['] 'A lot of emphasis has been placed on player input through the competition committee, ... 'I've had frequent dialogue with (the league office) on a host of commercial issues where I think our input is respected. |
[Commissioner Gary Bettman , in an online chat with fans, said that reaching a new collective agreement with the players] is not about compromise. It's about doing the right thing to ensure that the game and the franchises are healthy. ... It's unfortunate that [he] does not see compromise as the way to get a deal done. That attitude is what has prevented us from having any meaningful negotiations that can lead to a fair deal for both sides. It is disturbing that their only response is to say they have all the solutions and there can be no compromise. |
A financially healthy league is a positive for everyone, including the players, in the long run. We've always wanted teams to do well. |
After good dialogue with members of the executive board, I decided that it was in the best interests of the membership to conduct a secret ballot vote amongst our player representatives and executive officers so that there are absolutely no questions regarding my election as executive director and general counsel, |
After good dialogue with members of the executive board, I decided that it was in the best interests of the membership to conduct a secret ballot vote amongst our player representatives and executive officers so that there are absolutely no questions regarding my election as executive director and general counsel. |
All of the early revenue indicators, including better than expected season-ticket renewals and single-game ticket sales, strong attendance figures, better than expected TV and radio revenues and ratings, suggest the 2005-'06 year is shaping up much better than the conservative forecasts on which escrow dollars are based, |
All of the early revenue indicators, including better than expected season-ticket renewals and single-game ticket sales, strong attendance figures, better than expected TV and radio revenues and ratings, suggest the 2005-06 year is shaping up much better than the conservative forecasts on which escrow dollars are based, |
All of the early revenue indicators, including better-than-expected season-ticket renewals and single-game ticket sales, strong attendance figures, better-than-expected TV and radio revenues and ratings, suggest the 2005-06 year is shaping up much better than the conservative forecasts on which escrow dollars are based, |
At the league office, Bill Daly recently saw his compensation double from just below $1 million to just under $2 million (as he was promoted to deputy commissioner after our new CBA was finalized) and it is anticipated that Gary Bettman's compensation will increase from its current level of $3.5 million per year. |
Bill knows that the concepts they discussed with us on Thursday would not form the basis for an agreement, so he should not be surprised that he hasn't heard from us. We were very clear on Thursday that we would not be negotiating over his proposed concepts. |
Both of the salary-cap proposals they put forth today were worse than the proposals that we had rejected on a number of prior occasions. We're going to review all of the options, have some internal discussions, and set up another meeting (with the NHL) once we finalize what our approach is going to be. |
But in any event each situation is different, and has to be assessed and judged on its own merit, and I'm comfortable that the [NHLPA] executive board and myself were able to review all the issues and attach a value that we each felt, at the end of the day, was fair compensation for the services I'll provide to this association. |
Earlier this week, after a number of phone conversations between Chris and I, in which I requested to meet with him, a meeting was scheduled with Chris and the rest of the Red Wings on Thursday in Detroit. In addition, I have e-mailed and phoned Trent on a number of occasions, and he has chosen not to respond to me to discuss any concerns that he has. |
Frankly I think the ongoing participation in the Olympics, that decision will have a lot to do with what we do with World Cup or not. But again, it's early to say. We're committed to Vancouver in 2010 and if we're not committed beyond that (to the Olympics) I could easily see a World Cup. |
Frankly, I'm doubtful (holding a World Cup) is something we'll do. Although we will evaluate everything after these Games. |