With a possible lockout looming, some may explore options outside the league.
By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
Published June 12, 2004
TORONTO - Hey, what are you going to do?
Lightning wing Martin St. Louis said he didn't really know. Hadn't thought about it much and would figure it out after decompressing with his family after a long, tiring season.
But when pressed on the possibility of playing in the new WHA if the NHL season did not begin on time because of a lockout, the league MVP said ... well, yeah, sure.
St. Louis said his contract would have to include an opt-out clause because "when the best league starts playing, you want to be there."
But with no other options, he added, "I couldn't tell you that I wouldn't consider it."
If the NHL and the players association don't get their you-know-whats in gear soon, the summer will be full of such decisions.
The collective bargaining agreement is set to run out at midnight Sept. 15. Meaningful negotiations have either been well-hidden or are nonexistent. And it is clear that without an agreement, the owners will lock the players out of training camp.
Players association president Trevor Linden said he is optimistic something will get done because "I'm an optimist."
But Flames captain Jarome Iginla said, "I haven't heard a lot of positive things."
And Avalanche captain Joe Sakic set an ominous tone when he said, "I'll be honest with you, from everything I see, I don't think we'll be starting. I mean I hope we do as a player and as a fan. All we want to do is play. But it's not looking that way."
You know the arguments.
The NHL, which lost $273-million in the 2002-03 season, according to a recent league-funded audit, wants to lower the 75 percent of revenues it says goes to the players. It wants "cost certainty," which means some sort of salary cap.
The players have said that is a nonstarter and floated a plan to lower salaries by 5 percent. The reported response, which commissioner Gary Bettman denies, was a one-page plan that called for a $31-million salary cap, $11-million less than last season's average.
The RDS.ca Web site reported the players association recently offered to cut salaries by 10 percent, proposed a luxury tax on payrolls above $45-million and suggested unrestricted free agency be available at age 28 or 29 instead of 31. Players association executive director Bob Goodenow denied the report, according to the TSN.ca Web site.
The situation is so acute, Linden said he expected nearly 200 players to attend Friday's players association meeting instead of the usual 70.
"We'll talk about a lot of issues," the Canucks center said. "But there is no question, the CBA is at the forefront."
Not even the distribution of league awards Thursday night, and the black-tie affair that followed and officially closed the 2003-04 season, could divert attention from the upcoming summertime drama.
"Some days you hear some positive things as far as in the media and some days you hear negative and things aren't working out," Iginla said. "So I don't have any idea.
"I'm hoping it's like a contract negotiation between players and teams that don't get a lot done until right up to the last day. So I'll train like there is a season and play in the World Cup, and after that, I'll go from there."
"I think it's going to be a touch and go thing that's going to take some time," Senators defenseman Zdeno Chara said. "Hopefully it will be something that gets done really quickly. As much as you can be negative about it, you can be positive about it."
Chara, a native of the Czech Republic, said he likely will play in Europe if the NHL shuts down because "I can't see myself totally without hockey for a whole year."
And Linden said he wouldn't discourage players from looking elsewhere for work. He said the WHA, hoping for an October startup with 12 teams, including Orlando and Jacksonville, "gives guys options.
"Younger guys want to keep playing. Older guys want to keep playing. Other guys just might want to be full-time dads. It's an individual choice really."
Canada's Globe and Mail reported that despite the WHA's proposed $15-million salary cap, two marquee players per team could make as much as $5-million. That is what St. Louis is expected to earn in a new contract with the Lightning.
"Sitting at home or making $5-million. It would be very tempting," St. Louis said of the WHA. "Obviously, I'd have to know where we are as far as the NHL situation. But to be honest, I really haven't thought about that."
