Recchi: Players should take owners' deal

Retired NHL forward Mark Recchi, now a part owner of the WHL's Kamloops Blazers, told The Boston Globe that he feels the locked-out players should accept what the owners are offering and get back on the ice. 

Recchi said that the owners' offers are only going to get worse over time, so he believes the players should take what they can get now. 

“The longer they’re out, the revenues are going to go down and down,’’ Recchi said. “Corporate sponsors aren’t going to be lining up ... so there goes that money. The schedule isn’t going to be 82 games, I don’t think, at this point. That’s more money lost. So, how are you going to get a better deal? Personally, I think the best time is now.’’

Recchi also said that regardless of how the deal looks for the players in the court of public opinion, the players should realize that these don't end up as bad as they may look at first. 

"The players always get their money,’’ he said. “They’re always going to get paid, no matter what. Look at that last deal. We ended up with the cap and everyone thought it was a bad deal. But it ended up great, right? No matter what the system is, or has been, the players get their money. No matter what the contract, the owners always find a way to pay them more. That’s why I say, get a deal and get back in there. ... The money’s always there.’’

All NHL games through November, as well as the annual Winter Classic, have been canceled due to the lack of a collective bargaining agreement between the owners and the NHL players association. 

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