The Semi-Official Hockey Thread...
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Joined: May 2001
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From: Nowhere
Board of Governors to meet Friday to ratify the deal and get the draft order; NHLPA meeting tomorrow and thursday for their vote.
NEW YORK -- The NHL board of governors will meet Friday to rubber-stamp their approval of the new collective bargaining agreement with the players' association, hold the Sidney Crosby sweepstakes, and discuss rule changes they hope will liven up the game.
The union will hold a two-day meeting in Toronto on Wednesday and Thursday so players can voice their opinions on the tentative deal that was reached last week and then vote on it.
Even though some players have publicly criticized the agreement, that is believed to contain a $39 million salary cap and a 24 percent rollback on existing contracts, union members are expected to ratify the deal which would put an end to the owners' lockout that forced the cancellation of last season.
When the NHL board convenes in New York, executives from all 30 teams are expected to overwhelmingly approve the agreement that provides the "cost certainty" commissioner Gary Bettman set out to get.
The fight with the union caused the NHL to become the first North American sports league to lose an entire season to a labor dispute. Bettman imposed the lockout on Sept. 16, and then called off the season exactly five months later.
Now that a deal in principle has finally been reached, the NHL is looking forward to next season. The first order of business, after both sides sign off on the agreement, is to hold the draft lottery.
That will take place during the board meeting on Friday. All 30 teams will have some shot at winning the first pick -- which is a virtual lock to be the Canadian phenom Crosby -- but clubs that have missed the playoffs in recent years will have extra pingpong balls in the weighted lottery.
Columbus, Pittsburgh, Buffalo and the New York Rangers will have the maximum of three pingpong balls.
It is expected that a toned-down version of the draft, originally scheduled for June in Ottawa, will take place at the end of this month in Canada's capital city.
Possible rule changes that could be enforced in the upcoming season are, shootouts to eliminate tie games, wider blue lines to increase the size of the offensive zones, the removal of the center red line, and limitations on where goalies can handle the puck.
Goalies are already expected to be playing with smaller pads next season.
The union will hold a two-day meeting in Toronto on Wednesday and Thursday so players can voice their opinions on the tentative deal that was reached last week and then vote on it.
Even though some players have publicly criticized the agreement, that is believed to contain a $39 million salary cap and a 24 percent rollback on existing contracts, union members are expected to ratify the deal which would put an end to the owners' lockout that forced the cancellation of last season.
When the NHL board convenes in New York, executives from all 30 teams are expected to overwhelmingly approve the agreement that provides the "cost certainty" commissioner Gary Bettman set out to get.
The fight with the union caused the NHL to become the first North American sports league to lose an entire season to a labor dispute. Bettman imposed the lockout on Sept. 16, and then called off the season exactly five months later.
Now that a deal in principle has finally been reached, the NHL is looking forward to next season. The first order of business, after both sides sign off on the agreement, is to hold the draft lottery.
That will take place during the board meeting on Friday. All 30 teams will have some shot at winning the first pick -- which is a virtual lock to be the Canadian phenom Crosby -- but clubs that have missed the playoffs in recent years will have extra pingpong balls in the weighted lottery.
Columbus, Pittsburgh, Buffalo and the New York Rangers will have the maximum of three pingpong balls.
It is expected that a toned-down version of the draft, originally scheduled for June in Ottawa, will take place at the end of this month in Canada's capital city.
Possible rule changes that could be enforced in the upcoming season are, shootouts to eliminate tie games, wider blue lines to increase the size of the offensive zones, the removal of the center red line, and limitations on where goalies can handle the puck.
Goalies are already expected to be playing with smaller pads next season.
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 93,305
Likes: 820
From: Nowhere
FYI, part of the new CBA includes buyouts for 2/3 of the remaining contract (after 24% rollback) at any time. However, after July 29, the buyout will be charged against the salary cap, which is similar to how the NFL does it.