NHL Lockout: What's Next? More talks

Sunday, April 24, 2005

Despite all the talk of  the proposed NHL buyout, the new WHA and a possible European Super League, the hot topic of the NHL lockout is once again going to be about talks between the league and the NHLPA.  The two sides are set to meet again later this week at an undisclosed location.

Commissioner Gary Bettman made it clear after last week's NHL Board of Governor's meeting that he planned to try to get the NHLPA engaged in more talks soon. And he apparently made the move Friday, inviting the PA back to the negotiating table. The NHLPA has accepted. 

Both Bettman and NHLPA executive director Bob Goodenow are expected to attend this week's get together.  

The players had indicated last week that they were in no hurry to jump right back into negotiations.

There's been one line of thought that there is little pressure on the players right now because they are not due to start getting paid again until October, but former Vancouver GM Brian Burke doesn't buy it.

"I think there is tremendous pressure on both sides," Burke told CKNW radio in Vancouver late last week. "I don't buy this bit that players don't get paychecks until the fall. A lot of guys aren't signed. A whole bunch of contracts expire on June 30th. I don't think those players want to go a whole summer wondering whether they are going to have work or not."

"I think right now you are looking at a terrible script if you're a player and a terrible script if you are an owner."

Burke believes, as do many others, that right now is a crucial time for the league as it tries to build a revenue base for next season. 

A deal in the next month or two would also permit the league to move forward and hold the NHL Entry Draft in June.

It would also would help as the league tries to re-invent itself in an attempt to win back fans and rebuild relationships with sponsors.

Also, ESPN is expected to decide in April whether to exercise its option to pay the NHL $60 million in rights fees for the 2005-06 season.

"There should be tremendous pressure to get this done before ESPN makes its decision, before other sponsors decide to bail and to give the owners a chance to get some revenue in. So there should be tremendous pressure. I think they are both in terrible spots," said Burke.

Detroit Red Wings GM Ken Holland agrees that this is a crucial time, and that getting a deal done soon is key.

"From our perspective, the next two months are crucial," Holland told the Detroit News. "If we can get a (contract) done between now and May, we can get into our markets ... and repair the damage done between the game and our fans."

It's believed the Board of Governors would meet in another six to eight weeks if no progress is made in the negotiations. At that time Bettman would apparently outline alternative plans for playing in 2005-06. 

Outside of an agreement with an agreement with the NHLPA,  the options aren't pretty even though the league has  ruled out canceling another season. After last week's Board of Governors meeting, Bettman made it clear the league intended to play one way or another in 2005-06.

That leaves the replacements option, which Burke said could involve some different scenarios.

"There are two ways to use replacement players: Implementation and impasse and then in an at least a number of U.S. jurisdictions not declaring impasse," Burke said.

The route of declaring impasse and then implementing terms has been the most widely discussed replacement player option.

"If you declare impasse, you got to the National Labor Relations Board, you get a judicial affirmation of the fact that the parties are at impasse. There's no slam dunk in that by the way. There's no guarantee they'll get it," said Burke.

Then there is the option of not declaring an impasse, which would mean true replacement players because no NHLPA members would be allowed to play in the NHL.

"You can just open your doors and say we are going to hire temporary replacements. Say these are the terms and conditions we are going to offer those jobs under," Burke said. "No one from the bargaining unit can cross that line. This means truly replacement players. The guys who are members of the NHLPA would not be permitted to work."

"There are couple of other esoteric things. There's such a thing as a partial lockout."

The Detroit News reported over the weekend that the league has discussed the option of possibly lifting the lockout for players who made less than $1 million in 2003-04.

But the word is the league is still not ready to focus on those issues right now.

"We didn't discuss [replacements] for five minutes, honestly," Washington owner Ted Leonsis told the Washington Times following last week's Board of Governors Meeting. "I believe [Bettman] didn't even want to address that. But the talk is, by the next meeting there will be progress, and if not, [Bettman] will come to us with an alternative plan."

The goal for now is to try to hammer out a deal with the players. One owner saw the news of these next rounds of talks as a glimmer of hope.

"I'm hopeful [they get a deal done] because any time you get the parties together, there always has to be hope," Montreal Canadiens owner George Gillett told the Canadian Press Monday. "And the fact that the commissioner asked for it and Mr. Goodenow said yes, that always gives us hope."

But some observers, like TSN's Bob McKenzie, remain skeptical.

"Common sense would suggest both sides realize it's in their best interest to do a deal before May 1st," McKenzie said Monday night on the Canadian network, "but common sense would have dictated not having to be the first pro sports league to lose an entire season to labor strife. So don't hold your breath on that one."