Zero
09-21-2005, 10:46 AM
Union files grievance in Tkachuk suspension
By Jeremy Rutherford (jrutherford@<hidden>)
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Monday, Sep. 19 2005
The NHL Players' Association confirmed Monday that it has filed a grievance on
behalf of suspended Blues forward Keith Tkachuk.
Blues general manager Larry Pleau suspended Tkachuk, 33, on Friday after
Tkachuk failed to pass the team's physical. The team has indicated that Tkachuk
reported to training camp overweight.
After the NHLPA filed the grievance, Tkachuk's agent, Bob Murray, asked the
question that several Blues players have been wondering for days: Why won't the
team allow Tkachuk to lose the weight in training camp?
On Monday, alternate captain Doug Weight became the second Blue in three days
to voice his displeasure with the club's decision to force Tkachuk to work out
away from the team.
"He's been punished enough," Weight said. "I'm not always in agreement with the
authorities' choices, but it is what it is."
The Blues listed Tkachuk at 231 pounds in their 2003-04 media guide. He is said
to be as much as 25 pounds overweight, although no one connected with the team
will confirm that.
"The fact is that (Tkachuk) let himself go a lot until February or March and
he's got a body that you can't do that," Weight said. "He gets big fast. But he
worked his butt off this year.
"He's overweight, yes, but he's in great shape, he's strong," Weight added. "I
wish they would've let him test because I'm sure he would turned some heads
with his strength."
The Blues did not allow Tkachuk to participate in any of the strength and
conditioning aspects of the physical exam, after it was learned that he was
overweight.
Weight's comments followed similar words from Blues captain Dallas Drake on
Saturday, in that he said Tkachuk's strength is a major asset to his success.
At 6-foot-2, Tkachuk uses his size to make space for himself on the ice, and
he's difficult to dislodge from the front of the net.
Tkachuk led the Blues in scoring with 33 goals in 2003-04, the most recent NHL
season. Twice he has been a 50-goal scorer, with the Winnipeg Jets (1995-96)
and Phoenix Coyotes (1996-97).
"I played with Keith in Phoenix when he was pretty heavy and he scored 50
goals," Drake said. "I've seen Keith play at a certain weight and be pretty
darn successful."
No one disagrees that Tkachuk needs to lose the extra weight. The Blues players
- and now Murray - are saying only that they'd like Tkachuk to be in training
camp.
"I guess the more common approach has been, if they feel a guy has come in and
isn't properly conditioned, they would bring him into camp and have him do
extra work," Murray told the Canadian Press Monday. "We have disagreed with the
suspension and are continuing to work at resolving it. Hopefully we can find a
quick and amicable resolution."
From the Blues' perspective, there appears to be nothing to resolve. Pleau
repeated Monday that Tkachuk, the second-highest paid player in the NHL at $7.6
million, won't return to the club "until he passes his physical." Tkachuk's
contract runs through next season.
Pleau said he had no further comment.
By Jeremy Rutherford (jrutherford@<hidden>)
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Monday, Sep. 19 2005
The NHL Players' Association confirmed Monday that it has filed a grievance on
behalf of suspended Blues forward Keith Tkachuk.
Blues general manager Larry Pleau suspended Tkachuk, 33, on Friday after
Tkachuk failed to pass the team's physical. The team has indicated that Tkachuk
reported to training camp overweight.
After the NHLPA filed the grievance, Tkachuk's agent, Bob Murray, asked the
question that several Blues players have been wondering for days: Why won't the
team allow Tkachuk to lose the weight in training camp?
On Monday, alternate captain Doug Weight became the second Blue in three days
to voice his displeasure with the club's decision to force Tkachuk to work out
away from the team.
"He's been punished enough," Weight said. "I'm not always in agreement with the
authorities' choices, but it is what it is."
The Blues listed Tkachuk at 231 pounds in their 2003-04 media guide. He is said
to be as much as 25 pounds overweight, although no one connected with the team
will confirm that.
"The fact is that (Tkachuk) let himself go a lot until February or March and
he's got a body that you can't do that," Weight said. "He gets big fast. But he
worked his butt off this year.
"He's overweight, yes, but he's in great shape, he's strong," Weight added. "I
wish they would've let him test because I'm sure he would turned some heads
with his strength."
The Blues did not allow Tkachuk to participate in any of the strength and
conditioning aspects of the physical exam, after it was learned that he was
overweight.
Weight's comments followed similar words from Blues captain Dallas Drake on
Saturday, in that he said Tkachuk's strength is a major asset to his success.
At 6-foot-2, Tkachuk uses his size to make space for himself on the ice, and
he's difficult to dislodge from the front of the net.
Tkachuk led the Blues in scoring with 33 goals in 2003-04, the most recent NHL
season. Twice he has been a 50-goal scorer, with the Winnipeg Jets (1995-96)
and Phoenix Coyotes (1996-97).
"I played with Keith in Phoenix when he was pretty heavy and he scored 50
goals," Drake said. "I've seen Keith play at a certain weight and be pretty
darn successful."
No one disagrees that Tkachuk needs to lose the extra weight. The Blues players
- and now Murray - are saying only that they'd like Tkachuk to be in training
camp.
"I guess the more common approach has been, if they feel a guy has come in and
isn't properly conditioned, they would bring him into camp and have him do
extra work," Murray told the Canadian Press Monday. "We have disagreed with the
suspension and are continuing to work at resolving it. Hopefully we can find a
quick and amicable resolution."
From the Blues' perspective, there appears to be nothing to resolve. Pleau
repeated Monday that Tkachuk, the second-highest paid player in the NHL at $7.6
million, won't return to the club "until he passes his physical." Tkachuk's
contract runs through next season.
Pleau said he had no further comment.