Tim Taylor says the owners are sending the season "down the drain."
By TOM JONES
Published November 4, 2004
The Lightning's Tim Taylor wants to be optimistic that there will be hockey this season, that the NHL lockout will end and that the Lightning can raise its Stanley Cup banner.
His optimism, though, is being checked away by reality. The NHL canceled this year's All-Star Weekend on Wednesday and Taylor, one day after attending a union meeting in Toronto, is more pessimistic than ever that hockey will return this season.
"If the owners are still talking a $31-million salary cap, yeah, the season is going to go down the drain," said Taylor, the Lightning's player representative. "We want to negotiate a fair deal for both sides. I'm discouraged there haven't been more talks. I feel bad for the fans. I hope this is temporary, but I don't know."
The NHL owners locked out the players at the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement on Sept. 15. There haven't been formal negotiations since Sept. 9, though Taylor said the two sides have talked informally since then. The main sticking point is the owners are pushing for a salary cap, something the players refuse to accept.
In recent weeks, several lesser-known players appeared to show cracks in the union by criticizing the union's position. There was renewed optimism that there could be movement when the 30 NHL player representatives and about 40 other players met with union chief Bob Goodenow Tuesday.
After the meeting the union appeared more unified than ever.
"I felt good after the meeting," Taylor said. "The guys who spoke out (recently) are minor leaguers, guys who have played 50 games in the NHL. They don't speak for the majority. But you know what? The NHLPA is fighting for those guys, too.
"(Blues star) Chris Pronger stood up and said he's going to make $10-million a year no matter what. He's fighting for the young guys. Listen, this isn't about us trying to make more money. We know a lot of us are going to take pay cuts. We're willing to make concessions. We want to make a deal."
Taylor, though, said he believes the public perception is the players are to blame.
"I think people are on the owners' side," Taylor said. "Half the people out there think we're on strike when it's a lockout. I think the NHL has done a good job putting their spin on things and I'm a little disappointed our staff hasn't done more (to inform the public on its stance).
"We're not trying to make more money. That's not what this is about. We just want a fair deal."
Defenseman Darryl Sydor was the Lightning's only other representative at Tuesday's meeting, but Taylor said he has spoken to many of his teammates over the past two months. The timing of the lockout isn't good for any team, but it's particularly disappointing in Tampa Bay because of the Lightning's championship run last spring.
"I didn't miss training camp," Taylor said with a laugh. "But I miss playing, getting our rings and raising the banner and getting a chance to relive all the great things we did last season with the public. I miss all the things we should be doing right now."
Many Lightning players, particularly those from Europe, are playing hockey in Europe. Taylor, who has played a few four-on-four games in Canada, said he has offers to play in Switzerland and France, but isn't sure he wants to go to Europe. He said he will decide in a week or two.
Meantime, he's splitting time between Tampa Bay and Canada, hanging out with his family.
"My kids love me being around," Taylor said. "But I told them that I hope this is only a temporary thing. But I don't know about that either."
The league's latest step was to cancel All-Star Weekend scheduled for Feb. 12-13 in Atlanta. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman declined comment on the All-Star Game, but said earlier in the week that the season was in danger of being canceled.
"I'm hopeful that there will be a season," Goodenow said after Tuesday's meeting, "but I have to tell you, there's a good chance there won't be."
