You would think it would be the other way around.
That the mega-million guys like Joe Thornton and Rick Nash would be the magnanimous ones, and a journeyman player like Domenic Pittis — far removed from his days as an NHLer and without many paychecques left in his European career — would champion the concept of hockey players looking out for one another.
But as another day passed this week, and another big name NHLer took a job in Europe — this time the Ottawa Senators Jason Spezza is going to Switzerland — Pittis sat at home in Calgary without a renewal of his Swiss deal after eight productive seasons overseas.
All the jobs are being saved for locked out NHLers. So he’s out of work, for now.
"Aw, if you have a talent, and somebody else wants to pay you for it…" he said. "It’s kind of the system in which we’re brought up. I understand it."
To Pittis’ credit, he’s trying not to be bitter.
Pittis was your consummate fringe NHLer, playing 86 games over nine seasons for Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Edmonton and Nashville. You’ve seen him in Spengler Cups, that ex-Pat Canuck who has found his niche as a European import.
He makes his US $375,000 and comes home to Calgary in the summer. He’s not NHL-rich, taking in the last of his $2.1 million career NHL earnings almost a decade ago. But he’s doing just fine over in the Swiss A League.
That is, until Spezza, Thornton, Nash and the boys decide to snap up an import roster spot to stay in shape for when their real job returns.
Is the lockout the reason Pittis is still sitting at home in Calgary without a contract?
"I think so," Pittis allowed. "We had won last year with Zurich. Imports play pretty important role, and having won, I thought it wouldn’t be too hard to get another gig for the next year. But teams are waiting for things to happen. They anticipate those guys coming over. I think it has definitely affected my job situation thus far."
In the midst of a US $49 million deal, Spezza was to make $8 million this season. Thornton will collect his $1 million signing bonus this season regardless, and take home whatever is left of his $7 million salary when hockey returns.
Nash? He’s got more money than God, in the middle of an eight-year, $62.4 million contract.
At nearly 38, Pittis would take whatever portion of his usual salary he can get, at this point. He doesn’t have much time left.
"We were all a bit naïve," he says of his fellow imports. "We all anticipated that they would have (a new CBA) resolved. I don’t think we anticipated … a lockout. I guess it is what it is."
They stand strong as a union here in North America, so it seems a bit inconsistent that NHL players could have no qualms about taking a job from a fellow NHLPA member now playing overseas.
It’s a pretty convenient definition of a brotherhood, if you ask us. A brotherhood with borders.
"I understand that point of view. But for me, I’m 23 years old. I want to play hockey," San Jose’s Logan Couture told Sportsnet’s Hockey Central at Noon on Tuesday. He’s on his way to Geneva, Switzerland.
Couture signed a two-year, $5.75 million deal this summer. He is still just 23 and will earn over $50 million in his career. Perhaps as much as $100 million.
But, as he says, "I want to play hockey."
Like he’s the only one.
"We lost in the first round last year. I only played five playoff games," he said. "I’m coming off surgery on my shoulder. I have to get out and play the game.
"There have already been … four guys from our team who have committed to play over in Europe (Thornton, Demers, Handzus)."
It’s the old, "Don’t look at me. I’m not the only one."
Zurich, where Pittis has played for the past five seasons and tied for second in scoring last year, has already picked up Gilbert Brule and Ryan Shannon. They’re in the market for bigger fish than Pittis, now that the lockout is on.
"They definitely sign them from a marketing standpoint," said Pittis. "They know they’re going to sell more tickets and jerseys."
Forget unity, the brotherhood, or loyalty from a team like Zurich to a player like Pittis. It’s about money folks.
‘Twas ever thus.