Sources: NHL Wants To Further Increase Players' Deferral

The NHL is "seeking financial concessions in the form of a 13 percent deferral on 2020-21 pay from players as an opening gambit in Return to Play negotiations for the 2020-21 season," according to sources. It is "unclear how the NHLPA, which agreed to a 10 percent deferral in the six-year collective bargaining agreement extension agreed upon by the parties just over four months ago in early July, will respond." If the players "defer the additional 13 percent, they would be guaranteed 61.6 percent of their pay for 2020-21, with 23 percent due to be returned at later dates." The original 10 percent deferral is "due to be repaid in three equal installments" in October of '22, '23 and '24 (N.Y. POST, 11/17).

A source said that there is the "potential for an even larger increase" in the player's deferral percentage, one which has so far "only been floated at the executive level" (TORONTO STAR, 11/18).