- Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: The NHLPA’s offers yesterday were the first time they included 50-50, so it’s at least a step in the right direction. The league didn’t view them close to a 50-50, but the players showed ways to eventually get to 50-50. The players don’t want to lose anything off their current contracts that they signed before the lockout.
The NHL, a source told ESPN.com, reiterated to the NHLPA in Thursday’s meeting that it is willing to play ball on that concept, that it is willing to be more flexible in trying to find a solution to keep players “whole” on their contracts.
- Jeremy Rutherford via twitter: Bill Daly: “The so called 50-50 deal, plus honoring current contracts proposed by the NHL Players’ Association earlier today…is being misrepresented. It is not a 50-50 deal. It is, most likely a 56- to 57-percent deal in Year One and never .. gets to 50 percent during the proposed five-year term of the agreement.”
- Aaron Ward via twitter: “NHLPA offers,big picture- 1)Set dollar values in Years 1-2-3 for player compensation.Years 4-5,value set at whatever is higher(50% of HRR or year 3 number) and 50/50 in effect. 2)Players hang on to current compensation BUT only take 24.7% of all growth.At NHL estimated growth of 5%, over 5 years you get to 50/50. 3) Day 1 starts at 50/50,remove 12.28% only to SET cap,benefits,escrow (estimated 87%) number only. Players make full face value of negotiated contracts.”
- Aaron Portzline via twitter: Portzline has been told that at least one player who is in Europe asked not to play this weekend in case an NHL deal was close. On the other side, he has been told that there could be a “flood” of players going to Europe by mid to late next week depending on the NHL’s reaction.
- David Pagnotta via twitter: A source close to talks said that the X-factor (Escrow) in talks isn’t as bad as initially feared.
- Josh Yohe via twitter: Players may be divided. Yohe talked to some players yesterday who just want to play, others are insulted by the “sleaziness” of the NHLs proposal.