Players cautiously optimistic after NHL offers 50-50 split of revenue
On Tuesday, the NHL made a new offer to the NHLPA that Commissioner Gary Bettman believes could allow a full 82-game schedule and get the season started by Nov. 2, according to NBC Sports.
The proposal offers players a 50-50 split of hockey-related revenue and also protects the player salaries to an extent.
According to Darren Dreger of TSN, the “NHL intends on calculating lost salary in getting to 50-50 and will pay the players back over time.”
A move such as this would be necessary since the NHLPA has said that it will not accept a deal that involves a cut in pay.
The NHLPA’s executive director Donald Fehr would not comment on the specifics of the offer but said it was an “excellent starting point.” According to Fehr, the term of the proposal would last “at least six years.”
“This gets the ball rolling,” said Alex Tanguay of the Calgary Flames. “That’s what we were talking about. We were hoping something would come out — whether it was on their side or our side.”
Like Tanguay, New York Rangers netminder Henrik Lundqvist was also cautiously optimistic, deciding that he will not leave to play overseas yet.
“I have made the decision not to join Frolunda at this time,” Lundqvist tweeted. “Still waiting to see what’s going to happen with the lockout…”
Meanwhile, some players, like Jody Shelley of the Philadelphia Flyers believe this to be more of a starting point.
“Glad they’re talking big issues and seems like it may be a point to which we can finally get serious,” Shelley said. “But who knows.”
The league last proposed an offer on Sept. 12 that involved players receiving 49 percent of hockey-related revenue in Year 1, 48 percent in Year 2 and 47 percent in the remaining four years.
Under the terms of the last CBA players had received 57 percent of hockey-related revenue.
