The NHL and NHLPA, in order to maintain labor peace for the time being, may agree to "tighten" the salary cap for two years until a "new U.S. television deal is announced," according to Elliotte Friedman of SPORTSNET.ca Both the league and union "have the opportunity to re-open the CBA in September," but they are "working to avoid it." The players "don’t want a stoppage, but they want escrow to be eased" from last season's number of 11.6%. The league is "prepared to work with them on this," and it is likely that "both sides are investigating long-term solutions." Both sides are also "working on models that show what the cap would look like" with 0% escrow, and "other models that show what it would look like" with 5-6% escrow. Friedman: "The nuclear option (which I don’t think will happen) is the cap stays at $79.5 million for two more seasons." What is "more likely is the NHL and NHLPA agree to a cap for the next two seasons," with a $2-2.5M raise per year from the current $79.5M. Then, if "everything works out with the American television deal, there’s a consistent rise" for '21-22 and beyond (SPORTSNET.ca, 6/18).
