NHL decides to honor the CBA’s original economic framework

After some intense discussion, the NHL has decided not to re-enter CBA negotiations and work on a shortened NHL season.

After agreeing to an MOU or a memo of understanding in the RTP and CBA, the owners and the NHL tried to renegotiate the salary deferral and escrow with the players, but after some tense discussions between the two, they have decided to stick to their original plan.

The players weren’t happy with the fact they after a previous labor agreement, they would have to go back to the table and end up giving up more money. They are already giving up between 30-40 percent of their salaries when you add up escrow and salary deferral.

The owners didn’t feel comfortable because they knew with the numbers agreed to in the deal, it would be a long time before they could see their money back, especially in the environment of a pandemic. They still need to agree on the logistics of a shortened season and how it will all play out.

The league was originally looking at a January 1st start, but due to the delay of the negotiations and discussions, even if Gary Bettman refused to call it a negotiation, and now the league and the players will try to work out a deal to drop on the puck on January 13th. A 56 game shortened season is what the league is targeting.

They still need approval from the board of governors and the NHLPA executive board before they can agree and confirm the season. There is still a lot of work to be done, but as I have originally thought, the league should have never tried to renegotiate a deal that was already made. The NHL basically shot themselves in the foot by reopening the door.

This is a big sigh of relief for NHL fans across North America as the league and players will attempt to have a deal done by the end of the week and hopefully more positive news in a year that has been difficult, to say the least.