Blueshirt Bulletin Main January 18, 2005 Choosing Up New Sides Trevor Linden stepped forward to jump-start NHL labor talks Monday by asking for a meeting between the NHL and the PA a meeting without the two sides' leaders, Gary Bettman and Bob Goodenow. Linden, PA President, asked to meet with his counterpart, Board of Governors Chairman Harley Hotchkiss, part-owner of the Calgary Flames. Usual seconds Bill Daly and Ted Saskin will be there, along with legal counsel. While MSGN's Stan Fischler characterizes Linden's move as proving that "once again the players have blinked," other pundits, like Scott Burnside at ESPN.com, see the move as a positive step. "In the absence of the two leaders," says Burnside, "Linden will in theory be able to discuss the owners' position frankly with Hotchkiss." Fischler is no doubt right when he writes that "that does not mean the season will be saved; not unless the Union agrees to NHL Cost-Certainty demands." The meeting news makes Joe Lapointe's latest state of the locked-out union address at the Times already a bit dated, but it is worth a read nevertheless. The PA's press release on their initiative can be found on their web site, alongside player of the day Jaromir Jagr. | |
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