Färjestadissa pelaavan Montrealin puolustaja, Sheldon Sourayn postikortit joka launtain Montreal Gazette-lehteen ovat mielenkiintoista luettavaa. Leikkaan tähän pienen pätkän pakinasta nr. 10, jossa Sheldon kertoo myös hieman meneillään olevasta työsulusta:
Bob Goodenow had a recorded message today on the players' site, reaffirming our position. We're informed all the time, and as a union, we're definitely solid and we have full faith in our negotiating committee. Everyone would love to be playing, but I support our position fully.
Bob pretty much said in his message, "OK, we said this might take two years, and that's what it might take. If you guys want to go find a job this year, we encourage that. And hopefully, you'll play well enough that they'll sign you for next year."
It certainly seems the owners are steadfast on having the salary cap, and that's something the players will never accept. It seems the owners' will is to have the season cancelled and guys are going to have to make plans at least for the last month and a half. It looks like a formality about the cancellation now.
We're not going to accept a salary cap, whether it's two years from now or five years.
Bob told us the PA doesn't plan to come back to the NHL with anything. What we offered them last time, a lot of players called in and said they didn't think we were going to give that much up. There are a lot of guys pissed off now by what we offered to give.
He told us in his message that maybe the owners have to think now a little more with their pockets, that now's the time they're probably losing a little more money with the playoff races and playoffs coming up. It's going to be the same situation next year - they're not going to be tripping over themselves to get a new deal.
You'd think that around this time next year would be crunch time again. And who's to say you wouldn't lose three years?
With all the rumours floating around, Bob just wanted to clarify things. He wanted to make sure that guys are sticking together. We're not moving, the NHL is not moving and basically, that's that.
It makes sense that if we miss this year, the owners will be sitting there in September saying, "We've got to get a deal to get this season started." Whether we start at the beginning of next year or January, I don't think it's that big a difference, but if we don't start this year or next year. ...
I signed a contract last summer that was great for me and my family, set us up for the future. So I don't make the money this year, which is fine. But if I don't next year, that's a total of $6 million down the tubes, and then I'll be 30. I'll have one year left on the contract, and if there are salary rollbacks. ...
A guy you think is secure enough is hurting, and it trickles down. There's the guy who's earning much less, trying to make car payments.
But I can tell you, having been on our Web site today, that everyone's on the same page. Some guys are e-mailing in, commenting on it. We have a little forum where guys can express any opinion they have. Everyone sees it, there's nowhere to hide. The one thing, and I'm telling you it's overwhelming when you read it, is that the guys are together.
We've had a few instances of guys saying things, but for 700 players, there's not a crack in the armour. It's good, it's positive, but on the other hand, who's going to blink first?
