Nhl Players Dismiss ‘Final’ Offer By Owners Rejection Of Latest Proposal Leaves Prospects For Season In Serious Doubt
It was the players’ turn to reject the owners, and the 1994-95 NHL season never has been in greater jeopardy.
Sunday, less than 24 hours after the league’s Board of Governors turned down the NHL Players Association’s “final” offer and presented a counterproposal, the union dismissed management’s “final” plan.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman reiterated the season will be wiped out if no deal is in place by noon Tuesday. He agreed to meet with NHLPA executive director Bob Goodenow in New York today to try to avoid the first labor-related cancellation of a season in professional sports history.
“At this point, each side has rejected the other’s best offer,” Goodenow said Sunday, just after player representatives voted 26-0 in a conference call to reject the owners’ offer.
“Is it possible to reach agreement? If I didn’t think it was possible, I wouldn’t try,” he said. “It’s incumbent upon Gary and I to try. But I don’t think there should be optimism. We’re in a very serious, difficult situation.”
Optimism? The players certainly had little Sunday - the 100th day of the lockout and just eight days before Bettman said the season must begin if it is to begin at all.
“No season. The season’s done,” said Jeremy Roenick, Chicago Blackhawks player representative. “I don’t think anything’s going to happen. They said this was their best chance, so there’s no hope for the season.”
“We’ve been on a roller-coaster and the roller-coaster continues,” NHLPA president Mike Gartner said. “I still have a slight glimmer of hope, but the way it stands right now I don’t know what to base it on.”
Bettman had no response to the rejection. But several owners have said they’ve already pushed too far. Though they wanted a salary cap or payroll tax to hold down salaries, their last offer included neither.
“A deal without a tax or cap would not be acceptable for a market like mine,” said Quebec’s Marcel Aubut, one of six owners who voted against sending management’s latest plan to the union. “I think we would survive better if we don’t play.”
New Jersey’s John McMullen, who reluctantly voted to present the proposal, said Saturday: “If it isn’t accepted, I’d be very surprised. If they don’t accept it, we’re willing to accept the consequences.”
So, apparently, are the players.
“It just means I don’t play hockey - at least not NHL hockey,” said Roenick, who played in Germany last month.
Though both sides termed their latest proposals “final,” both indicated that there might be room to maneuver.
“Some (issues) can be adjusted - one up, one down, sideways,” Goodenow said. “But I said optimism shouldn’t be bandied about.”