Or, at least it looks like it’s going to be back in the fall. The NHL and the NHLPA have announced an agreement in principle that, if ratified, will finally end the lockout that cancelled this season:
Terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but TSN of Canada is reporting it is a six-year deal with a hard team-by-team salary cap with a first-year payroll range of $21 million to $39 million, including all player costs. The salary cap and payroll range will move up or down as revenues increase or decrease each year of the deal.
The players caved, basically. And they have to be feeling pretty low about the fact that this deal is worse than the one they rejected in February.
It looks like there will be a draft on July 21st using a lottery format, and that things will be back to normal for the start of next season – but not quite. The league lacks a US television deal, major sponsors have cancelled, and attendance is sure to be down. It’s anyone’s guess how long it will take the league to recover, if ever.
One question: how long will it take for Bob Goodenow to be fired?
I want to be a hockey player.
I would play hockey for 40000$ a year.
Sari i love u
I couldn’t care less about big league hockey anymore. I sick of these millionaires whining and I have better things to do with my life then sepnd it on crybabies.
Mgmt. out here in Vancouver are floating a ticket price INCREASE trial balloon. What planet are they from?
…I’m with you, Josh.
Here in the U.S., I didn’t get the impression that NHL hockey was missed by very many people, even in towns where it has been pretty popular. Sports fans (I’m one) are sheep, and baseball has made it back from the 1994 strike, but hockey ain’t baseball in the U.S. I think that the league’s troubles aren’t over.
Hockey is business..
A hockey player making 10 millions per year is not as bad as Tom Cruise making 25 millions for such a lame movie as War of World.
If people are willing to pay for that, fine with me. But i wont. But I wasted 10$ on Tom Cruise.
ummm sari I’ll pay u to write your blog.. hehehhehe