NHL, NHLPA approve CBA extension, Return to Play protocols
It’s a done deal in the National Hockey League. Time to play hockey again.
The NHL and NHL Players Association announced Friday night that final approval has been given to the league’s Return to Play protocols to finish out the 2019-20 season and a four-year extension of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) through the 2025-26 season.
The NHL and NHLPA announced Monday that there was a tentative agreement between the two sides on the Return to Play plans to determine the 2020 Stanley Cup champion and a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the CBA. But the deal had to be ratified by the NHL board of governors and by a vote of the full NHL membership. That was completed Friday and is effective immediately.
Training camps open Monday and Return to Play game competition is scheduled to begin Aug. 1 in the hub cities of Toronto and Edmonton, although the coronavirus pandemic remains a constant threat of disrupting or canceling those plans should there be any outbreaks.
“Today, the NHL and the NHLPA announced a significant agreement that addresses the uncertainty everyone is dealing with, the framework for the completion of the 2019-20 season and the foundation for the continued long-term growth of our League,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement.
.”While we have all worked very hard to try to address the risks of COVID-19, we know that health and safety are and will continue to be our priorities. We know that all of our fans are excited about our return to the ice next month and that has been our goal since we paused our season on March 12.”
Under the agreement, there was much for the players to like — and not like.
The NHL will allow the players to again participate in the Winter Olympics, an opportunity many have sought. The NHL sat out the 2018 Games after participating from 1998 to 2014, preventing players from representing their home countries on the Olympic stage.
But the economic reality of the pandemic also was apparent in the NHL salary cap remaining frozen at $81.5 million for the 2020-21 season. That could badly squeeze some teams’ budgets and influence contract signings.
Before the 2012-13 season, haggling over the CBA resulted in a testy lockout. The season was abbreviated to 48 games and eventually salvaged — unlike the lockout season of 2004-05 — but only after the players agreed to a 50-50 split of Hockey Related Revenue (HRR).
The CBA was to expire Sept. 15, 2022 but now extends through Sept. 15, 2026, alleviating those concerns.
“The problem is nobody knows the future, right?” Canes forward Justin Williams said in a media call this week. “Nobody does. You can have projections, you can put graphs up but nobody knows what’s going to happen. Nobody knows how the game is going to come back next year when it does come back. Is it going to be half fans, no fans, full houses? We don’t know, so you don’t know what the (financial) numbers are going to be like, either.
“All we know is we will be playing hockey. There will be labor peace. That’s good for the fans, that’s good for the TV audience, that’s good for the players. That’s good for everybody. It’s awesome they we’re able to do this. I don’t think a normal CBA negotiation goes this quickly but both parties wanted it done and it got done.”
No vote totals were released but Frank Seravalli of TSN Sports reported it was passed by a 502-135 magin, or almost 79% approval.
“This agreement is a meaningful step forward for the players and owners, and for our game, in a difficult and uncertain time,” NHLPA Executive Director Don Fehr said in a statement. “Most importantly, we are pleased to be able to bring NHL hockey back to the fans. We look forward to the NHL’s continued growth here in North America and on the world stage.”
In Phase 3 of the Return to Play, the Canes will face off against the New York Rangers in Toronto in one of the eight qualifying rounds. The winner will advance to the 16-team 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs and the loser will be one of eight teams with a chance at the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft -- and with a 12.5-percent chance of winning it.
In Phase 4, the 24 teams — 12 in each hub city — will be sequestered in a “bubble” at the hub site. They will undergo constant testing for COVID-19 and other health precautions in the “Phase 4 Secure Zone” and safeguards will be taken in terms of hotel, meals and transportation.
Teams will be allowed a 52-person travel party, with no more than 31 players. A player’s family will be allowed to visit if their team reaches the conference finals or Stanley Cup finals.
Under the Phase 4 regulations, no disclosure will be made to the media or the public if a player tests positive for the coronavirus unless there is prior approval by the NHL after consultation with the NHLPA.
The players were given 72 hours to make a decision on whether they would play or opt out of Phase 3 and Phase 4. If they opt not to participate they will not be penalized.
The CBA includes:
— A return to the Winter Olympics. NHL players will be allowed to compete in the 2022 and 2026 Games, with agreement from the International Olympic Commitee and IIHF.
— The NHL salary cap will remain frozen at $81.5 million for the 2020-21 season.
— Escrow to be capped at 20% for 2020-21. Escrow then would be 14-18% in 2021-22 depending on HRR, then 10% in 2022-23 and 6% for 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26.
— If there is escrow debt of more than $125 million but less than $250 million, the CBA will automatically extend for one additional year (2026-27). In that year there will be a 9% escrow cap.
— NHL players will defer 10% of their 2020-21 compensation. The agreement calls for the money to be repaid in three equal installments in 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25.
— The NHL minimum salary will increase from $700,000 to $750,000 in 2021-22.
Key NHL dates
July 13 -- Training camps open.
July 26 -- Travel to hub cities.
July 28-20 -- Exhibition games.
Aug. 1 -- Stanley Cup qualifiers begin.
Aug. 10 -- Phase 2 completion of NHL Draft Lottery.
Aug. 11 -- Stanley Cup playoffs first round begins.
*Aug. 25 -- Second round begins.
*Sept. 8 -- Conference finals begin.
*Sept. 22 -- Stanley Cup finals begin.
Oct. 4 -- Last possible day of Stanley Cup finals.
^Oct. 9-10 -- 2020 NHL Draft.
*-- Tentative
This story was originally published July 10, 2020 at 7:45 PM.
