In N.Y., Larry Brooks cited sources as saying that the '14-15 NHL salary cap is "expected to be fall in the range" of $68M to $71M with the final calculations prior to July 1 "hinging on various factors, most prominently including the value of the Canadian dollar; whether or not to include the new Canadian TV contract in this year’s revenue; and whether to tack on the five-percent growth-factor escalator" (N.Y. POST, 3/9).
KICK IT UP A NOTCH: PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Mike Florio cited a source as saying that the NFL salary cap "could spike" to $145M in '15 and a "whopping" $160M in '16 (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 3/7). USA TODAY's Tom Pelissero notes the NFL and NFLPA "haven't released a detailed breakdown of how they calculated the 2014 salary cap, which will be a record" $133M, but the union "wants to put any conspiracy theories to bed." NFLPA Assistant Exec Dir of External Affairs George Atallah said, "There were absolutely no adjustments made to any benefits to inflate the cap" (USA TODAY, 3/10).
TWENTYSOMETHING: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has said he would like to see the league's minimum-age requirement raised from 19 to 20, and ESPN’s Tom Penn said this “will require a partnership” with the NBPA. However, the “main hurdle to that right now is there’s no leader” of the union. ESPN.com’s Myron Medcalf said, “I’ve talked to a lot of athletes and not one time has one athlete told me that they want to go play in the D-League. The D-League is for a lot of guys who can’t make it to that next level” ("Outside The Lines," ESPN, 3/7). ESPN's Jay Bilas said, "It is better to have young players in school -- not just for their basketball development but for their overall maturity -- to have that collegiate experience" ("PTI," ESPN, 3/7).
AT AN IMPASSE: In Calgary, Scott Mitchell reported two days of scheduled CBA negotiations between the CFL and CFLPA "made it through one day" only, as the talks set for last Friday "were cancelled." One source said the sides were "too far apart." It is "not known how long the parties met for on Thursday at the Delta Calgary Airport Hotel, but apparently it was long enough to decide it wasn’t worth a second day of dialogue" (CALGARY SUN, 3/8).
