NHLPA To Distribute $80M From $150M Lockout War Chest

Saskin, NHLPA To Distribute $80M From Lockout War Chest To Players

The NHLPA will “distribute to current and retired players” roughly US$80M from the US$150M war chest amassed in advance of the ’04-05 lockout, according to Rick Westhead of the TORONTO STAR. A source said that the payouts per player are expected to be $100,000 or more, and “are expected to take place in January.” The source added players who were in the league between ’89-90 and ’95-96 will be eligible. NHLPA Associate Counsel Ian Penny wrote in an e-mail, “Potential distribution plans were the subject of extended discussion at the July player meetings, ... and the approval and implementation of this plan will take place over the next several months.” Westhead noted after the CBA was signed, “some players complained that the war chest, which included licensing revenue from merchandise, trading card and video game sales, should immediately be distributed.” An attorney for Coyotes C Jeremy Roenick and former NHLers Bob Probert and Denis Savard “threatened a lawsuit if the money wasn’t paid back” (TORONTO STAR, 10/14).