Today in New York, the NHL and NHLPA are formally negotiating for the first time since the CBA expired and the league locked out the players.
The two sides are expected to focus on non-core economic issues after failing to substantially close the gap on how to divvy up the league’s hockey-related revenue.
It’s hoped coming together on secondary issues like safety, scheduling, supplementary discipline, contract lengths, and arbitration rights might create some positive momentum in the bargaining process.
“All those things have a huge impact on the players and on the game,” Blackahawks captain Jonathan Toews told the Chicago Sun-Times. “It’s probably one of those things right now that is being overshadowed by the revenue-sharing and the big issues that have been really talked about in the last couple of months. But it doesn’t mean they’re not important.”
Related: Daly says union needs to compromise or “we wont’ be going anywhere fast”