NHL Owners Make an Offer to Players

A $7.5-million offer was placed on the bargaining table by National Hockey League owners Wednesday for post-career counseling and severance pay.

The sum is one-half of what Alan Eagleson, executive director of the NHL Players Assn., had requested from the owners.

“It’s a start,” Eagleson said following the second day of a three-day session between owners’ and players’ representatives delegated to come up with a contract to replace the one that expires Sept. 15. “They didn’t walk in empty-handed, which is a good sign.”

Eagleson said he is under no illusion the $7.5-million offer is not conditional.

“It’s only on the table if we agree to everything else (the owners suggest),” Eagleson said.

The players’ chief aim in the talks is greater freedom of movement. Total free agency is the ultimate goal, with the players’ association aiming at something similar to baseball--freedom of movement after six years’ seniority. The current pact is structured in a manner that binds most players to their teams due to heavy compensation.

Eagleson said the association would chip in money of its own from international competitions to augment whatever the owners contribute to the post-career scheme. He said he would like to see a retired player, upon reaching age 50, or sooner, pocket as much as $250,000 in severance pay. That would be on top of his pension.