The National Hockey League (NHL) and its Players’ Association (NHLPA) are about to agree on a new collective agreement.
This was advanced by the ESPN network on Friday evening.
According to the American chain, it would be a six-year agreement. However, history still does not say whether we are talking about an extension of this agreement or a new agreement which would come into force after the 2021-2022 campaign.
The new employment contract would include several solutions regarding the loss of income due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It also seems that the salary ceiling would be frozen at $ 81.5 million for the next three seasons.
As regards the percentage of the athletes’ salary which must be paid to the owners (the “escrow”), it has been established that it could not be more than 20% for the first two years of the new agreement. Several people argued that it could have climbed to 35% due to the coronavirus.
In recent weeks, Artemi Panarin (New York Rangers) and Ryan Kesler (Anaheim Ducks) had also expressed their dissatisfaction with the “escrow”, saying that it was a system that favored the owners at the expense of the players.
In addition, athletes and owners would support a measure that would allow team holders to delay payment of 10% of their players’ wages. Hockey players would receive their dues in two years.
All of this must obviously be voted on by the 700 or so NHL players. The ballot could be held at the same time as the vote on the return to play protocol this summer. It should be held after the Bettman circuit has chosen the two cities that will be the theater of the 2019-2020 campaign qualifiers.
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