There are still many things that the NHL and NHLPA need to agree upon before the season starts.
Thankfully, we can now cross the economic structure for the 2020-'21 season off of the list. Yesterday, Elliotte Friedman reported that the NHL and NHLPA had come to an agreement over keeping the economic framework of the current collective bargaining agreement.
According to Friedman, "(last month) the NHL asked the players to consider increasing deferred payments and caps on escrow at certain points in the agreement." The players were not interested in such an agreement, however.
With a stalemate intact, the NHL gave in. Per Friedman, "the NHL and NHLPA will continue to negotiate protocols for the 2020-21 season, but agreed that the economic framework of the newly negotiated CBA won’t be changed."
January 13th is the current targeted date for the beginning of the season. Teams that did not make the playoffs would report for training camp on December 28, and teams that did make the playoffs would report on January 1. It is unlikely that there will be a preseason, according to Friedman.
Friedman also noted that "it sounds like there is a desire to get something done by the end of the week so that it can be voted on by the Board of Governors and the players...but the financial discussions are over."
This is positive news, folks. We are one step closer to solidifying the 2020-'21 NHL season.
