Remember when the NHLPA wanted protection from the “aftermath” of the lockout? Well, it still probably wants it, but it’s no longer demanding it, according to Yahoo! Sports.
The NHL Players’ Association backed off on its proposal that the players’ share could not go backwards in terms of dollars starting in Year 2. It had been a non-starter for the NHL.
Basically, under the players’ previous proposal, their combined pay would drop in Year 1 as their percentage of hockey-related revenue dropped from 57 to 50. After that, their combined pay would never be less than the previous year, even if HRR went down.
The NHL understandably wanted no part of the PA’s proposal given the uncertain future of a league that’s suffering through its third work stoppage in 20 years, not to mention the tenuous state of the economy.
“There is no way to predict,” said commissioner Gary Bettman when asked how long it would take for the NHL to recover from the work stoppage.
Yahoo! is also reporting the NHLPA proposed a limited mid-level cap exception, similar to the one in the NBA (that made Drew Gooden rich) as a way to ease the squeeze on the league’s middle class that the players have argued will be a consequence of max length contracts. (The league isn’t convinced of the argument.)