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Arnott believes season is only 'just sort of dead' Friday, February 18, 2005Dallas Stars forward Jason Arnott doesn't think the NHL season is really dead. He prefers using the description "just sort of dead." Arnott is one person who is holding out hope that there is some truth to those rumors of a movement to reverse this week's cancellation of the season. "I think it is just sort of dead," was Arnott's response when asked whether he thought the season was dead during a brief interview with Bob Sturm on KTCK-1310 The Ticket Friday afternoon. "I think they are really trying hard to get something going and that's a positive thing. Who knows. There still may be a season to go." They, in this case, would apparently be a group of NHL players who are reportedly trying to put together a proposal to bridge the gap between the league's last offer and the final offer of the NHLPA. Several newspapers reported that the group of players are cobbling together an offer of a salary cap that might be $45 million to $46 million, which essentially splits the difference between the league's offer of $42.5 million and the PA's offer of $49 million. So far, according to one report, the players have not approached the league about the plan. "I can tell you for a fact that there has been contact between some players and teams," an unidentified league source told the Bergen (N.J.) Record. "It hasn't reached the point where it's reached the league yet, though." NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, during an interview with ESPN radio on Thursday, said he would keep an open mind about such an offer. "I'm not telling you I would take the $45 million because we had to stretch to get to $42.5, but if someone is trying to reach out to me in a meaningful way, I wouldn't slam the door on it," Bettman said. "Let's not hold out false hope. That's not fair to our fans. We have run out of time, but there are always opportunities if you leave the door open a crack to talk to see what develops." And if that meant calling another news conference to reverse what he said at the last press conference? "The fact that I might have to hold another press conference if we could resolve this wouldn't stop me from doing it," said Bettman. "We stretched as far as we could, but if there's a conversation to be had, somebody on the union side - because you can only do this through proper bargaining channels - should be talking to me." In other words, this all still has to be done through the collective bargaining process. That means the offer would have to come through the NHLPA to the league. Which means, if any if this is true, that group of players would have to put enough pressure on NHLPA executive director Bob Goodenow and the PA's executive committee to make a move. "The question now is whether the PA is going to give in to the pressure," an unidentified source told the Los Angeles Times. "The pressure is significant, coming from all quarters, that the PA and the executive committee should put in a last-ditch offer…. Bob may say, 'I ain't doing it.' " Adding to the speculation and rumors was the reason why Jason Arnott was talking to Bob Sturm of The Ticket Friday afternoon. Sturm was supposed to talking to Dallas Stars forward Bill Guerin, who also happens to be on the NHLPA's executive committee. Guerin had to bow out of his appearance with Sturm and got Arnott to fill in for him. Guerin apparently had to go out of town. Arnott, who is good friends with Guerin, was asked why. "He wouldn't tell me," Arnott responded. When it was pointed out that the whole situation is kind of crazy, Arnott agreed but still remained hopeful. "It is crazy. Your highs and lows and adrenaline come and go. It's tough on us because we really want to play," Arnott said. "When they canceled the season a lot of guys were disappointed that they did that. I think we thought that we were so close that we thought we could get something done and Gary came out and canceled it." "It was disappointing. Rumors flying around now that they may be talking. Hopefully that's true and we get back on the ice."
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