The NHL Board of Governors meet in New York today to discuss
management's next move in the protracted lockout of NHL players.
The following are quotes from participants and media observers on
where people stand and what might happen:
BLUES CHAIR MIKE SHANAHAN: "It could go everywhere from
'cancel the season' to 'let's start tomorrow.' I'm just
guessing" (Dave Luecking, ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 12/11).
SENATORS CHAIR ROD BRYDEN: "I would much rather not play
hockey and see this as an additional cost to the ownership of the
franchise ... than to accept a contract that doesn't do what we
think is necessary to be able to run our business" (Joe Lapointe,
N.Y. TIMES, 12/12).
TORONTO STAR's PAUL HUNTER: "Don't be surprised if the NHL
simply opts to renew bargaining with the players with no stated
end in sight" (TORONTO STAR, 12/12).
WHALERS OWNER PETER KARMANOS: "I'm disgusted with both
sides. ... [Even a drop-dead date is] just more bluster, more
posturing" (Joe Lapointe, N.Y. TIMES, 12/12).
L.A. TIMES' HELENE ELLIOTT cites an unnamed NHL Governor who
says: "I'd guess [NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman] will poll each
team, see what people are thinking and see if any new or
different ideas can be incorporated into a new proposal. Then
he'll go back to the union and say, 'This is our last and best
deal. Take it, or see you in August'" (L.A. TIMES, 12/12).
BRUINS PRESIDENT HARRY SINDEN: "I think the vote will be
100 percent to keep talking" (AP/WASHINGTON POST, 12/12).
MAPLE LEAFS PRESIDENT CLIFF FLETCHER: "We're not going to
shut the season down (today)" (TORONTO SUN, 12/12).
FLYERS OWNER ED SNIDER said he would recommend to fellow
owners "that they end the lockout immediately if the players
agreed to give up their right to salary arbitration" (Gary Miles,
PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 12/10).
TORONTO GLOBE & MAIL's STEPHEN BRUNT, accusing the owners of
following a scripted scenario: "It is hard to believe that now
we are on the brink of a descent into chaos. Instead, all signs
point to the owners stepping back on Monday -- purely for the
good of the game and the good of the fans, of course -- removing
the evil tax from the table, and then pressing their advantage
through the home stretch" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 12/10).
