Coming out of the lockout in 2005, the NHL had nearly all the leverage over the NHL Players' Association. The league worked that dominance to its advantage, virtually dictating the terms of a new collective bargaining agreement. Players took a 24 percent salary cut, among other things.
Now the league wants out of the deal it created, according to two reports.
The Hockey News and Sports Business Journal are reporting the league has informed the players that it intends to terminate the CBA when it expires Sept. 15. Each side had to inform the other 120 days before the expiration if it wanted to modify or terminate the agreement.
The players would have liked to keep a CBA that has seen the salary cap (and salaries) rise dramatically every season. The league, despite dictating the terms, felt the agreement was no longer in its favor.
The sides will need to negotiate a new deal before next season or another lockout is likely.
---John Vogl
