Memo to NHL union: Just say no

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The NHL Players’ Assn. will hold a news conference Friday in Montreal to announce whether it will exercise its option to terminate the collective bargaining agreement with the NHL.

In the name of Gump Worsley let’s hope the union’s executive board announces it will not end the CBA, ensuring there will be labor peace for the foreseeable future.

Another labor dispute like the disagreement that wiped out the 2004-05 season would be fatal to the NHL, and the players have done very well under the current agreement. The current salary floor of $40.7 million is higher than the first season’s cap of $39 million, and young players have done especially well because teams have signed many to lucrative, long-term contracts to buy them out of free agency.

If the players were to terminate the current CBA it’s certain that owners would want to reduce the cap numbers by drastic amounts. The cap is likely to decline gradually next season, before the full impact of the economic downturn is felt, and players would only lose if they terminate the agreement and start negotiating a new deal.

Please, NHLPA, just say no. We want our hockey.

-- Helene Elliott