Hartnell part of NHLPA negotiating
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Hartnell part of NHLPA negotiating
Facing one of the most important crossroads in the NHL’s recent history, one Flyer will have a big say in whether next hockey season starts on time.
After a three-day executive board meeting at the Peninsula hotel in Chicago, the NHL Players’ Association announced that 31 players, including Flyers forward Scott Hartnell, will be a part of the negotiating committee with executive director Donald Fehr.
Hartnell, 30, spent three seasons as the Flyers’ team representative for the NHLPA. Braydon Coburn is the Flyers’ current team representative, but not a member of the negotiating committee.
Soon-to-be free agent defenseman Matt Carle was also one of 56 players to attend the meetings in Chicago.
"It’s great to see that so many Players have chosen to participate in bargaining and get involved in the important work ahead for their Association,” Fehr said in a statement. “I’m certain this group of Players and all Players who will be attending bargaining sessions will do a great job.”
According to multiple reports, negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement – which expires on Sept. 15 – are set to begin on Friday.
Bargaining sessions will be open to all players. Other players may soon be added to the negotiating committee.
Currently, players earn a maximum of 57 percent of league revenues, and the NHL will surely try to push that number closer to the 50 percent that players in the NFL and NBA now receive after two separate lockouts.
The NHL, of course, lost an entire season in 2004-05 due to a lockout, making it the only year since 1919 that no Stanley Cup was awarded.
NHLPA Negotiating Committee:
Craig Adams (Pittsburgh Penguins)
Adrian Aucoin (Phoenix Coyotes)
Alex Auld (Ottawa Senators)
David Backes (St. Louis Blues)
Marty Biron (New York Rangers)
Brad Boyes (Buffalo Sabres)
Chris Campoli (Montreal Canadiens)
B.J. Crombeen (St. Louis Blues)
Mathieu Darche (Montreal Canadiens)
Rick DiPietro (New York Islanders)
Shane Doan (Phoenix Coyotes)
Brandon Dubinsky (New York Rangers)
Ruslan Fedotenko (New York Rangers)
Alex Goligoski (Dallas Stars)
Ron Hainsey (Winnipeg Jets)
Scott Hartnell (Philadelphia Flyers)
Jamie Langenbrunner (St. Louis Blues)
Manny Malhotra (Vancouver Canucks)
Steve Montador (Chicago Blackhawks)
Dominic Moore (San Jose Sharks)
Brendan Morrison (Chicago Blackhawks)
Douglas Murray (San Jose Sharks)
George Parros (Anaheim Ducks)
Chris Phillips (Ottawa Senators)
Cory Schneider (Vancouver Canucks)
John Tavares (New York Islanders)
Shea Weber (Nashville Predators)
Kevin Westgarth (Los Angeles Kings)
Dan Winnik (San Jose Sharks)
James Wisniewski (Columbus Blue Jackets)
Henrik Zetterberg (Detroit Red Wings)
For the latest updates, follow Frank Seravalli on Twitter: @DNFlyers
When there is a clause in the next CBA regarding hazard pay for players who fall down 10 times a game for no apparent reason, we will know who to thank.— AreaMan- Lets just hope and pray they get this deal done ASAP so that the season starts on time the NHL can't afford a lock out again now that they are not only getting more fans to go to games but more are watching on TV and the interenet! Hey Harts make sure we get this done!— srcdaddy1216
- nothing good can come from this for hartnell. he has gotten his game together. He doesnt need this distraction— atleaglefan
- If I remember correctly the last CBA was held up by a dispute not only with the players but also between big and small dollar clubs. How do the Flyers feel about capping themselves to such an extent? The ticket prices are already hard to stomach. Should the fans pay $50/ticket more than say, Columbus, to see a team that can't spend that extra money on better talent?— TongueWagger
- The person that scares me the most in this is Don Fehr. Let us not forget that he was the MLBPA head when MLB was shutdown from 1994-1995, to include the World Series. I see him taking a similar hardline stance with owners during these negotiations. Another shutdown of hockey can potentially cause irreparable harm to the sport just as its popularity is growing.— dmac62
- This isn't the same as 2004-05. They had to construct an entirely new system. This negotiating is a tweak. The player representatives are there for show. This is what lawyers and professional negotiators are for.— sklandog
- I wonder if Craig Adams is going to pull Scott Hartnell's hair at the negotiation table.— Flyerne3981
