Sports

Hockey

Both sides proclaim solidarity

Associated Press
Published March 2, 2005

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NEW YORK - The board of governors made two things clear Tuesday: There will be hockey in the fall, and commissioner Gary Bettman will be in charge.

On a day when players met in Toronto and executives from all 30 teams gathered in New York, both sides issued stern declarations that they remain united.

Bettman said he plans to invite the union to negotiate but didn't reveal a specific date nor if he will present a new proposal. If a deal can't be reached through negotiation, the league plans to explore all options, including replacement players.

"We discussed a variety of options, and I don't want to focus on any one because it would seriously be misconstrued and be potentially inflammatory," Bettman said. "But ... everybody's first and primary focus is to make a deal with the union as quickly as possible."

Debate was conducted between owners who want a salary cap linked to league revenues and those who want a reasonable deal that would allow for the NHL to play next season.

At one point, only one executive from each team remained in the room for an exclusive session. It was then that Bettman received support from all the clubs.

"The 30 owners, I've never seen this group so solid behind the commissioner and behind the vision of where we need to go as a league," Kings president Tim Lieweke said. "He speaks on our behalf, and anyone that thinks he's in trouble is wrong. We have one voice. It's Gary."

The players were similarly in line behind union executive director Bob Goodenow.

"The so-called splinter faction in the union that is going a different direction has been drummed up by a lot of media members and people hoping a deal gets done," said St. Louis defenseman Chris Pronger, one of about 150 players who attended. "I can unequivocally say everyone is on board and understands the issues better."

Both meetings provided updates on what happened in the failed talks the past 51/2 months, which made the NHL the first major North American league to lose a season to a labor dispute. The union also scheduled a meeting with agents for today in Toronto.

In the week before the season was canceled, owners dropped a demand for linkage and the union agreed to a salary cap. But the sides never agreed on a number.

"It's important for both sides to take a little time to reassess," said Vancouver center and union president Trevor Linden. "Obviously, the process at this point hasn't worked, and we'll step back and have a look back at how we can move this thing forward.

"To get right back at it and start firing proposals, I'm not sure that's the right way to do it. To reflect, to decide which way to go, I think is important. At the appropriate time, there'll be discussion, and we'll get back to it."

[Last modified March 2, 2005, 00:47:18]

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