Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 1, 1994 TAG: 9410220032
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: NEW YORK LENGTH: Medium
Just one day before play was to begin, the National Hockey League postponed the start of its season for at least two weeks Friday rather than open without a new labor contract.
Negotiations will resume, but players, including the league's biggest draw, Wayne Gretzky, said they didn't think much would be resolved by Oct. 15 - the NHL's target date for the season to begin.
``I guess it's not a big surprise. My only question is, if they can't get something done in 16 months, how can they expect to get something done in two weeks?'' he said.
``Right now,'' Gretzky said, ``there are huge differences and I just don't see hockey being played this year.''
The shutdown puts hockey in much the same position as major league baseball - no contract and no play because of a dispute involving a salary cap.
The NHL Players Association said it would return to the bargaining table, but that its members wouldn't practice until an agreement was reached.
``It's an owners' lockout, pure and simple,'' NHLPA executive director Bob Goodenow said. ``As you can imagine, under these circumstances, players will not continue formal training camps.''
Commissioner Gary Bettman held a news conference with representatives of 20 NHL teams, all gathered in a show of strength and solidarity
``We have invited the players association back to the bargaining table immediately,'' Bettman said. ``I am hoping the players meant what they said yesterday, that they want to negotiate in good faith and help make a deal.''
He was referring to the players' pledge Thursday not to strike if the owners restored contract givebacks imposed when training camp began. But players viewed Bettman's decision as merely delaying the inevitable.
``I don't think we'll be playing hockey in two weeks,'' said Stu Grimson of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. ``They'll continue to hold to their position and we'll continue to hold on to ours. By October 15th, we'll be in the same place we are now.''
Bettman said the league wanted to play a full 84-game schedule with playoffs, but said that games likely would be lost if the season was not started by Oct. 15.
He said the owners wanted to start the season with a new contract, but would consider playing if substantial progress had been made at the bargaining table.
Both sides agreed to resume talks, presumably next week, but have not set a date.
``What we're saying is let's start negotiations now and see where we are in two weeks,'' Bettman said. By then, he said, maybe there would be a new agreement or maybe owners would be in ``a better position to assess'' the players' latest offer.
Goodenow said he would meet with players Saturday to plot strategy for the next two weeks.
``We felt that our proposal would be able to keep things in place,'' he said. ``There's no sense of compromise from Mr. Bettman regarding the issues. This remains to be seen as the process moves along.''
Bettman called the union's offer ``seductive,'' but not sufficient.
He said that in the last four years the NHL had gone ``from profit to loss.''
``Salaries have tripled. Most teams are not profitable,'' the commissioner said.
by CNB