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NHL, NHLPA meet, agree to meet again soon

Friday, August 31, 2007

The NHLPA rejected the league's latest proposals on Monday, but the two sides did discuss some "possible concepts for moving the process forward."  They then ended the seven-hour meeting in Toronto by agreeing to talk again soon.

Shortly after the meeting concluded NHL chief legal officer Bill Daly released this statement:

"The Players' Association began today's meeting by rejecting the two proposals made by the NHL on March 17. Thereafter, we discussed the status of our current situation and, in general terms, possible concepts for moving the process forward. The meeting concluded with both sides agreeing to explore these concepts further internally, and to talk again later this week."

The NHLPA's Ted Saskin said he expected NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA executive director Bob Goodenow to speak soon to set up another round of talks.

"We discussed some concepts aimed at addressing the challenges faced by all of us as a result of the NHL’s lockout and subsequent cancellation of the season. Although no meetings were scheduled today, I expect Bob and Gary will be speaking soon to set up future discussions," Saskin said in a statement.

The offers the NHLPA rejected Monday were made by the league March 17, which was the last time the two sides got together for face-to-face talks.

One of the league's offers was a "de-linked" system with a salary cap set at $37.5 million and a salary floor of $22.5 million. The league's other offer was a linked system where players would get 54 percent of league revenues.

The NHLPA did not make any kind of counter-proposal on Monday. Instead it rejected the league offers and the two sides move onto the issue of concepts of moving the process forward.

There were large contingents present on both sides at Monday's meeting. Outside of the usual negotiators, the league's group also included NHL Board of Governors chairman Harley Hotchkiss of the Calgary Flames; Boston Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs; Nashville Predators owner Craig Leipold and New Jersey Devils president Lou Lamoriello.

NHLPA president Trevor Linden and vice-presidents Bill Guerin, Vincent Damphousse, Bob Boughner, and Trent Klatt were on hand for the NHLPA along with the PA's usual negotiating team.

Both Bettman and Goodenow were on hand as well.