Saskin appears at NHL GMs meeting

[mkstatto]

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (CP) - Ted Saskin was invited into the lion's den Wednesday evening and had the attention of all 30 NHL owners.

It was a watershed moment in the game's history, given the adversarial relationship Saskin's predecessor as executive director of the NHL Players' Association, Bob Goodenow, had with the league.

But the new collective bargaining agreement ties the players and owners together more than ever, both on and off the ice. Saskin's presence at the board of governors meeting was much less goodwill as it was necessity in order to co-exist in the new economic landscape.

"We are, I guess, the majority partner in this business," quipped Saskin.

"Let me make one thing clear: and that is the players have always been concerned about having a great game and that's nothing foreign," Saskin continued. "... But the invitation (from the league to speak in front of the owners) is obviously new and it's an opportunity to share thoughts and perspectives and that's welcomed. It's why I'm here."

Commissioner Gary Bettman felt it necessary to invite Saskin, given the new landscape.

"I thought that in light of the new era that we were ushering in, there would be no better indication of the fact that the players and the league are working together to move things forward that the best indication of that would be to have Ted here," Bettman said. "And perhaps even more important, I thought it was important for the governors to hear what's on the players' mind."

While Saskin told owners that players were generally happy with the new NHL and the way the game was being played, he did have some CBA concerns to share with them.

At the forefront was the way some clubs have sent players to their AHL affiliates between NHL games to save a few thousands dollars. And then there's the issue of players being buried in the minors if they earn more than $75,000 US because they would have to clear re-entry waivers and would likely be picked up by another team because only half of their salaries have to be paid.

Take veteran goalie Wade Flaherty, for example. He remains with the AHL's Manitoba Moose because the Vancouver Canucks fear losing him on re-entry waivers and having to pay half his salary while Flaherty plays for another NHL team.

"That's part of the (collective bargaining) agreement," Saskin said. "Obviously a lot of people have noted that type of situation and it's something I raised as a concern to the membership."

On the ice, Saskin's only concerns on behalf of the players involved the inconsistency of some officials as they continued to adjust to the crackdown on hooking and holding.

"The general feeling among the players is that the game is much improved, but there's obviously some issues on some of the consistency with respect to the officiating," Saskin said. "And that's been noted by many players as well as management people.

"Everyone is doing their best though, it's a pretty big change."

Saskin's presentation was the headline event of Wednesday night's 2

[annabelle]

**chants...."YOU SUCK, YOU SUCK!!" boo too you TEddy-boy!! He just seems like he'd be the type of person that has a collection of bugs and would live in a dingy old basement...eww..i dunno it's my perogative..lmao

[Derek21]

**chants...."YOU SUCK, YOU SUCK!!" boo too you TEddy-boy!! He just seems like he'd be the type of person that has a collection of bugs and would live in a dingy old basement...eww..i dunno it's my perogative..lmao

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You had the guts to say it.