nccanes
06-19-2003, 07:43 AM
ECHL: Labor dispute affects Blades
06/19/2003
By ANDY KENT, ankent@naplesnews.com
ESTERO — The Florida Everblades would like to proceed to build their team for the 2003-04 ECHL season. But doing so remains one of those "gray areas" for a number of reasons.
Typically, the month of June is an uncertain one for ECHL teams because of the unpredictability of the NHL Entry Draft (this Saturday in Nashville, Tenn.). Where young prospects from the college and junior ranks are picked directly affects the free-agent market for minor-league teams. The developmental strategy of NHL clubs like Florida's parent affiliate, the Carolina Hurricanes, also is impacted.
But this year, another variable has come into play — one the NHL likely will be faced with before the 2004-05 season. That variable is an ongoing labor dispute between the ECHL and the Professional Hockey Players Association (PHPA).
The two sides continue to be far apart in negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement to replace the one that expired on May 31. As a result, teams trying to map out their rosters and negotiate with players and agents are at a disadvantage because as of now there are no parameters in place in regards to salary and roster restrictions.
"We are a bit hamstrung right now because we don't know what the cap's going to be and we don't know the veteran status," Everblades head coach Gerry Fleming said Wednesday. "There are a lot of issues that are spotty right now when you're talking to a kid and he wants this and you're talking to an agent and he recommends that. You've just gotta say, 'I don't know if I can do that yet because I'm waiting on the CBA.' We're at that point."
Fleming is of the opinion that the dispute is going to get resolved in a timely fashion and that what will come out of it will be the status quo or something close to it. He said he thinks that the way the league has expanded makes it important for both sides to get the CBA resolved in a manner that appeases owners and players.
ECHL Commissioner Brian McKenna attended last week's annual PHPA meetings in Orlando and answered questions from player representatives and union leaders. He since has received a counter proposal from the PHPA to the initial one the league presented prior to the end of last season. Both sides intend to meet again before the end of the month.
"I think they're making steady progress," said Everblades team president/general manager Craig Brush, who was named chairman of the league's Board of Governors earlier this month. "Labor negotiations always take a little bit longer than what everybody would like. But I can't comment on labor negotiations."
Brush said he and Fleming have been busy during the offseason fielding calls from agents and Fleming has been making calls as they get faxes and information about prospective players. They also have formed a "skeleton" roster along with assistant coach Terry Lindgren based on the type of players they expect to have assigned by Carolina's American Hockey League affiliate in Lowell, Mass.
Fleming also said he, Brush and Lindgren have started on the team's travel budget, immigration paperwork, workman's compensation issues and preparing qualifying offers for players from last year's team who were under ECHL contracts.
"It will be a new-look team this time around," Fleming said. "I think we're going to be a lot younger this year. Young and hungry with that physical presence every night. How young will be determined by the CBA."
NOTES: In reference to the goaltending situation within the organization, Fleming was able to give an update on the condition of rookie Daniel Boisclair, who opened last season in an Everblades uniform then went on the 60-day disabled list. Boisclair, who had a bout with anemia and was sent down to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in December, recently had his spleen removed. He was cleared two weeks ago to start skating again and Fleming said he expects the 20-year-old to be in Carolina's training camp in September. ... The Arkansas Riverblades notified the ECHL last week that they intend to relocate or be sold, throwing a monkey wrench into the schedule that was released in May. Florida was not scheduled to play Arkansas, but the Everblades' road schedule could be affected by how the new schedule is drawn up.
06/19/2003
By ANDY KENT, ankent@naplesnews.com
ESTERO — The Florida Everblades would like to proceed to build their team for the 2003-04 ECHL season. But doing so remains one of those "gray areas" for a number of reasons.
Typically, the month of June is an uncertain one for ECHL teams because of the unpredictability of the NHL Entry Draft (this Saturday in Nashville, Tenn.). Where young prospects from the college and junior ranks are picked directly affects the free-agent market for minor-league teams. The developmental strategy of NHL clubs like Florida's parent affiliate, the Carolina Hurricanes, also is impacted.
But this year, another variable has come into play — one the NHL likely will be faced with before the 2004-05 season. That variable is an ongoing labor dispute between the ECHL and the Professional Hockey Players Association (PHPA).
The two sides continue to be far apart in negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement to replace the one that expired on May 31. As a result, teams trying to map out their rosters and negotiate with players and agents are at a disadvantage because as of now there are no parameters in place in regards to salary and roster restrictions.
"We are a bit hamstrung right now because we don't know what the cap's going to be and we don't know the veteran status," Everblades head coach Gerry Fleming said Wednesday. "There are a lot of issues that are spotty right now when you're talking to a kid and he wants this and you're talking to an agent and he recommends that. You've just gotta say, 'I don't know if I can do that yet because I'm waiting on the CBA.' We're at that point."
Fleming is of the opinion that the dispute is going to get resolved in a timely fashion and that what will come out of it will be the status quo or something close to it. He said he thinks that the way the league has expanded makes it important for both sides to get the CBA resolved in a manner that appeases owners and players.
ECHL Commissioner Brian McKenna attended last week's annual PHPA meetings in Orlando and answered questions from player representatives and union leaders. He since has received a counter proposal from the PHPA to the initial one the league presented prior to the end of last season. Both sides intend to meet again before the end of the month.
"I think they're making steady progress," said Everblades team president/general manager Craig Brush, who was named chairman of the league's Board of Governors earlier this month. "Labor negotiations always take a little bit longer than what everybody would like. But I can't comment on labor negotiations."
Brush said he and Fleming have been busy during the offseason fielding calls from agents and Fleming has been making calls as they get faxes and information about prospective players. They also have formed a "skeleton" roster along with assistant coach Terry Lindgren based on the type of players they expect to have assigned by Carolina's American Hockey League affiliate in Lowell, Mass.
Fleming also said he, Brush and Lindgren have started on the team's travel budget, immigration paperwork, workman's compensation issues and preparing qualifying offers for players from last year's team who were under ECHL contracts.
"It will be a new-look team this time around," Fleming said. "I think we're going to be a lot younger this year. Young and hungry with that physical presence every night. How young will be determined by the CBA."
NOTES: In reference to the goaltending situation within the organization, Fleming was able to give an update on the condition of rookie Daniel Boisclair, who opened last season in an Everblades uniform then went on the 60-day disabled list. Boisclair, who had a bout with anemia and was sent down to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in December, recently had his spleen removed. He was cleared two weeks ago to start skating again and Fleming said he expects the 20-year-old to be in Carolina's training camp in September. ... The Arkansas Riverblades notified the ECHL last week that they intend to relocate or be sold, throwing a monkey wrench into the schedule that was released in May. Florida was not scheduled to play Arkansas, but the Everblades' road schedule could be affected by how the new schedule is drawn up.