It's Back

[firemn23 8]

Back on ice: NHL and the union reach a deal in principle to end lockout

By IRA PODELL, AP Sports Writer

July 13, 2005

NEW YORK (AP) -- The NHL and the players' association reached an agreement in principle Wednesday on a new labor deal, ending a lockout that wiped out last season.

The sides met for 24 hours starting Tuesday afternoon to hammer out the collective bargaining agreement that will return the NHL to the ice. In February, commissioner Gary Bettman canceled the season, making the NHL the first North American sports league to lose a year because of a labor dispute.

Both sides still need to ratify the deal, which is expected to contain a salary cap. That process is expected to be completed next week, the league and the union said in a joint news release.

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It took all night and then some for the final round of negotiations to produce an agreement.

The sides met for 10 straight days in New York, and it became clear Wednesday morning -- the 301st day of the lockout -- that they weren't going to leave the room without an agreement in hand.

The expected salary cap will likely have a ceiling approaching $40 million and a minimum somewhere between $20 million and $25 million.

Player salaries will not exceed 54 percent of league-wide revenues.

Some players in recent days have voiced their displeasure over what will be included in the new agreement.

Bettman warned in February when he canceled the season that the offers the union passed up were better than any it would see once a year of hockey was lost.

Just days before the season was wiped out, the players' association said for the first time it would accept a salary cap if the league dropped its desire to link player costs to revenues.

Bettman promised ``cost certainty'' in the form of a hard salary cap to the owners and he has gotten it.

The landscape of the NHL will be quite different than it was back in June 2004 when the Tampa Bay Lightning skated off with the Stanley Cup in the league's last game before the lockout.

Now when the league relaunches in the fall, it will do so with a brand new salary structure that keeps high-spending teams such as Toronto, Philadelphia and the New York Rangers in line.

The first order of business after the deal is ratified will be to get a majority of the players signed. The belief is that last season's contracts will be wiped from the books, leaving many players without deals.

Those who are still under contract will have their salaries reduced by 24 percent, a concept first proposed by the union last December.

There will also be several rules changes that could run the gamut from the size of goaltender equipment to the installation of a shootout to eliminate tie games.

A draft will also have to be held soon, replacing the June event that was the last casualty of the lockout.

Canadian phenom Sidney Crosby is the consensus choice to be the No. 1 pick. Where he goes will be determined by a draft lottery that will give each team an opportunity to snag him.

[CAM502 6]

Let's see it ratified first then it's back. And they better drop the ticket prices if they wanna win back pissed off fans like myself.

[Pudge3311 5]

Hockey will suffer in the first few years no doubt, but the fact that arenas are only so big will end up helping. I think you will see a lot of people who have never gone to a game buying tickets. Theres sure to be some great deals out there to try and win us back.

[Guest NYTruckie]

Hockey will suffer in the first few years no doubt, but the fact that arenas are only so big will end up helping.  I think you will see a lot of people who have never gone to a game buying tickets.  Theres sure to be some great deals out there to try and win us back.

First I want to say I'm not a die hard fan. I went to a game about 6 years ago, the tickets were very expensive. With that said I'm sure the die hard fans will return. In this country that is what 50-60? J/K

[llm60 0]

Did you hear about the rules changing, first theres going to be shortening of the goalie pads, second theres going to be a shootout after the overtime period no more ties and last there taking away the red line so theres no more two line passes!!! LETS GO RANGERS!!!

[Truck4 48]

Four days BEFORE they settled, I got a letter from the Rangers wanting the first payment for 2005-06 season tickets.

[llm60 0]

They should give you a discount on the season tickets for all the crap they put you through!!!