NHL owners call for revenue share decrease for players
NHL owners are calling for players' hockey-related revenue to decrease from 57 percent to 46 percent, among other proposals as the bargaining process for a new collective bargaining agreement heats up.
Owners are also asking that player contracts be limited to five years, salary arbitration eliminated and unrestricted free agency moved up from seven years to 10.
Additionally, owners want entry-level player contracts to be changed from a maximum of three years to five years and that the definition of hockey-related revenue be changed in a way that would mean less money for players.
USA Today reported that the owners presented their two-page proposal at a bargaining session Friday night in Toronto. The meeting included about 30 participants.
NHL revenues are more than $3 billion, so players would take more than $300 million less under the owners' proposal.
NHL Players Association spokesman Jonathan Weatherdon said the proposal will be discussed with players and that a response will be prepared by next Wednesday's negotiation session.
The current CBA expires Sept. 15.
