'Not a fun process'

Friday, 04 January 2013 16:17

Written by Shelly Anderson

Penguins forward and team union representative Craig Adams returned to practice at Southpointe with eight teammates today after spending part of the week in New York for collective bargaining between the NHLPA and the NHL.

"It's not a fun process, and nobody wants to be doing it," Adams said, "but we've got to figure out a way to come to an agreement at some point."

The 2012-13 season could be canceled as early as sometime next week without a new collective bargaining agreement and an end to the lockout that began in mid-September.

"There are just things that we needed to get squared away," Adams said. "That takes time. It's frustrating that we're still talking about those things at this point, but that's what it is. We're taking the time to get certain issues sorted out."

Among the latest sticking points are player pensions and the 2013-14 salary cap.

Today, for the second day in a row, federal mediator Scot Beckenbaugh has been involved. He met separately with league representatives and union representatives. There was no word during the afternoon whether that might lead to face-to-face negotiations later today.

Adams said while he was in New York meetings ranged from big groups to small groups to sessions with a mediator.

"The whole process has been contentious," he said. "Not in an unprofessional way, but when you're talking about jobs, you tend to take it personally, even if you shouldn't."

Mediation about a month ago did not produce a resolution. Adams was asked if returning to that form of negotiation was encouraging or a step back.

"It's neither," he said. "If it can help and both sides want him to be there and are going to do their best to use him to come to an agreement, then it can't hurt."