The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Commissioner Gary Bettman addressed another target of Union misinformation ? the issue of guaranteed contracts ? in an interview Wednesday, Oct. 27 on WBNS SportsRadio 1460 in Columbus with hosts Doug MacLean and Jeff Rimer. The Commissioner stated the League is not insisting on removing guaranteed contracts as part of a cost-certain system in a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. In fact, the Commissioner said, the topic never has been discussed with the Union in collective bargaining. Excerpts of Bettman interview on WBNS in Columbus: Doug MacLean: Gary, a question that is often asked of me and is out there. And players continually make this comment that they cannot accept the salary cap because they can't give up guaranteed contracts. Gary Bettman: I'm glad you raised the question. First of all, you don't have to get rid of guaranteed contracts with a salary cap. The NBA has guaranteed contracts. Secondly, we've never discussed the issue with the Union. Never. And that's the crazy thing about the Union saying that to the players. If they are saying that, and you and I have heard it as rumors, then they're doing it simply to inflame the players on this whole issue. But I've got to tell you, (a) you can have a salary cap or a cost-certain system or a partnership with guaranteed contracts and (b) we have never discussed the issue with them. Jeff Rimer: It's not a rumor - it's fact, because you hear members of the executive of the NHLPA, including Bill Guerin, who we have a lot of respect for as a player and he was here for the World Cup of Hockey at Team USA's training camp, he said that we cannot give in on a salary cap because of this guaranteed contract situation. How do you get word out that one has nothing to do with the other? Gary Bettman: I just did. It's insane for us to be in that position where we're arguing over things we haven't even discussed. And as I said, the NBA system has guaranteed contracts. So, the proposition is absurd on its face.
