The first chance for NHL players or owners to opt out of the CBA is two years away, and the Olympics, escrow payments and the draft age "look like they are bound to be among the hot topics," according to Stephen Whyno of the AP. NHLPA Exec Dir Donald Fehr said owners choosing to skip the '18 PyeongChang Games is a "thorn" and a "sore" for players. Fehr: "It is clearly something the players are going to want to think long and hard about when they get to the point of formulating their positions. I would not be at all surprised if they wanted to make this an issue around which they felt very strongly in terms of the overall agreement because you have to remember that while it’s true that roughly a fifth of the players play in any particular set of Games, everyone would like the opportunity to go." Whyno noted several players said that they would "like to know in advance about the Olympics so it doesn’t come down to the wire like it did last time." Ducks C Ryan Getzlaf: "It’s important that we address it so that it’s a done issue, whether it be that we’re not going or we’re going. I don’t think we want to leave it open to interpretation every year that it goes on." Meanwhile, Fehr said that changes "could be made to the escrow system, but added that it has always been his view that salary caps 'cause all kinds of problems.'" Whyno noted another topic that is "likely to spark conversation is raising the draft age from 18 to 19" (AP, 9/30).
PUCK IS IN PLAY: SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's Liz Mullen reports there are "clouds on the horizon" as the NHL and union "examine ways to change the economics in the current labor deal." Owners are "looking at a new definition for the revenue they share with players, and the union is possibly seeking changes to escrow." NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said that the owners "want to take a look at how hockey-related revenue is defined ... to create 'clarity.'" Daly: "The parties need to create 'black and white' on what's in and what's out of HRR." However, Fehr "expressed doubt that a new definition of hockey-related revenue proposed by the league could be something that would be good for players." Fehr: "You don’t have to be a genius to figure it out. Saying, ‘We want to change the definition,’ is very likely a euphemism for saying, ‘We want to reduce the players’ share.’ Now, will it come to that? Who knows?” (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 10/2 issue).
