Isles&Yankees
08-22-2004, 03:04 PM
TSN.ca Staff with files from CP
8/20/2004
The NHL Players' Association says it will never accept a salary cap for its members, and that was reiterated on Thursday in light of remarks made by 20-year NHL veteran Steve Thomas (http://www.tsn.ca/NHL/player_bio.asp?player_id=974).
In an interview with The Score sports network, Thomas initially suggested that the league and Player's Association could learn from examples taken from the National Basketball Association and National Football League when it comes to discussing a new collective bargaining agreement.
"The fact that football and basketball both have a salary cap...we can learn from how the day-to-day operations of those two entities work out and try and find some kind of a common ground between what they're going through and what we have right now," he said.
Thomas later released a statement through the NHL Players' Association, saying his remarks were taken out of context.
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"I never have and never will support a salary cap and any reports that say otherwise are totally inaccurate," the statement said. "I have always believed that a marketplace is the best system for our sport and I still believe that today. NHLPA members will never accept a salary cap."
The NHL says it needs what it calls "cost certainty," but the union says each of the six league proposals they've received include conditions that amount to a salary cap.
Thomas was in Toronto appearing with other players at a charity event organized by another former Leaf, [url="http://www.tsn.ca/NHL/player_bio.asp?player_id=1202"]Doug Gilmour (http://ad.ca.doubleclick.net/jump/tsn/nhl;mode=;loc=;adpg=nhl;sect=;arena=tv;arena=sports;unit=dhtml;kw=;pos=;sz=300x250;tile=n;ord=20048211412190?).
Thomas played last season with Detroit but the Red Wings have not offered him a new deal.
Last October, the NHLPA proposed a system that included a luxury tax, revenue sharing, a one-time five per cent rollback in salaries and some changes to the entry-level system.
The current collective bargaining agreement between the NHL and NHL Players' Association expires Sept. 15.
Current Leaf forward Joe Nieuwendyk (http://www.tsn.ca/NHL/player_bio.asp?player_id=894) said salaries are already starting to fall and that proves the current system is "starting to work."
"Fifty-million five-year deals, those things aren't happening any more," said Nieuwendyk, who in July re-signed with the Leafs in a one-year, $3-million deal. "Players are taking less in certain markets to play and to me, that shows you that things are becoming more responsible."
Players are already bracing for a potentially long lockout.
"The way things are going right now, both sides aren't going to budge," said Leafs winger Darcy Tucker (http://www.tsn.ca/NHL/player_bio.asp?player_id=169).
Free agent centre Eric Lindros (http://www.tsn.ca/NHL/player_bio.asp?player_id=283) said he'll consider going back to school to pick up some university credits if the season doesn't start on time.
"Hopefully, there will be a start to a season," he said.
The league and players will hold talks in Ottawa next week and a week later in Montreal.
8/20/2004
The NHL Players' Association says it will never accept a salary cap for its members, and that was reiterated on Thursday in light of remarks made by 20-year NHL veteran Steve Thomas (http://www.tsn.ca/NHL/player_bio.asp?player_id=974).
In an interview with The Score sports network, Thomas initially suggested that the league and Player's Association could learn from examples taken from the National Basketball Association and National Football League when it comes to discussing a new collective bargaining agreement.
"The fact that football and basketball both have a salary cap...we can learn from how the day-to-day operations of those two entities work out and try and find some kind of a common ground between what they're going through and what we have right now," he said.
Thomas later released a statement through the NHL Players' Association, saying his remarks were taken out of context.
[/url]
"I never have and never will support a salary cap and any reports that say otherwise are totally inaccurate," the statement said. "I have always believed that a marketplace is the best system for our sport and I still believe that today. NHLPA members will never accept a salary cap."
The NHL says it needs what it calls "cost certainty," but the union says each of the six league proposals they've received include conditions that amount to a salary cap.
Thomas was in Toronto appearing with other players at a charity event organized by another former Leaf, [url="http://www.tsn.ca/NHL/player_bio.asp?player_id=1202"]Doug Gilmour (http://ad.ca.doubleclick.net/jump/tsn/nhl;mode=;loc=;adpg=nhl;sect=;arena=tv;arena=sports;unit=dhtml;kw=;pos=;sz=300x250;tile=n;ord=20048211412190?).
Thomas played last season with Detroit but the Red Wings have not offered him a new deal.
Last October, the NHLPA proposed a system that included a luxury tax, revenue sharing, a one-time five per cent rollback in salaries and some changes to the entry-level system.
The current collective bargaining agreement between the NHL and NHL Players' Association expires Sept. 15.
Current Leaf forward Joe Nieuwendyk (http://www.tsn.ca/NHL/player_bio.asp?player_id=894) said salaries are already starting to fall and that proves the current system is "starting to work."
"Fifty-million five-year deals, those things aren't happening any more," said Nieuwendyk, who in July re-signed with the Leafs in a one-year, $3-million deal. "Players are taking less in certain markets to play and to me, that shows you that things are becoming more responsible."
Players are already bracing for a potentially long lockout.
"The way things are going right now, both sides aren't going to budge," said Leafs winger Darcy Tucker (http://www.tsn.ca/NHL/player_bio.asp?player_id=169).
Free agent centre Eric Lindros (http://www.tsn.ca/NHL/player_bio.asp?player_id=283) said he'll consider going back to school to pick up some university credits if the season doesn't start on time.
"Hopefully, there will be a start to a season," he said.
The league and players will hold talks in Ottawa next week and a week later in Montreal.