Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, October 12, 1994 TAG: 9410120074
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW YORK LENGTH: Medium
Gary Bettman, the NHL's commissioner, continued to avoid using the term ``lockout'' following the owners' four-hour meeting, but he wouldn't speculate on when the season might start. Harry Sinden, the Boston Bruins' general manager, was pessimistic about a quick settlement.
``At this point, you would have to believe it might last all year,'' Sinden said. ``This is a business decision. We can't be spending 20 and 30 percent more on salaries each year until we're tapped out.''
Union head Bob Goodenow, who presented the players' plan Monday, said the owners made an ``unfortunate decision'' and predicted a long fight, much like the one that has paralyzed baseball since players in that sport struck Aug.12.
``We see little reason for hope,'' Goodenow said after the owners rejected the union's latest offer. ``The NHL is not interested in the fans, the game or the small-market clubs,'' Goodenow said. ``They are committed to only one thing: a major fight with the players.''
Owners, who forced players to pay their own way to training camp, want to eliminate salary arbitration, cap rookie salaries and get what Goodenow called a ``confiscatory tax system aimed to operate as a cap on salaries.''
``Their action every step of the way would lead one to believe they are attacking the players and the association, no doubt,'' Goodenow said.
Owners described the battle as one for the future of professional hockey.
``We think we're fighting for the survival of the NHL,'' said Ed Snider, the Philadelphia Flyers' owner. ``We think we're going into a chaotic state worse than baseball because we have no big TV package. We do not have magical revenues. There is no magic in this business.''
The lockout became the longest work stoppage in hockey history Wednesday, surpassing the 10-day strike in April 1992. Goodenow said some players had discussed signing with teams in European leagues.
``We've always told players this could be a long situation,'' Goodenow said. ``The IHL [International Hockey League] and European leagues could well be an option.''
Goodenow said NHL clubs had refused to provide the union with profit-and-loss statements for its teams, making it difficult for players to accept management's claims of financial distress.
``The league would lead us to believe the New York Rangers lost money last year,'' he said.
Bettman, in a news conference that followed the owners' meeting, made clear owners want a mechanism to hold down salary increases.
``We're not going to open Saturday unless we have a deal, and obviously that looks unlikely,'' Bettman said. ``On a day-by-day basis, we're going to continue to evaluate the schedule and cancel what needs to be canceled.''
On Sept.30, Bettman postponed the scheduled start of the season to Saturday. At the time, he said he hoped each team would be able to play all 84 games on its regular-season schedule.
by CNB