Welcome Back, NHL UPDATE: 1:50PM ET, 7/13/05... It's official, the NHL has announced an agreement "in principal" between the Owners & NHLPA.
A 6-year deal has been reached by the NHL & NHLPA which will end the 298 day lockout. Although the deal could be announced today, Gary Bettman has decided to wait until Wednesday to do so. Apparently he wants to wait until after the MLB All-Star game and announce the deal on the day after, when there is no baseball and subsequently no other sports related news.
In other words, he wants the top sports story with all of the media outlets.
Key details of the deal are expected to be as follows:
* Team max salary cap between $37-$39M. A minimum salary cap will be between $21-$24M.
* Player salaries will be capped leaguewide at 54% of the previous years revenues.
* All player salaries will be rolled back 24%, including any qualifying offers made for free agents.
* No player can earn more than 20% of his team's salary cap, or $7.4-$7.8M per year.
* Players will also not have any medial / dental insurance.
Personally, I could care less what the financial terms are. Just bring the game back already!
From what I've read, a large majority of the players are upset with union rep Bob Goodenow and blaming him for needlessly burning an entire season.
My bet is that he'll resign, or be fired before camps open. |