NHL Expected To Delay Free Agency For Union Decision On Cap

Saskin Says Players Unlikely To Have To Reimburse NHL

The NHL will agree to “extend the start of the free-agency period to somewhere around July 12 to allow players to fully discuss” whether the salary cap should be $43M or $46M, according to league sources cited by Scott Burnside of ESPN.com. The higher cap number would expose players to higher losses “if revenues don’t keep pace with salaries.” One player rep said that he thinks players “are pretty much split on whether they want the cap to go up as high as possible or be restricted” (ESPN.com, 3/27). In N.Y., Larry Brooks reported the Wild had two participants on a recent conference call for player reps, one on each side of the issue. When G Dwayne Roloson was traded to the Oilers earlier this month, he appointed a successor that was against the change, while Saskin named a new rep who was in favor of the change (N.Y. POST, 3/26).

SIDE BAR: SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL’s Liz Mullen reports the NHL CBA includes a side letter “that would require the union to reimburse the league if some revenue goals aren’t met.” However, NHLPA Exec Dir Ted Saskin said that the “chances of that happening are remote.” Mullen notes the agreement “is different than what is in the draft of the new CBA,” which states any “over-payment to players will not be taken out of union accounts, but instead will be taken out of the players’ share of revenue in the next league year.” The final draft of the CBA has not been published. Saskin said that it is “unlikely to happen because league revenue is accounted for after every quarter, and the percentage of player salaries placed in escrow is adjusted accordingly.” He added, “The players fully understand that they are on the hook for any amount above 54[%]” (SBJ, 3/27 issue).