Labor peace NHL NHLPA continue working toward new CBA

The threat of a po sible NHL lockout next September has been averted. On Monday, the NHL Players A sociation announced it would not exercise its option to reopen the current collective bargaining agreement. Had the PA done so, the CBA would've expired on Sept. 15, 2020. Instead, the agreement will remain in effect until Sept. 15, 2022. The PA's announcement came after the league made a similar decision on Aug. 30. Jalen Mayfield Jersey In a statement, the players still have concerns about the current agreement. Rather than terminate the CBA, they've agreed with the NHL to continue working toward resolving those i sues. MORE: Had the players taken the early out it would've set a one-year deadline toward reaching a new agreement. However, that move could've antagonized NHL commi sioner Gary Bettman and the team owners into taking a hard-line negotiating stance. The NHLPA announced today that the Executive Board has declined to reopen the CBA with the NHL following the 2019-20 season. The current CBA remains in effect through the 2021-22 season. The NHLPA advised the League of its decision earlier today. NHLPA (@NHLPA) NHL fans and pundits are breathing a sigh of relief over this news. Not only has a potential work stoppage next fall been avoided, but there is growing hope for long-term labor peace. Rather than hammering out a new CBA, Deonte Banks Jersey are working toward extending the current agreement to 2025. That means some modifications will be required. Escrow remains the main i sue. That' Jonathan Sutherland Jersey s the annual percentage (sometimes as high as 15 percent) clawed back from players' salaries and held in an escrow fund. Depending on league revenue, the players could get most or all of that money back with interest at season's end. In recent years, however, annual revenue projections have come in lower than expected, meaning the players often get back much le s. of the league and the players agreeing to keep the salary cap flat for the next two seasons until a new U.S. television contract is in place. That could addre s the players immediate and long-term concerns. Johnston speculates anew TV contract could be worth considerably more than the present deal.The addition of a new NHL franchise in Seattle by 2021-22 should provide another significant boost to league revenue. Winter Olympics participation, post-career health benefitsand what qualifies as hockey-related revenue are other areas of concern for the players. Those factors, however, remain overshadowed by the players' desire to le sen the impact of escrow on their salaries. The league has some concerns of its own to be addre sed. In recent years, more teams are signing players to front-loaded contracts or to deals in which the bulk of the player's salary consists of signing bonuses. Bettman frowns upon those deals. Despite these i sues, negotiations have been ongoing for nearly a year and Evan Neal Jersey are described as cordial and productive. One gets the sense that if the escrow i sue can be suitably addre sed, most of the others would be swiftly resolved. Considering the contentious labor history between the league and the players, the current negotiations could break down at some point. Neverthele s, both sides appear to have a genuine desire to avoid another lengthy labor dispute. For the most part, the current agreement has worked out reasonably well for both sides. Seravalli noted the league's improved economic health is the main reason neither wants another labor showdown. With the promise of significant revenue increases in the coming years, it's in their mutual interest to maintain labor peace. There's no indication when we can expect a CBA extension. Given the lack of Randy Bullock Jersey drama that dominated negotiations in previous years, that announcement could come by the end of the 2019-20 NHL season.