Wednesday, February 16, 2005

NHL negotiations timeline

By Ted Kulfan / The Detroit News

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Feb. 12, 2004: Shortly after the All-Star break, Arthur Levitt, a former Securities and Exchange Commission chairman, releases a report (commissioned by the NHL) claiming NHL losses of $273 million. The NHLPA quickly, and strongly, disputes the figure.

May 19, 2004: The NHL announces a new television deal with NBC. In recognition of its labor difficulties, the league receives no up-front money, but instead accepts a revenue-sharing agreement. It's a far cry from the $600 million contract the league signed with ABC six years ago.

June 11, 2004: During the NHL Awards show in Toronto, the NHL Players Association holds a meeting and shows solidarity behind executive director Bob Goodenow, strongly opposing a salary cap.

June 25-27, 2004: During the NHL Entry Draft weekend in Raleigh, N.C., Commissioner Gary Bettman firmly states the league's insistence of achieving cost certainty.

July 25, 2004: The two sides meet, but no progress is made. The NHL issues a proposal, but the NHLPA is opposed to capping salaries.

Aug. 17, 2004: The sides meet for five hours in Newark, N.J., but nothing is accomplished.

Aug. 26, 2004: With the World Cup fast approaching, the sides again have a lengthy, five-hour meeting but nothing is resolved. The league accuses the NHLPA of wasting time with the Sept. 15 lockout deadline quickly approaching.

Sept. 1, 2004: After three consecutive days of meetings, the sides are as far apart as ever, with the lockout deadline two weeks away.

Sept. 9, 2004: In an effort to stave off the Sept. 15 lockout, the NHLPA offers a proposal featuring a luxury tax beginning at $50 million for teams. Bettman strongly turns down the proposal, noting the league is opposed to luxury taxes.

Sept. 15, 2004: One day after an exciting World Cup tournament, Bettman announces in New York that the NHL is locking out its players as the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) expires.

Oct. 19, 2004: Putting pressure on the NHLPA, the league advises its teams they can book dates for alternate uses of their arenas 45 days in advance.

Nov. 2, 2004: After a few players speak out about not being informed by Goodenow and NHLPA leaders, the membership holds a meeting in Toronto with approximately 100 players attending. Unity in the NHLPA appears as strong as ever.

Nov. 3, 2004: With no progress and hope of salvaging the season dwindling, the NHL cancels the Feb. 13 All-Star game, one of the marketing showcases of the season.

Nov. 17, 2004: Goodenow holds a meeting with agents in Chicago to update them on the lack of progress in talks. The agents come out of the meeting impressed with Goodenow's plan.

Nov. 24, 2004: The NHLPA confirms it will begin paying monthly stipends to its 730 members. Players can receive as much as $10,000 per month through April.

Dec. 2, 2004: The NHL accepts the NHLPA's offer to meet in Toronto, the first discussions between the sides since September.

Dec. 9, 2004: Optimism reigns as the NHLPA presents the league with a proposal featuring an immediate 24 percent rollback in salaries. Bettman, quickly points out there is no mention of cost certainty.

Dec. 14, 2004: The NHLPA rejects the players' proposal. To further dampen everyone's mood, the NHLPA quickly rejects a counter-proposal from the NHL with a weighted salary rollback and a salary cap, linking payrolls to league revenues.

Dec. 22, 2004: The NHL confirms a Board of Governors meeting has been called for Jan. 14 in New York. It fuels speculation an end of the season might be announced.

Jan. 6, 2005: The league cancels the governors meeting, saying there's nothing new to report.

Jan. 17, 2005: With chances of salvaging a season evaporating, the sides announce they'll meet Jan. 19 in Toronto. NHLPA president Trevor Linden is credited for bringing the sides together, although neither Bettman nor Goodenow will be present.

Jan. 19, 2005: Optimism brims once more, as the sides meet for five hours at O'Hare Airport in Chicago and promise to meet again in Toronto the next day.

Jan. 20, 2005: After another four-hour meeting in Toronto, both sides talk about good communication and dialogue but appear no closer to an agreement.

Jan. 24, 2005: The NHL invites the NHLPA for another small group meeting. No proposals are to be submitted.

Jan. 26, 2005: Lou Lamoriello, the New Jersey Devils general manager, joins the discussions, but Bettman and Goodenow stay out.

Jan. 27, 2005: Discussions end unfavorably when the NHL presents a proposal that includes a floating salary cap from $32 million to $42 million and payrolls linked to revenues at a 54 percent rate. The NHLPA turns down the proposal.

Feb. 2, 2005: The NHLPA rejects a league proposal that includes a revised salary arbitration system, the continued guaranteeing of player contracts, and floating team payrolls between $32 million and $42 million.

Feb. 3, 2005: Goodenow and Bettman rejoin discussions, which last nine hours in a New York hotel. The sides agree to meet again, prompting optimism.

Feb. 4, 2005: The optimism is short-lived after four hours of fruitless meetings. Goodenow says the NHLPA is headed back to Toronto but insists the lines of communication is open.

Feb. 9, 2005: In a secret meeting in Toronto, Bettman presents Goodenow with a hybrid proposal which would start with the players' December proposal of a 24 percent salary rollback and a luxury tax on overall payroll. If the system doesn't work, the economic model for the league would revert to the owners' last proposal with the floating team payrolls. The NHLPA rejects the proposal. Feb. 10, 2005: Talks continue for three hours in Toronto, but both sides storm out afterward frustrated by the lack of progress. No future talks are scheduled.

Feb. 11, 2005: The NHL sends out a memo to its 30 teams lifting the gag order that prevented front office personnel from talking to the media and players.

Feb. 13, 2005: The two sides (minus Bettman and Goodenow) meet with federal mediators in Washington. No progress is made.

Feb. 14, 2005: The NHLPA proposes a $52 million salary cap; the owners reject it.

Feb. 15, 2005: The owners make their final proposal -- a $42.5 million salary cap -- and give the union an 11 a.m. deadline Wednesday to accept it.

Today: Bettman has a 1 p.m. news conference scheduled, possibly to announce the cancellation of the season. The NHL would be the first North American professional sports league to lose a season to labor issues