NHLPA on salary drive
Average annual income near $2m
OTTAWA - As of now, the average annual NHL salary stands just north of $1.9 million, highest in league history. In 2008-09, predicts NHL Players Association executive director Paul Kelly, the average will surpass $2 million.
From the players' perspective, all is good.
"I suspect," said Kelly, "that the current CBA has worked out better than the players imagined it would when we came out of the lockout in 2005."
The NHLPA, however, has the option of revisiting the collective bargaining agreement, a topic 78 NHLers discussed last week during North American summer player meetings in Colorado Springs. Next month, more than 100 players are expected to attend the European summer meetings in Rome.
If the NHLPA decides to reopen the CBA for tweaks, it must notify the league by May 18, 2009. The players may also extend the CBA through the 2011-12 season, which gives them options at both ends of the spectrum.
"It's early in the process," Kelly said. "We're going to roll it out to all the teams in the fall tour. We'll discuss if we're going to reopen, what are some of the issues we'd like to revisit. On the flip side, we'll provide a laundry list of things the owners might like to revisit.
"At this point, it's too early. We'll do it in a very thoughtful way and give people the opportunity to think about it."
The players appear to be satisfied with how the current CBA has worked so far. Kelly said some things they might like to pursue are improved arbitration rights, expanded revenue definitions, and greater say in franchise relocation and expansion. Kelly said if the Sun Belt teams (Phoenix has been scuffling) continue to struggle, the NHL should take cities such as Winnipeg, Hamilton, and Seattle under consideration for expansion.
"The problem is that when teams struggle a bit financially with revenue and attendance figures, it does adversely affect players," Kelly said. "We want to work with those teams to make them healthy.
"We'd like to see the current 30 teams do well. But with a couple franchises, if they have issues and problems for three or four years in a row, then I think the league has to give serious consideration whether or not these franchises are in the proper locations or whether they ought to be moved to more hockey-friendly areas."
Toronto snags Hayes
"I like Ryan Getzlaf," said Dorchester's Jimmy Hayes after Toronto selected the forward with the second-to-last pick of the second round. "But I like Mats Sundin, too."
Hayes was once projected to be a first-round pick. But after splitting 2007-08 between USA Hockey's National Team Development Program and Lincoln of the USHL, Hayes saw his position drop.
"I didn't have the season that I wanted to have," said Hayes (4-11 -15 in 21 games for Lincoln). "Going into the season, I was a pretty high prospect. I believe I still am a high prospect. I'm just glad I got to fall to the Toronto Maple Leafs."
Hayes will head to Boston College, the defending NCAA champion, this fall. The 6-foot-4-inch, 210-pound Hayes said he aims to work on his skating under the watch of coach Jerry York.
Sticking around
The Bruins had all intentions of selecting a goalie yesterday, but perhaps as late as the fifth round. But they were intrigued by the puckhandling abilities of Michael Hutchinson, one reason they took him in the third round. "Really can handle the puck well," said general manager Peter Chiarelli. "I don't know when the last time was that a goalie like that was in our system. It's a dimension to his game." Hutchinson was one of 23 goalies taken in the draft . . . Pittsburgh GM Ray Shero said winger Marian Hossa will test free agency instead of re-signing with the Penguins prior to July 1. Hossa, who has said he'd take less money to play for a Stanley Cup contender, received a multiyear offer from the Penguins after they lost to Detroit in the Stanley Cup finals. He is virtually guaranteed at least $8 million annually on the open market, with the Bruins sure to be in the hunt, especially if Chiarelli clears salary. Shero said Pittsburgh should still be in mix after July 1.
Next phase
The trades Chiarelli had been discussing were related to the draft and moving up in the first round, not necessarily adding roster players for 2008-09. The talks, however, may shift as the Bruins and other clubs prepare for the opening of free agency. "It's the next stage," Chiarelli said. "I wouldn't call it a higher level of activity. It's the next stage - take a couple days off, sort through your roster." Chiarelli said he was not interested in trading for negotiating rights for players with expiring contracts . . . NESN did not renew the contract of Bruins reporter Rob Simpson for 2008-09. Play-by-play man Jack Edwards handled reporting duties at the draft.
