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...and yet another response from the NHL to the NHLPA:
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Mr. Robert Goodenow
Executive Director
National Hockey League Players' Association
Toronto, Ontario
Dear Bob:
It was disappointing to receive the fax of your "final" offer.
We would have been prepared to propose and negotiate over a "de-linked"
maximum team salary sooner, but the NHLPA had been consistent in stating
that the players would never accept a salary cap. We only learned in the
mediation process on Sunday that you would entertain such an offer, which is
why we asked for a meeting yesterday and made the "de-linked" proposal.
If every team spent to the $49 million level you have proposed, total player
compensation would exceed what we spent last season and, assuming for
discussion purposes, there was no damage to the game, our player
compensation costs would exceed 75% of revenues. We cannot afford your
proposal.
Our offer of earlier today was a $75 million increase over the offer we made
yesterday. I hope you will accept it, and that we can move forward and
negotiate the myriad of other issues that need to be addressed.
Sincerely,
Gary B. Bettman
Commissioner
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