The NHL last week informed the NHLPA that players could participate in the '18 PyeongChang Games in exchange for extending the current CBA by three years, a move that "apparently even blindsided owners," according to Michael Russo of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. Extending the CBA to '25 is an "interesting concept because it would allow the NHL and NHLPA to negotiate and implement a whole host of sport-growing, some revenue-building events in one fell swoop," namely the '18 Games, the '22 Beijing Games, the '20 World Cup of Hockey and "maybe a Ryder Cup-type of event." However, the majority of players "don’t trust a league that has locked them out three times in 18 years." As much as the league is "trying to take advantage of the players’ desire to keep playing on the international stage, it’s hard to imagine the union is simply going to extend the CBA three years in exchange for the Olympics." Russo reported players are "perturbed the league’s taking this tack." It is "playing with the emotions of fans, they say, because the average fan doesn’t give a darn about rich people not wanting their already big paychecks trimmed" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 11/20). In Buffalo, Mike Harrington noted the players "hate giving back portions of their salaries in the form of escrow and are all but certain to want that burden lessened in the future, but would not have to worry about a lockout if they agreed to the extension either" (BUFFALO NEWS, 11/20).
TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT: In N.Y., Larry Brooks wrote the players are "furious the NHL will relent on the Olympics only if they agree to add three years" to the CBA. Rangers C Derek Stepan, the team's player rep, said, "We still don’t know whether this is supposed to be take-it-or-leave-it or whether there is room for negotiation, where there is give-and-take. We’ve started to discuss it among ourselves here and we’re going to have conference calls with the union to talk about it, but personally, I don’t think it makes any sense to extend the CBA three years to play in the Olympics.” Brooks noted there "certainly is no guarantee the NHLPA will be able to negotiate" the type of 10% escrow cap under which the NBA operates, whether the players opt out following '19-20 or allow the current agreement to run out after '21-22. The union "might wind up forced to agree to give-backs in the next round, just as it has while locked out the last two times." That is a "risk several players acknowledged ... but seemed willing to accept." The union, for the "first time this generation, seems galvanized" (N.Y. POST, 11/20).
INJURY REPORT: ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun noted the list of NHLers who "have been injured and missed a significant amount of time" this season includes Penguins C Sidney Crosby, Stars C Tyler Seguin, Kings G Jonathan Quick, Sabres C Jack Eichel, Avalanche C Matt Duchene and Lightning C Steven Stamkos. LeBrun: "The question remains: Are the injuries because of the compressed schedule?" The World Cup of Hockey "mixed in with the introduction of a five-day bye week in the second half this season has made this a crazy, crazy schedule." Stars GM Jim Nill said, "You're going to have injuries every year, but I would definitely say the condensed schedule this season and the competitive nature of the league are factors." Kings President & GM Dean Lombardi "went into this season before all of this happened expecting this to be an injury-filled season around the league." Lombardi said, "The schedule gets condensed. It's the same for everybody" (ESPN.com, 11/17).
