NHL GMs "are no longer operating under the assumption" that the salary cap is "going to increase next season," according to Larry Brooks of the N.Y. POST. Sources said that the "projected decline in the Canadian dollar -- up at least temporarily a tick to 88 cents on the U.S. dollar as of Friday -- has had an impact on discussions regarding extensions in at least three cases." Given the "fixation of escrow" under which the players currently are having 14% of their pay withheld, it "certainly is a realistic possibility the NHLPA will not exercise" a 5% escalator for '15-16. That "might mean a stagnant cap" in the $69M range, which falls some $5-6M "shy of previous optimistic projections" (N.Y. POST, 11/9).
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Nicholson believes NHL players' committing to the
Olympics early on is best for everyone involved |
WORLD STAGE: The AP's Chris Lines reported IIHF VP and Oilers Entertainment Vice Chair Bob Nicholson "believes NHL players will return to the Winter Olympics, and is urging an early decision this time." Nicholson: "The players want to go but it's very difficult for the NHL. If everyone agrees to take some and leave some on the table, I think we'll see NHL players in the future." He added, "You never like it to go down to the wire, because everyone loses. The sooner you decide to go, the better it will be for them and for all of the countries participating." One issue "seen as diminishing the likelihood that NHL players would participate" in the '18 Pyeongchang Games came when the Canada-Sweden final in Sochi "was overshadowed by the suspension of Sweden's Nicklas Backstrom on the day of the game for a doping offense." Sweden "was angered by the late notice that its star player would be out," and the NHLPA "was unhappy with the way the matter was handled by Olympic officials" (AP, 11/7). In Boston, Fluto Shinzawa reported signals from the NHL "continue to be lukewarm on Olympic participation." Shinzawa wrote he "is in agreement" with the league's perceived disinterest because hockey on the larger int'l rinks "is pure decaf" (BOSTON GLOBE, 11/9).
