[Jlg-28]

Source; TSN.ca

The NHL is one step closer to resuming play next season.

On Thursday, the NHLPA put the labour dispute with the league behind them ratifying a new collective bargaining agreement.

"I'm pleased to announce that NHLPA members voted today and ratified the new collective bargaingin agreement. If the board of governors do the same on Friday, the hockey world will soon be able to celebrate the return of NHL hockey", announced NHLPA Executive Director Bob Goodenow at Thursday's news conference.

The union boss said 87 to 88 per cent of players who voted approved the new deal.

"We're fully committed to the new deal and we anticipate great success for the game as we go forward."

The action shifts to New York on Friday, when the league's board of governors has its say at a 1 pm et meeting. That will be followed by a 3 pm et news conference with Commissioner Gary Bettman outlining proposed rule changes and then the draft lottery live on TSN at 4 pm et/1 pm pt.

There were approximately 225 players were in Toronto Thursday for the vote, with the other 500 or so casting their ballots electronically.

"Everyone wants to play hockey, that's the bottom line," said Toronto defenceman Bryan McCabe. "Coming out of this a lot of damage has been done and both sides have to start repairing it."

"It's the best deal we're going to get now," said Ottawa Senators forward Mike Fisher. "There's no point sitting out any longer and hoping it would get better.

"There were some guys that were upset and disappointed about how this happened in terms of the (salary) cap, but that's going to happen with 700 players. A lot of other guys were happy with the deal and just happy that it's over and that we're playing hockey again. We were in a tough battle with owners who held all the cards."

The NHLPA meeting started Wednesday with players getting their first look at the document. Talks went well into the night, with players still milling about with each other well past 1 a.m. Thursday.

"It was healthy," said Kevyn Adams, Carolina's player representative. "I was excited to see guys ask questions. I didn't leave the room until 2 a.m. last night. There was great banter, a real good dialogue. People got their questions answered."

Added Tampa's Martin St. Louis: "It was nice to see the details of the real deal instead of just what we've been reading in the papers."

That included reducing salaries in existing contracts by 24 per cent.

"I don't like the rollback, no question," said Columbus player rep Todd Marchant, whose salary will be $2.47 million US next season instead of $3.25 million. "No one's happy about that but it's something we had to do."

Things got heated at times during the meeting Wednesday night. Veteran Toronto tough guy Tie Domi, for one, confronted Sean Avery of the Kings for being critical of the union leadership earlier this month. Domi was also angry with Detroit Red Wings goalie Manny Legace, who slammed the union negotiators last month.

"This deal is going to benefit guys like Sean Avery and Manny Legace - who wasn't here," Domi said before leaving Thursday. "It's easy to knock things, especially when things are getting settled, and that's the only thing I had an issue with.

"Speak your mind but don't do it when you haven't even played 100 games in the league. It just wasn't the time for any of those guys to speak up. If Manny Legace had some issues, where was he last night to speak about it? I give Sean Avery credit for being here.

"Manny Legace? I didn't know him, the only thing I knew about him was that he played 10 games when Dominik Hasek played 72 and they won a Stanley Cup. All of a sudden (Legace) is in the headlines for something he said."

There were also some tough questions for Goodenow but nothing got out of hand.

"To say it wasn't heated at times would be a misnomer but it was professional," said Marchant. "People asked questions and got answers."

Several players agreed that it was time to move on with the entire labour issue.

"People can look back and say `Why didn't we offer this in December?"' said McCabe. "But this probably wasn't available in December or even February. It is what it is and we have to move on.

"Will this deal get better down the road if we turn this down?" he asked. "We've burned a season so is it really worth burning a second one? You really have to wonder."

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half way there

[Chris]

Great, I don't see why the owners won't ratify it. But I don't want to go nuts until they do.