CBA: The Goodenow message

Sunday, January 16, 2005

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So just what was NHLPA Executive Director Bob Goodenow's audio message to players on the PA's secure web site that got a lot of media play this past week?

"With all the rumors floating around, Bob just wanted to clarify things. He wanted to make sure that guys are sticking together. We're not moving, the NHL is not moving and basically, that's that," Montreal defenseman Sheldon Souray wrote this past week in a Postcard from Sweden on the official web site of Farjestad, the team for which he is playing in the Swedish Elite League.

On the reports that Goodenow told players to seek out jobs in Europe this season and next because the lockout could last that long, Souray offered this take on that part of the message.

"Bob pretty much said in his message, 'OK, we said this might take two years, and that's what it might take. If you guys want to go find a job this year, we encourage that. And hopefully, you'll play well enough that they'll sign you for next year,' " Souray wrote.

Souray offered no indication that the players were weakening their position on a salary cap.

"It certainly seems the owners are steadfast on having the salary cap, and that's something the players will never accept," he wrote. "It seems the owners' will is to have the season cancelled and guys are going to have to make plans at least for the last month and a half. It looks like a formality about the cancellation now.

"We're not going to accept a salary cap, whether it's two years from now or five years."

Souray said the word from Goodenow was that the NHLPA had no plans to make another offer. Souray added that many players thought the NHLPA gave too much in the last offer with the 24 percent salary rollback and other concessions.

"What we offered them last time, a lot of players called in and said they didn't think we were going to give that much up. There are a lot of guys pissed off now by what we offered to give," wrote Sourary.

The defenseman said Goodenow indicated in the message that the owners may be thinking more about money these days, but Sourary indicated there was little reason for optimism.

"He told us in his message that maybe the owners have to think now a little more with their pockets, that now's the time they're probably losing a little more money with the playoff races and playoffs coming up," Souray wrote. "It's going to be the same situation next year - they're not going to be tripping over themselves to get a new deal.

"You'd think that around this time next year would be crunch time again. And who's to say you wouldn't lose three years?"

Although many people believe the owners are committed to achieving cost certainty and won't blink first, Souray indicated that he believes resolve of the owners may still weaken. But he still considers the possibility that may not happen.

"It makes sense that if we miss this year, the owners will be sitting there in September saying, "We've got to get a deal to get this season started." Whether we start at the beginning of next year or January, I don't think it's that big a difference, but if we don't start this year or next year. ..., wrote Souray.

And Souray, who re-signed with the Habs for three years just before the lockout began, has thought about the financial side of things if the lockout wipes out this season and drags on into next season as well.

"I signed a contract last summer that was great for me and my family, set us up for the future. So I don't make the money this year, which is fine. But if I don't next year, that's a total of $6 million down the tubes, and then I'll be 30. I'll have one year left on the contract, and if there are salary rollbacks. ...," he wrote.

As for the NHLPA, Souray said the players are united. He said there is a forum on that NHLPA secure site where players can post messages and be candid. He indicated there is occasional dissent, but that as a whole the players are still not showing any cracks.

"The one thing, and I'm telling you it's overwhelming when you read it, is that the guys are together," Souray wrote. "We've had a few instances of guys saying things, but for 700 players, there's not a crack in the armor. It's good, it's positive, but on the other hand, who's going to blink first?"

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