Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin believes if National Hockey League players were forced into large pay cuts that him and many players would think about finding a job elsewhere.
On Tuesday at the Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Washington, Ovechkin told a group of reporters that the league and its owners look stupid and he would consider leaving the NHL if his contract was reduced by 15 or 20 percent.
“I’m going to think about it, but I hope not. It’s something the league wants for all the players. (Sidney) Crosby just signed, (Ryan) Suter, (Shea) Weber just signed huge deals. They want to cut 24 percent for nothing? I don’t think it’s fair enough.”
im ready to fight for NHLPA!!!! Hahaha!! twitter.com/ovi8/status/24… — Alex Ovechkin (@ovi8) September 4, 2012
im ready to fight for NHLPA!!!! Hahaha!! twitter.com/ovi8/status/24…
— Alex Ovechkin (@ovi8) September 4, 2012
The NHL’s current Collective Bargaining Agreement expires on Sept. 15 and there will be a lockout unless team owners and the NHL Players’ Association can reach an agreement. One of the main points of contention between the two sides has been players being asked to give back a percentage of their salaries.
“It’s not fair for us,” Ovechkin said. “They still make money. They still sell tickets and they have money. Why they sign us to long-term deals and that kind of money and when the CBA is done they want to cut our salary? Why do they want to cut 20 percent? If they’re going to cut a percentage of the contracts and years, I don’t think lots of guys who sign American deals are going to come back and play here. It’s not reasonable to be here. You have to think of your future. You have to think of your family.”
The two-time Hart Memorial Trophy winner as the league’s MVP added that it’s not just players thinking about themselves and fellow players either. Ovechkin said the NHLPA is thinking about how to help smaller market teams succeed and that if the league gets its way the NHL would be in jeopardy of potentially losing talent.
“We want to help teams that financially are not that good and the league knows it. They tell (us) what they want and think that cutting our salaries and our contract years is going to help that,” Ovechkin explained. “Why are they still signing guys for 10 years and not five years? It’s strange and they look stupid. They right now say they want to cut salary and everything. Lots of guys just won’t come back if this happens.”
As the deadline approaches it doesn’t sound like a deal will come easily from either side.
“Of course it’s going to be hard and of course it’s going to be a long time to wait. But it is what it is. Everybody wants to play hockey and make money. Nobody wants to play for free.
“Of course nobody wants to be in a position to be in a lockout, but it is what it is and we’re not going to give up … I don’t think we’re close enough to make a deal. It’s all about the owners and (Gary) Bettman.”
