With NBA season threatened, NHL gives advice

SUNRISE, Fla. NBA players dont have to look hard to get advice from those who previously went through a prolonged work stoppage. There were 37 holdovers from the 1998-99 lockout active in the league last season, including union president Derek Fisher. Or would that now be trade association president Fisher? The NBA still was able to salvage a 50-game season the last time there was a lockout. But if NBA players want advice from guys who once missed an entire season due to a labor dispute, theres only one place to go. The NHL was sidelined all of 2004-05, leaving the Stanley Cup to gather dust. And with the NBA at risk to become the second pro sports league to have an entire season wiped out due to a labor issue, its bringing back memories for hockey players. Mind you, not good ones. Well, its not fun, thats for sure, when you look back on it," said Florida Panthers defenseman Brian Campbell, a three-time NHL All-Star who then was with Buffalo. There are some similarities between the two lockouts. Owners in each wanted to reel in salaries and gain more cost certainty. The NHL back then claimed it had lost 300 million in a season, a similar amount to what the NBA has claimed in annual losses. While the NHL was trying to implement a salary cap in 2004-05, the NBA long has had one. But players in the NBA have balked at owners wanting a harder salary cap while cutting the basketball-related income that players receive from 57 percent to 50 (NHL players get 54 percent). So while NBA players have dissolved their union to form a trade association and are filing antitrust suits against the league, NHL holdovers from 2004-05 are looking on with interest. I think they shouldnt fold," said Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Arron Asham, who then was with the New York Islanders, of NBA players. Its tough to sit out a full year, but sometimes you have to do it to get what you want. Its a tough call. My advice to them is to stay strong and stay untied . . . Hopefully, they dont cave in and fall into what the owners want." NHL players wouldnt settle, and a season was lost. But seven years later, some wonder if that might have been the best way to go. If you look at our deal that we ended up settling with and agreeing to, I dont see why it couldnt have been done in the time where we didnt have to miss any games," said Panthers defenseman Ed Jovanovski, a five-time All-Star who then was with Vancouver. They say for us, it was the same deal that was on the table that we signed later on. So why lose a year for it?" Campbell said. Opinions differ to this day on whether the NHL players did themselves any good by missing an entire season. Some believe the deal they got could have been reached much earlier while some believe it couldnt have been. As it turned out, the initial belief was players got killed in the agreement, which resulted in salary cuts and a cap set at 39 million per team in 2005-06. But NHL revenues, which are tied to the salary cap, have gone up more than many had projected. So now the salary floor, which is the minimum payroll for a team, is nearly 10 million higher than the 2005-06 ceiling, something that has ended up benefiting players. I dont think we would have gotten a better deal," said Penguins left wing Matt Cooke, who was Vancouvers union representative in 2004-05. I dont think there was a better deal to save the season, thats for sure. Frankly, I think weve done well in this new CBA (collective bargaining agreement)." Still, Cooke said it was tough on everybody that the NHL missed an entire season. And, while the NBA might end up suffering the same fate, NHL players have some words for the basketball guys on various topics: Losing money. Thats the most obvious drawback to missing a season. Losing a full years salary, no matter what it is and what the cut is going to be (between players and owners), its a no-win, I really think," Jovanovski said. Still, Pittsburgh defenseman Brooks Orpick said it cant be looked at in terms of just one season. You just got to look at it long term," said Orpick, who has played his entire career with the Penguins since he was a rookie in 2002-03. You cant look at it short term. You might lose a little money. But youve got to sacrifice yourself for one year, and its going to benefit not only you but the guys who play after you in the long run." When it comes to the NBA, Jovanovski believes high-salaried players might feel differently than rank-and-file players about quickly getting a deal done. Top-end players have already done pretty well financially," Jovanovski said. Those guys might have a different opinion than guys that are on the lower end of the pay scale. Those guys want to play . . . You ask a guy like maybe (Heat star) Dwyane Wade. Hes probably like, Lets finally get the best deal for everyone. If you ask maybe a guy thats kind on the lower end then, This money Im never going to get back. " Injuries. Jovanovski said NBA players need to be aware that, if a season is lost, it could be tough on the body. For me, missing a year, I came back and personally just started getting a little banged up here and there," Jovanovski said. Missing a year, youre not putting your body through those motions its used to. . .It was just injury after injury." Jovanovski elected that year not to head overseas to play. He eventually realized that perhaps wasnt the best decision. Going overseas. While about 70 NBA players so far have left to play outside the country, there were about 400 NHL players who did so during the 2004-05 lockout. There were more jobs available for hockey players than there are now for basketball players. For those who do go overseas, it can be exasperating not knowing the status of the season back home. You dont know when youre coming back," said Campbell, who played in Finland in 2004-05, staying over after the NHL officially cancelled its season on Feb. 16, 2005. Youre always kind of in limbo. It could be a phone call that youve got to come back. But when they say youre there for the season, youre there for the season. Im not sure the opportunities, how much theyre there for (NBA) players. But I think youll start seeing it a lot more (now going overseas)." Hurting the game. The NHL took a hit due to its lockout. Obviously, a missed NBA season also would hurt fan support. People lose interest," said Stephen Weiss, a Panthers center since entering the NHL in 2001-02. Out of sight, out of mind." Weiss, though, said the NHL did soon recover and has definitely gone upwards." And few dispute that. As for the NBA, Oprick believes the league would bounce back from a prolonged lockout faster than the NHL did. The NBA is a lot more established than hockey with a traditional fan base," said Oprick, referring to the NHL having teams in non-traditional markets, namely Southern cities. So I think for basketball it would probably come back quicker." Getting lucky. Perhaps there will be one NBA team that doesnt mind as much if an the entire season is lost. That would be the one that wins next springs draft lottery. Without a season to base a draft upon, the NHL in 2005 utilized a system that took into account each teams playoff appearances and first overall draft picks from the previous three years. Teams got either one, two or three balls for a drawing process. The winner of that lottery was Pittsburgh, one of four teams with three balls. The prize was star Sidney Crosby, who led the Penguins to the Stanley Cup in 2009 and will try to win another this season after returning Monday from a 10-month absence due to concussion-like symptoms. Sure, yeah, theres some silver lining," said defenseman Paul Martin, then with New Jersey and now with the Penguins. Its not always all negatives. But its just tough to see a whole year go to waste." Chris Tomasson can be reached at christomasson@hotmail.com or on Twitter @christomasson.