NHL season is at stake
Neither Goodenow nor Bettman will join in discussions meant to spark negotiations
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DETROIT -- One last gasp, one last hope, one last chance to salvage the NHL regular season.
That's essentially the mood prevailing over today's meeting between a small group of representatives from the owners and NHL Players' Association at an undisclosed location.
Neither Commissioner Gary Bettman nor NHLPA executive director Bob Goodenow will attend.
Neither side is bringing a proposal, but there is hope that by discussing the lockout, which reached its 125th day Tuesday, the sides will make some headway toward reaching an agreement.
"Any time you're talking, there's a chance of getting something done," said Manny Legace, the Red Wings' player representative. "It's better, obviously, than not talking at all. At least there is a glimmer of optimism."
Jimmy Devellano, the Red Wings' senior vice president / alternate governor, was unavailable for comment Tuesday. Devellano said earlier in the week he hoped some dialogue would take place soon.
Vancouver Canucks forward Trevor Linden, the NHLPA's president, was the main factor behind the meeting.
"It's important. It's a necessary step," Linden said. "And I wasn't prepared to wait for a (league) phone call, I didn't think it really mattered. That was my thought behind it. There's no harm that can come from this."
Legace said it's not a bad idea that the sides talk without Bettman and Goodenow, each of whom has been criticized by many analysts for the stalled negotiations.
"You have some cooler heads in there, maybe they can work something out," Legace said.
It's not uncommon in negotiations to have smaller meetings without union or management leaders, Linden said.
"To change the dynamic of that is not unusual; it has happened in Major League Baseball, it has happened in previous negotiations that we've had, so I felt like it was an opportunity to open up the dialogue," Linden said. "I really have no idea what's going to come out of it but I felt it was an appropriate step to take.
"If nothing else, there will be some face-to-face dialogue."
Linden, NHLPA senior director Ted Saskin and outside counsel John McCambridge will represent the players at today's meeting. NHL executive vice president Bill Daly, Calgary Flames part-owner Harley Hotchkiss (chairman of the board of governors) and outside counsel Bob Batterman will represent the owners.
"We remain still hopeful that progress can be made toward a resolution," Daly said.
The window of opportunity for resolving the lockout has nearly closed. Few hockey people believe a season will take place if the lockout stretches into next week.
"If things don't get worked out this week, there may not be a season," Legace said. "Time is definitely running out."
The sides haven't met since Dec. 14, when the NHL rejected the union's Dec. 9 proposal, which featured a 24 percent salary rollback. The union then rejected the league's salary-cap-based counter-offer.
You can reach Ted Kulfan at (313) 223-4606 or tkulfan@detnews.com. Detroit News wire services contributed.
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