The American Hockey League, the developmental league for the NHL, has agreed to a three-year deal with Canadian cable firm Rogers Sportsnet that would pay the AHL more money and broadcast more games if there is an NHL lockout this fall.
“We were able to conclude a contract with Rogers Sportsnet in Canada for a national sports package that would be expanded if there were a labor dispute,” said Dave Andrews, CEO of the AHL. “It hasn’t been signed, but it’s done.”
The NHL collective-bargaining agreement expires Sept. 15. The NHL says it wants to change the current economic arrangement to bring about “cost certainty.” The NHL Players’ Association says it wants to continue in a “marketplace” system.
About 95 percent of the 600 to 700 AHL players are under NHL contract, but the AHL will play next year even if the NHL is locked out, Andrews said.
All 30 NHL teams have agreed to supply players to the 28 AHL teams if there is a lockout, Andrews said.
Andrews wouldn’t reveal the value of the television deal with Rogers Sportsnet, the largest sports cable broadcaster in Canada, which also broadcasts NHL games, but said that it would be “significantly” more if there is a lockout.
If there is no lockout, the minimum number of games Rogers will broadcast, and the rights fee it will pay, will be similar to this year, Andrews said. Rogers carried 22 games in the AHL season that ended this month.
If there is a lockout, Rogers would want more AHL games because Canadian hockey fans would be starved for hockey, Andrews said. “In our league there are 100 to 200 first- and second-round [NHL] draft picks, and Canadian hockey fans know who they are,” he said. “We would have the best quality of players available.”
Although the AHL could profit from an NHL lockout, AHL officials are hoping a labor deal can be worked out.
“The hockey engine is driven by the National Hockey League,” Andrews said, “and the NHL not playing is not beneficial to growing our sport. The American Hockey League benefits as the sport grows.”
