Thunderstruck said:
A more complete version of the story can be found at this
link.
A key passage notes the pushing of Goodenow to the periphery and his attempt to squash the deal.
Beware of this article...the wording used is eerily familiar.
Either Bruce Garrioch is Eklund, Bruce Garrioch's source is Eklund's website and this article is full of crap, or Eklund actually has some sources....
Ottawa Sun on 5/26/05
"Union boss Bob Goodenow sent a message to the players on their website Monday indicating the league will not move off its stance of a 54% link to revenues." and "he told the players to contact him personally if they wanted more information."
Eklund on 5/24/05
"...according to this source, "Bob did say the NHL was sticking to its 54% number, but the tone was neither negative or positive." and "He has also said players should call him to get a better understanding."
Ottawa Sun on 5/26/05
"But there is talk NHLPA president Trevor Linden and past president Mike Gartner are playing more active roles in the negotiations."
Eklund on 5/24/05
"To that point, it is more and more evident that Trevor Linden is in charge, that's why last weeks meetings lasted as long as they did....The new CBA will have the signatures of Trevor Linden and Ted Saskin or Mike Gartner."
Ottawa Sun on 5/26/05
"There's also a rumour circulating that Red Wings winger Brendan Shanahan, who formed a committee to make improvments to the game, has also been working behind the scenes to play a central role in getting the two sides to go in the same direction."
Eklund on 5/23/05
"It has also been told to me that Brendan Shanahan is playing a much larger role in the current talks over the last few sessions...."
Ottawa Sun on 5/26
"One area where the players might try to gain ground is in unrestricted free agency. There's talk the two sides were discussing moving the age of UFAs to 30 next season and then scaling it back to 28 over the course of four years."
Eklund on 5/25
"The PA would not like a sudden drop in FA. Such a drop would the flood the market in the upcoming months prior to the 05-06 season...Look for a gradual fall...30 this season, 29 next, then 28 for the duration"
Ottawa Sun on 5/26
"A well-placed league source told the Sun yesterday that talks between the NHL and NHLPA have progressed to the point they're "closest they've ever been," but cautioned there's plenty of work to do."
Eklund on 5/22
"There is still much work to do but rumor is they are over the hump and down to the give and take game."