Bluelines: More lockout chatter ... or lack of
Apr 27, 2005
How brilliant is NHLPA strategy? The “union” already has blown $1.2 BILLION in salaries and has effectively killed dozens of careers. The Toronto Sun’s Steve Simmons wonders whether senior citizens, Gary Roberts, Joe Nieuwendyk, Al Mogilny and Tie Domi – all unrestricted – have anything left. “There are those in the Leafs’ dressing room who believe Mogilny bailed on the team last Spring,” says Simmons. That’s a tough rap since it’s Mogilny who says he feels the pain. Then, again, over the years many have questioned On-Again-Off-Again Almo!
Luc (Lucky) Robitaille wants to play one more season; but if the work stoppage continues, it’s bye-bye Luc’s career. That is, unless he stands up and goes public with a demand for a CBA deal, which he privately admits is the case.
Affable Dean Lombardi is next-interview up for the Anaheim g.m. job. Whomever gets it will have a non-interfering ownership. Boss Henry Samueli, co-founder of Broadcom, Inc., makes it clear his hands are off the ice. “Broadcom clearly is my focus 100 percent of the time,” says the newest NHL club owner.
Paul Stastny, son of Hall-of-Famer Peter Stastny, used the same Sher-Wood model stick his dad employed in the NHL, leading Denver to the collegiate title. Paul scored twice in the finale with his all-wood stick. “It was the only wooden stick in the arena,” reports Sports Illustrated’s columnist Steve Rushin. Disappointing crowds in Halifax and Quebec City for Canada-USA World tune-ups reflect disgust over NHLPAers. Quebec’s Le Colisee wasn’t even half-full; (7,166), and this with francophone hero Martin Brodeur leading the way. Why? People are fed up!
NHL refs and linesmen have been the most honorable hockey people during the work stoppage. Unlike the players, the zebras refused to take jobs away from Europeans nor AHLers and ECHLers They wouldn’t scab in the non-union UHL. Unpaid, the on-ice officials have taken odd jobs throughout the work stoppage without beefing. Linesman Stephane Provost, 37, had been painting houses and changing toilets for $10 an hour in Florida. In any other year, he would have been working the playoffs. Last Friday, Provost, father of two daughters, died in a motorcycle accident in Weston, Fla.
Not that it means there’ll be a 2005-2006 season, but the NHL is crafting a schedule for next term.
Unlike the March governors’ meeting, last week’s Manhattan huddle exuded unity. If players believe – as the “union” has all along – that the owners will fold, they should continue thinking, as the NHLPA bankbook shrinks.
One of the most revealing incidents in the recent player-management rules meetings arose over the effectiveness of suspensions. A well-known defenseman candidly explained to NHL people: “A one or two-game suspension is like a vacation to us.” This thoroughly contradicts the NHLPA position that inevitably results in “union” screaming whenever suspensions are handed out.
At a law roundtable with David Stern and Bud Selig, Gary Bettman made it clear that the NHL would adopt the tag-up rule as well as dramatically shrinking goalie equipment. He also asserted that the concept of bigger nets has not been ruled out if the rule changes and goalie equipment restrictions fail to produce more scoring. “If we can’t shrink it,” says Bettman, “we’ll have to look at bigger nets. We’ve got to give teams the opportunity to score.”
Couple of yesteryear New York hockey personalities have made it to the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame. Red Dutton starred on the New York Americans defense and later was club g.m.-president as well as NHL prexy. Rangers World War II goalie Ken (Tubby) McAuley is, unfortunately, best (worst!) remembered for being in the Blueshirts’ net for the 15-0 loss to Detroit on Jan. 21, 1944. It was the most one-sided shutout in league history. Ironically, some call Tubby the best all-round athlete ever produced in Edmonton.
The “union’s” signal triumph in the last nine months has been the absolute intimidation-subjugation of agents. NHLPA’s “right” to “certify” reps is one of the most absurd aspects of the business.
Interesting that old pal Bobby Orr is telling Bettman and Goodenow to “get out of the way” if they can’t make a deal. Orr, now an agent, is close with Lawrence Eagle-Tribune scribe and NHL critic, Russ Conway. No surprise that the piece is in Conway’s paper. We know of no other agent but Orr who would have the gumption to include Goodenow in his indictment. Bob must know that if Mike Gartner replaced Goodenow, there’d be a deal faster than he could say CBA! Orr also must know that the February pact offered by Bettman is better than anything the “union” can obtain anymore.
Reader Steve Strobe offers an arresting observation: “Make wearing the helmet optional instead of mandatory. That’ll get the juices flowing again.” And the sticks down at the same time.
The most interesting aspect of the upcoming (May 24-26) NHLPA meeting will be determining how intimidated the February “union” Rebels have become. Will anyone get up and say, “What are we doing?” Chris Pronger, Jeremy Roenick and Robert Esche were shot down last winter almost as fast as they had gotten up to urge a deal. Do they – and Jarome Iginla – remain sheep, following shepherd Goodenow? Answer: Bet on it!
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Figuring the lockout’s end is simple: It will continue as long as Bob Goodenow runs the union. There are three reasons: 1. He doesn’t know how to make a deal: 2. He deals only out of destruction; 3. His cues come from baseball’s Don Fehr, BG’s mentor. Figure the NHLPA to get serious in September. Come out, come out wherever you are, Phil Esposito and the Bobby Hull (WHA) Invitational Tournament. No doubt they’ll be recruiting at the players’ convention.
Reader Eric Martin on why a one-referee system is better: “There can’t be much passion and excitement built up in a game when every time you touch someone, a penalty is called. Rivalries develop when things happen behind the play, which the fans and players see but the ref misses. Intensity rises and that makes for better hockey, hard-hitting and fighting, which is part of the game.”
Peoria (ECHL) Rivermen center Rejean Stringer tells our John Landers he’d have no problem if the NHL asked him to be a replacement player. “Guys in our league had to find work elsewhere,” says Stringer, “because of NHLers who jumped into our league. So why can’t I jump into their league? I say go for it.”
Stars You’re Not Likely To See In The NHL Again: Steve Yzerman, Mark Messier, Ron Francis, Dom Hasek, Ed Belfour, Dave Andreychuk and Gary Roberts. Shayne Corson could be among the group. But he insists he wants to play. “I’m not ready to retire yet,” says Corson. “I’m in better shape now than when I was younger.”
Hurricanes’ owner Peter Karmanos knows why NFL and Major League Baseball bosses are closely watching the NHL: “When we get our deal, I think you’ll see every other major sport fall in line.”
Mike Modano was right when he figured owners would sacrifice up to two years “to fix the game for ten to 15 years down the road.” Bottom Line: The players must guarantee ownership Cost Certainty before the NHL resumes. Modano was on the mark; it’s about long-term.
Shane Doan is emerging as the latter-day James Patrick; meaning he’s one of the nicest, most articulate big-leaguers.
Someone should read Kevin (Boston Globe) Dupont to the NHLPA membership. “The Players’ Association is like every loser in every casino around the world, desperately hunting for a way to get even and save face,” writes the Hall of Fame columnist. “They’ve gone from playing with house money to nearly burning down the house. And it only gets worse!”
Good guy Mike Keenan proves it again, distributing green “Reach the Day” bracelets to children and their families impacted by childhood cancer. It happened at Joe DiMaggio’s Children’s Hospital, in Hollywood, Florida. Mike was accompanied by Guy Charron, Randy Moller and Stanley C. Panther.
