NHL taking steps to address schedule and salaries for 2020-21 season

As the NHL and the NHLPA started grinding away at the 2020-21 schedule, both sides understood at some point that there would be a discussion about salaries. In the collective bargaining agreement of last summer, the NHL players agreed to collect 72% of their gross pay for the next season – a 10% deferment, and 20% escrow. That was the deal, in their eyes, whether they played just one game or 82 games.

However, with the very low possibility of playing in full arenas, the team owners did not like that so they raised the idea of pro-rated salaries.

The fact is that all players want to play, and the league led by commissioner Gary Bettman also wants to get going. In addition to the COVID-19 itself, this continued to be the biggest hurdle.

Larry Brooks from the New York Post reported earlier this week that the NHL is asking for a more 13% salary deferment. Meanwhile, several sources warned that this is not, as of yet, an official proposal; however, the idea came up in the discussion between the NHL and the NHLPA.

That would drop the players’ 2020-21 NHL season gross pay to about 62% at the same time eliminating the need to pro-rate. You can imagine that the reaction was a mixture, from “why have to change a deal that was made a few months ago?” to “not playing is even a worse result.” It is also possible that the figure could be negotiated.

As part of the discussion, the two sides have been talking about schedules. Several different sources say that one current option is 60 games, MLB-style setup with back-to-backs in the same rink, divisional only. And the Canadian Division is part of it. Playoffs to begin in the middle of May.

Time remains short if we are going to try and start on Jan. 1. They are working at it, now attacking the most critical financial detail.