Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - A day after receiving the NHLPA's counter-
proposal for a new collective bargaining agreement, NHL commissioner Gary
Bettman stated Wednesday that a wide gap remained between the two sides.
The NHLPA submitted its response to the owners' July 13 proposal on Tuesday
and negotiations between the factions continued Wednesday in Toronto. The
current CBA expires on September 15.
"I think it's fair to say that we value the proposal and what it means in
terms of its economics differently that the players' association does," said
Bettman. "I think there still are a number of issues where we're looking at
the world differently."
NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr briefly outlined the players' proposal
on Tuesday, saying they were willing to give up some hockey-related
revenue over three years while largely keeping the contracting system intact.
Additionally, Fehr said that revenue sharing in the new proposal could involve
upward of $250 million.
"What the players did is indicate to the owners that if there are issues
remaining," Fehr elaborated on Wednesday. "They are club-specific issues, and
if the clubs that don't need assistance are willing to partner with the
players to help get at the issues of the clubs that may need it, we're
prepared to do that."
Bettman said that there is "respect in the room" during negotiations, but he
has previously made it clear that the league is prepared to lock out the
players if a new CBA is not agreed upon by September 15.
"There is still a wide gap between us with not much time to go, but this is a
process that we're going to continue to work hard on," the commissioner stated
Wednesday.
The Sports Network