Insider Talks Yield Little for NHL

No negotiations between the NHL and the players’ association were held Saturday, a day before Commissioner Gary Bettman said a labor deal must be on paper or he would cancel the season. Talks heated up among players, owners and agents, but it’s unclear if that will produce a compromise that can end the lockout or create enough of a groundswell for Bettman to delay his deadline.

Bettman lifted the ban he’d imposed against club executives talking to players whom they have under contract. Several sources said owners seized the opportunity to contact players, and that players are talking among themselves and are calling owners.

If Bettman’s intent was for owners to tell players the union won’t get a better offer, or for owners to urge players to pressure union leaders for a vote on the NHL’s last proposal, either objective might be too difficult and time-consuming to accomplish within his timeframe.

Trent Klatt of the Kings, a member of the union’s negotiating committee, said calls from general managers to players were “just a scare tactic. They’re trying to play on players’ weaknesses. It’s so black and white to me, and I hope everyone sees it that way.”

Bill Daly, the NHL’s chief legal counsel, said via e-mail from his New York office that the league hadn’t contacted the union and didn’t plan to initiate talks. He branded as false a report that “hush-hush” talks had taken place and reiterated Bettman’s statement that the league is prepared to cancel the season.

“The announcement [on the season’s status] should be made before Thursday,” Daly said.

A spokesman for the NHL Players Assn. said the union hadn’t been contacted by the league and expected nothing today. “Our position hasn’t changed. Time for Gary to call the season off,” the spokesman said.

A source familiar with the negotiations said the union won’t give up its opposition to a salary cap or to linking salaries to league revenues.

Pat Brisson, a prominent agent, agreed. “The league has made it very easy not only for the union but for the players to reject all of the offers they have received thus far,” he said.

Another agent, Ron Salcer, said Saturday’s talks had generated “a little fervor you can feel.... If they can decide something or bring some sense to the whole thing, that would be great.”

However, he added, “It does not look good. Something is going to have to change drastically.”

Klatt said the players won’t change their position. “I know from the players’ side, we’re done.” he said. “We’re not coming to the table with anything else. I anticipate Gary is going to cancel the season.”