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The following letter was sent to the NHL Players' Association this evening
by the NHL:
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Mr. Robert Goodenow
Executive Director
National Hockey League Players' Association
Toronto, Ontario
Dear Bob:
We attempted to reach out to you with yesterday's offer of a team maximum
cap of $42.2MM ($40MM in salary and $2.2MM in benefits) which was not linked
to League-wide revenues. As Bill told Ted, "de-linking" a maximum team
salary cap from League revenues and total League-wide player compensation
has always been problematic for us, especially since we cannot now quantify
the damage to the League from the lockout. This presents the risk we will
pay out more than we can afford. As you know, if all 30 teams were to spend
to the maximum we proposed, and if the damage to our business is as we
discussed at our meetings in New York, then the League would continue to
lose money.
I know, as do you, that the "deal" we can make will only get worse for the
players if we cancel the season - whatever damage we have suffered to date
will pale in comparison to the damage from a cancelled season and we will
certainly not be able to afford what is presently on the table. Accordingly,
I am making one final effort to reach out to make a deal that will let us
play this season.
We are increasing our offer of yesterday by increasing the maximum
individual team cap to $44.7MM ($42.5MM in salary and $2.2MM in benefits).
This offer is not an invitation to begin negotiations - it's too late for
that. This is our last effort to make a deal that's fair to the players and
one that the Clubs (hopefully) can afford. We have no more flexibility and
there is no time for further negotiation.
If this offer is acceptable, please let me know by 11:00 A.M. tomorrow, in
advance of my scheduled press conference. Hopefully, the press conference
will not be necessary.
Sincerely,
Gary B. Bettman
Commissioner
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