Each Side Mulls Its Prospects

The NHL and NHL Players’ Assn. retreat to neutral corners this week, both sides trying to reinforce positions and map out strategies.

The league’s Board of Governors will meet today with NHL executives in New York, two weeks after Commissioner Gary Bettman canceled the 2004-05 season. They will discuss their next step in the labor dispute, possibly to seek having an impasse declared.

At the same time, more than 250 players are expected to gather in Toronto to hear from union leaders. The NHLPA executives then will meet with player agents Wednesday.

“I expect there are going be a lot of questions from players and agents to the union on what their plan is from this standpoint,” said Pat Brisson, a prominent player agent. “I assume the board will be doing the same with the league.

“The questions will be a little more precise, and people are going to want answers. I don’t want to say it will be intense, but it will be very focused.”

There have been no negotiations since Feb. 19, and neither side has moved to restart negotiations. The league offered a $42.5-million cap, and the union countered at $49 million, but they were far apart on other issues, such as a luxury tax.

The NHL’s meeting today is expected to explore plans and options. Those probably would include the steps necessary to declare an impasse, which would allow the league to impose an economic system and use replacement players.

“We intend, obviously, to provide the board with an in-depth update on the status of collective bargaining, and we will discuss next steps and business alternatives going forward,” said Bill Daly, the NHL’s chief legal officer. “I don’t anticipate there will be any

The union executives offered only a brief statement about this week’s meetings.

“The NHLPA is holding meetings with our membership and the certified agents to update them on the recent ... negotiations and plans for the future,” said Ted Saskin, NHLPA senior director.

NHL executives face pressing issues such as the June entry draft and concerns about the financial damage to the league.

Pittsburgh owner Mario Lemieux and New Jersey General Manager Lou Lamoriello have said that they would prefer a deal be worked out this spring so the league could win back fans and sponsors.

“I just hope that after a cooling-off period, we get back to negotiations and get something in place,” King General Manager Dave Taylor said. “Otherwise in September we could be in the same boat we were last September.”

The union, however, may not feel an urgency to renew talks. The players are not scheduled to get paychecks until October, and union leaders are said to believe that waiting will give them greater leverage.

It would also give NHLPA Executive Director Bob Goodenow time to shore up support.

A splinter group of players tried to seek a solution with the league after Bettman had canceled the season, but the meeting ended in stalemate.

“I think it’s time for the league to take responsibility instead of making the players totally responsible for today’s economic system,” said Steve Rucchin, the Mighty Ducks’ union representative. “At some point, you have to say, enough is enough. This is not good for the game, and it is terrible for the fans.”

The effect on teams worsened after the season was canceled. The Montreal Canadiens laid off 15 to 20 employees last week. The Kings will lay off 10 more employees, team President Tim Leiweke said.

“Both sides will hopefully take a step back now and come back with the right approach,” Brisson said. “We have to hammer out a deal and the sooner, the better.”