from concussion.

[NGM]

Thats a shame, he was a great hockey player.  Do you remember the look on Lindros's face in game 7 when Stevens laid him out.  His tongue was hanging out of his head.  Eww

[Geowhizzer]

Is it just me, or does there seem to be more of that concussion/head trauma injury with the helmets than there was in the days before the helmets became the norm?

[PhillyGirl]

This would take some time to get used to eh?

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

New uniforms worked for the NFL team from Tampa.  Why not new colors for all of hockey?

Reeks of desperation to me.

[rjs246]

That's what'll pull the NHL out of its seemingly endless downward spiral! Changing the color of the ice! Brilliant.