I think all hockey fans will have an interest in this. Nobody wants a lockout and this is a good sign that things will get worked out before the end of next season. The new Canadian television deal was the start of that, whether you like it or not, both sides wanted it.
The current CBA ends in September 2026. I like Marty Walsh and he and Gary Bettman have no built up animosity. I’ve had the chance to be a part of Walsh’s press conferences in person and online. I think he’s smart, fair, and will do the right thing for the players and the sport. I think he’s uniquely qualified for this position.
Living through lockouts were awful. In 2005, I covered the AHL for an entire season. It was an experience but I was longing for the NHL at the time. However, that year had so many great future NHL players in the league, even at the age of 19, so it was special. Still, nobody wants to see that again.
Two of the biggest issues is LTIR usage. It has benefited some teams in the past and we shall see if that ends after this negotiation. My guess, it stays the same.
They are talking about having the salary cap extend into the playoffs. Remember, players don’t get paid salaries by their teams during the playoffs. There is a playoff bonus pool and that is a league-run initiative. The money goes to the teams from the league and then that gets divided up. Will any of this change? Maybe, I can see this being augmented somehow.
Will the college free agency loophole get plugged up. Fans scream about it but teams have never had an appetite to change this even though they could get burned by losing rights to a player. Still, I’ve always been told this will never change.
I think this CBA negotiations will be fairly smooth.
