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Let's Go Devils
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By BRUCE GARRIOCH, SUN MEDIA
The NHL season could go down without a fight. Ottawa Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson, a vice-president on the NHL Players' Association executive committee, told the Sun yesterday the union is "willing to lose the season."
Speaking from his home in Goteborg, Sweden, Alfredsson said he had discussions with union officials last week and the players aren't going to do anything to change the offer of a 24% rollback they made Dec. 9.
"We're not working on anything ... We're not going to do anything to change our offer," said Alfredsson.
"We've got nothing else planned. We felt that we gave them our best offer.
"We're willing to lose the season if that's what it takes. We're prepared for it."
There have been no formal talks between the two sides since the NHL flatly rejected the players' offer Dec. 14. The NHL countered with an offer structured with a salary cap which included pay cuts of more than 30% for the league's highest-paid players.
Although there has been talk the players are putting pressure on union boss Bob Goodenow to get a deal in place, Alfredsson says the union remains united in its fight against a cap.
"Everybody I've spoken with ... support what we're trying to do," said Alfredsson.
Next up on the lockout agenda is a meeting between Bettman and the NHL's board of governors in New York Jan. 14.
The NHL season could go down without a fight. Ottawa Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson, a vice-president on the NHL Players' Association executive committee, told the Sun yesterday the union is "willing to lose the season."
Speaking from his home in Goteborg, Sweden, Alfredsson said he had discussions with union officials last week and the players aren't going to do anything to change the offer of a 24% rollback they made Dec. 9.
"We're not working on anything ... We're not going to do anything to change our offer," said Alfredsson.
"We've got nothing else planned. We felt that we gave them our best offer.
"We're willing to lose the season if that's what it takes. We're prepared for it."
There have been no formal talks between the two sides since the NHL flatly rejected the players' offer Dec. 14. The NHL countered with an offer structured with a salary cap which included pay cuts of more than 30% for the league's highest-paid players.
Although there has been talk the players are putting pressure on union boss Bob Goodenow to get a deal in place, Alfredsson says the union remains united in its fight against a cap.
"Everybody I've spoken with ... support what we're trying to do," said Alfredsson.
Next up on the lockout agenda is a meeting between Bettman and the NHL's board of governors in New York Jan. 14.
