The NHL and NHLPA are "trying to reach an agreement on what revenue was last season," according to Kevin Allen of USA TODAY. It is an "important yearly ritual, because once the number is decided, players usually get a refund on escrow accounts and teams receive revenue-sharing checks." This year's debate, however, "is different" for a couple of reasons. First, at issue is whether the city of Glendale's $25M guarantee to cover the Coyotes' losses "should be counted as revenue." Second, the debate comes a few months before Commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA Exec Dir Don Fehr "are expected to begin serious negotiations" on a new CBA. The two sides "met last week to discuss the open issues and discussed a framework for resolution." If they "can't agree on the revenue number by the end of the month, the payments to players and teams officially will be late" (USA TODAY, 10/18). In Boston, Kevin Paul Dupont reported Fehr "apprised the rank-and-file that their much-anticipated cash distribution -- the overage from the 2010-11 escrow money -- would not be sent to them in the near future." Fehr told players that the NHLPA "proposed a partial distribution of the funds, but the league balked, leaving the dough in limbo." Dupont noted since the existing CBA was crafted in '05, the union has monitored hockey related revenues but has "never formally raised an objection to its calculation." To have it happen now, less than 11 months before the CBA expires, "could be notice that the strains of 'It Don't Come Easy' will be the background music for the next round of money talks" (BOSTON GLOBE, 10/16).
