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June 4, 2005Labor talks leave Lewis encouragedRed Wings' coach has rare off time during lockoutByRecord-Eagle sports editor BELLAIRE - Dave Lewis expects to be in Traverse City for training camp in September. Whether or not there is a training camp at Centre ICE remains to be seen, though. Still, the Detroit Red Wings coach remains upbeat. Lewis said he's been "encouraged" this week by talks between representatives for the players and owners as they try to hammer out a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The stalemate forced the cancellation of the 2004-05 National Hockey League season. "The good news is that they're still talking," said Lewis, who participated in Tom Izzo's Celebrity Challenge at The Chief Golf Course near Bellaire. "They've accelerated the talks. "It's getting to the point where organizations have to get schedules in place, they have to sell advertising, they have to start marketing. In talking to some of the players, I know they want to get back to playing. "Hopefully, these talks will continue to be strong and have a good impact on the overall state of what they're trying to accomplish. "We've gone through a lot of ups and downs in the last year. But I'm encouraged by the talks. I sense there's a bit more urgency than there's been in the past." The league took a hit last weekend when ESPN announced it would not pick up its $60 million option for the 2005-06 season. That leaves the league without a national cable television partner. "That doesn't help at all," Lewis said. "I don't know if ESPN is totally going to stay away from hockey or try to renegotiate after a CBA is done. Anytime you lose a TV contract, though, it hurts." Poor ratings led to the demise of the deal. Lewis emphasized the league will need to reach out to its fans, especially to those who lost interest during the lockout, once play resumes. He said the league can survive the lockout. "We have great athletes ... a great game," he said. "I believe there are enough fans out there to make this work. I do believe that once we get started again we need to give something back to the fans to make sure they are in tune to what we're trying to do in enhancing the game. We can do things to enhance our product on and off the ice. We can do things to give fans what they want to see. Other sports have done it and we've been slow in doing it." For Lewis, who's been in professional hockey for more than 30 years, this past year was "very out of the norm." "I've been doing this routine since the 1972-73 season when I broke in with the New York Islanders," he said. "Every winter it's been go, go, go. This year has been so bizarre. I always say I've been married 30 years but only home 15. This year I've been home too much, my wife says. It's a different feeling." Once a new CBA is agreed upon, Lewis said general managers will have to react quickly in sizing up the market - and signing players. Most teams will have a number of free agents. "There are hundreds of unrestricted free agents out there," Lewis said. "It's the biggest group ever."
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