Friday, January 21, 2005

Burning Questions

Owners look adamant about a salary cap

Until either side moves substantially on this issue, there's no reason for hope.

By Ted Kulfan / The Detroit News

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Q. Is there a chance the season can be saved?

A. It doesn't look good.

There is absolutely no indication owners are willing to move off their stance of wanting a salary cap. The players are adamant of about not accepting one.

So, until one side moves substantially-- and that isn't likely to happen any time soon -- there's no reason to be optimistic.

It's amazing how simple this problem is, but how impossible it's been to overcome.

Q. There were rumors Thursday the Phoenix Coyotes and Anaheim Mighty Ducks were making preparations to begin training camp. Any truth to those rumors?

A. Apparently not. They were Internet rumors that were discredited.

The Coyotes supposedly were telling players to get ready to practice within the next seven days.

"Coach (Rick) Bowness may have contacted some players from time to time on a social basis," Coyotes representative Richard Nairn said. "But at no time did he tell players to be ready to report, and certainly not within the next week. The report is simply not true."

Michael Barnett, the Coyotes general manager, strongly backed Nairn.

"That's (the Internet report) completely erroneous," Barnett said. "I have not spoken to any members of our roster in two months. I don't even know where one-third of our roster is. Some of them are spread all over the globe. No one in our management group has contacted our players since November."

There was another report the Coyotes were ordering equipment in anticipation of a training camp.

The Coyotes had an explanation for that, too.

"We have been ordering equipment all season long because we supply our AHL team in Salt Lake City," Nairn said. "There's nothing to any of this stuff."

The Ducks denied any moves in anticipation of a season.

"There's no substance to that whatsoever," Ducks Coach Mike Babcock said.

Q. It appears not having Bob Goodenow and Gary Bettman in the room has actually improved the pace of these negotiations substantially, doesn't it?

A. From the start of this mess Sept. 15, when the lockout began, many have blamed Goodenow and Bettman for their stubbornness.

The fact the two don't like each other hasn't helped.

One wonders what would have happened if Goodenow and Bettman consistently met and worked to find some common ground.

Neither has distinguished himself in this process.

Q. There's been plenty of discussion about the players offering to leave the system as is for three seasons (but including a 24-percent rollback in current salaries that they've proposed), but allowing to give owners a salary cap after that third season if the economic model is still broken after the third season.

A. I'd be surprised to see ownership accept this idea.

They've repeatedly gone on about how this current economic system doesn't work, isn't acceptable, and isn't desirable in any way. Owners didn't believe the 24-percent rollback the players proposed in December addressed many of hockey's problems.

Why would they settle for the same system, basically, for the next three seasons?

You can reach Ted Kulfan at (313) 223-4606 or tkulfan@detnews.com.