Brendan McDermid – Reuters
After talks between the NHL and NHLPA stalled more than a week ago, the two will meet again Wednesday where it’s expected that the NHLPA will present a new offer. Both sides met briefly last week in informal meetings in New York to help each other better understand their points of view. On Wednesday it’s expected that some 300 NHL players and 29 of the leagues governors will meet, in hopes to save the league from a lockout.
The NHL’s current proposal would see the players take a cut from 57% to 46% of the leagues revenue, which would mean an immediate drop of 19.3% in salary. The players countered by suggesting the number be lowered to 52% to 54% over the next three years with it returning to 57% in the fourth year, the NHL quickly shot this down.
The NHL is also asking for a longer term agreement between the two, with a minimum of six years being the goal, while the NHLPA was looking for a three to four year agreement.
The new offer from the NHLPA won’t be made public until tomorrow at the earliest after meetings have concluded, but it’s expected the fourth year will be altered to reflect the percentages of the earlier years. An extension may also be expected instead of the four years they previously had presented, in hopes of coming to a compromise.
NHL training camps are scheduled to start a little over a week from now and if either side hopes for them to start on time this deal will be the basis of that. It could also open the doors for more formal discussions to commence with hope that even if training camps don’t start on time, the season will still not be lost.
Check back for more information regarding the talks being held on September 12th, as well as any other information on the collective bargaining agreement as it becomes available to us.
