- A shorter season should spice up the competition
- No cap issues this season, but next year could present some
- What are the biggest changes in this ABC?
USA TODAY Sports hockey columnist Kevin Allen answers questions about the tentative deal and the season:
When will the 2012-2013 NHL season start and how many games will be played?
It remains to be determined. The NHL would like to play a 50-game season and have it start before January 19. Each team would play in a conference-only format with five divisional games and three games against all other conference opponents. However, the league is still trying to determine if this is feasible. A minimum of 48 matches will be played.
How will a shorter season affect the competition?
A season of 50 or 48 games should make it more open. The race becomes a sprint rather than a marathon. Last season, after 50 games, the Minnesota Wild were among the best teams in the league and found themselves near the bottom of the standings. Last season’s Stanley Cup champions, the Los Angeles Kings, didn’t look like a champion after 50 games. The teams with the advantage could be those with the most players in Europe.
Will teams have salary cap issues this season?
Not in this abbreviated season, because the cap is prorated to that planned ($70.2 million) before the negotiation of this new collective agreement. But in year two, the new salary cap will be $64.3 million and some teams will struggle due to future commitments. Seven teams have committed more than $54 million for this season. But two buyouts will be allowed per team to ease the transition to a lower cap. This would help a team like the Montreal Canadiens, who could buy out Scott Gomez without penalty. More teams would have been in trouble if the owners had gotten a $60 million cap hit.
What are the big changes in this ABC?
Owners and players share hockey revenue 50-50. The players obtained 57% in the last one. Players are limited to seven-year contracts. A player who re-signs with his own team is entitled to an eighth year. Additionally, there is a 35% year-over-year variance limit on multi-year contracts, and no annual salary can be less than 50% of the highest year. The owners wanted this to prevent teams from marking years of low salaries at the end of multi-year contracts in order to reduce the cap. Another interesting change: All 14 non-playoff shots will be involved in the lottery to win the first pick in the draft. Previously, only the bottom five teams had the chance to pick No. 1. Other non-qualifiers could gain four places.
Changes in free agency?
A: No change in qualification, but one could argue that teams in smaller markets might have more opportunity to keep their free agents because they can offer an extra year. In addition, the richest teams no longer have the advantage of being able to make serious contracts early in the contract, as the Philadelphia Flyers did last summer in an attempt to lure Shea Weber away from the Predators from Nashville.
Did the owners or players win?
Impossible to know. The consensus after the 2004-05 lockout was that the owners were the big winners by getting a salary cap and a 24% cut, but the CBA worked well for the players. Their salaries have increased enough that the NHLPA has chosen to extend this agreement twice. In this CBA, players have given up a lot, but it’s too early to know how they will fare under the new rules. if incomes continue to rise, their salaries will continue to rise. One of the truths of professional sports is that the best players are always well paid. The other answer would be that both sides lost because the image of the game suffered.
| What was proposed and what was the final verdict on key CBA topics: |
||||
| Category |
The owners |
Players |
Final |
|
| Duration of the CBA |
10 years with 8 year opt-out |
8 years with 6 year opt-out |
10 and 8 |
|
| Contract durations |
5 years, 7 for your own free agent |
8 years despite everything |
7 years, 8 for his own free agent |
|
| Contract gap |
5% year over year, then offered 10% |
The lowest year cannot be less than 25% of the highest year |
35% year over year, the lowest cannot be less than 50% of the highest |
|
| Second year salary cap |
60 million dollars |
$65 million |
$64.3 million |
|
| Compliance buyouts |
1 per team |
2 per team |
2 per team |
|
