The stress-free resolution comes as a relief to many around the game scarred by the 2004-05 and 2012-13 lockouts. Players were almost unanimously on board. Walsh said more than 96% of NHLPA members voted in favor of ratification.
Several NHL player agents who spoke with SBJ, however, believe the breezy process came at a net cost for the players. Under the new deal, maximum contract lengths will be reduced by a year, signing bonuses will be capped and the ability for players to front-load their contracts will be further curtailed.
“It was the league that was pushing to sign a new CBA this offseason as quickly as possible,” one agent said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Why, at this stage, the PA agreed to give up these critical contract issues — I’m at a loss.”
5 comments
All about the money
And yet the salary cap goes up along with ticket and TV package prices. It’s hard to have a whole lot of sympathy for billionaire owners or millionaire players.
>Under the new deal, maximum contract lengths will be reduced by a year, signing bonuses will be capped and the ability for players to front-load their contracts will be further curtailed.
There’s value in creating stability for the next few years. It can’t always just be about dollars and cents. Also, claiming that a deal wasn’t more in your favor kinda shows that it was a decent compromise, no?
they need to start the season earlier no reason for the season to go to mid june , they also need to update their blackout policy for tv
When these two sides make agreements there are two winners and one loser. Folks, were the losers.