TORONTO - NHLPA Executive Director, Bob Goodenow released a statement following NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman's press conference:
"This is a disappointing day for NHL Players and fans. Gary Bettman's announcement that he and the owners have locked out the Players and are shutting down the game of hockey is simply the wrong way to address the issues we are facing. The Players have been prepared to compromise for a very long time and have proposed frameworks that should already have produced a deal that is fair for all. Unfortunately, the League has rejected all opportunities for compromise, while stubbornly insisting that Gary Bettman has the single solution to every problem - a salary cap.
An honest partnership can never be achieved under the League's 'my way or the highway' approach. Partnerships are built on respect, trust and willingness to compromise. Partnerships are not built through confrontation. Nonetheless, Gary and the Owners have chosen, through a lockout, to try to force Players to accept a system they know Players would never agree to.
The Players' four-point proposal is the best opportunity to reach a fair agreement. The Owners' negotiating team has failed to offer anything that even resembles a compromise, while we have offered real dollars and real solutions. Each of our four points represent a significant and meaningful concession by the Players:
1. The Players are prepared to accept an immediate, five percent wage rollback on the full term of all existing contracts which would generate more than $100 million in savings for the Owners. This rollback would be applied to a marketplace that has already experienced a decline as Owners have reset player values in light of their current revenues.
2. The Players are prepared to accept changes to the Entry Level System that would produce annual savings of $60 million.
3. The Players are prepared to accept a tax on those teams whose payrolls exceed an agreed-upon level. The tax would restrain club spending on Player compensation and raise approximately $35 million annually for redistribution to teams that need money.
4. The Players are prepared to modify their revenue-sharing plan in order to distribute money from high-revenue clubs to low-revenue clubs in the amounts suggested by the league. Under this plan, low-revenue clubs would receive $80 million to $100 million per year.
The NHL continues to make selective and distorted references to team finances. We have seen some of the NHL's data but only after signing confidentiality agreements that prevent us from offering specific comments. As the NHL continues to claim its financial survival is at stake, it should open its books and let everyone see the teams claiming these losses. We have publicly asked the NHL to do so but they steadfastly refuse to expose the information to the light of day.
The Players remain prepared to negotiate a fair agreement with the Owners. But we need a negotiating partner who understands that agreements are the products of compromise. We do not have such a negotiating partner now."