Since the NHLPA officially released the CBA to the general public (as an 11.4 MB PDF) legally and financially-minded fans and media have been poring over the document, and while some of its player-treatment-specific clauses have caused amusement as everything from soap to the level of seating players are entitled to on commercial flights to their offseason homes, the Globe and Mail's James Mirtle distilled some of the more intriguing clauses into a superb article:
- On arbitration awards: Teams can only walk away from awards that are $3.5-million or more. Otherwise, you’re stuck with the player at whatever number the arbiter comes up with. That figure also rises with the NHL’s average salary.
- On relocation: “Any player forced to move as a result of being claimed in an expansion draft, or as a result of a team relocation, shall be paid $6,000.” Potentially some big money for members of the Phoenix Coyotes.
Mirtle notes that the NHL and PA agreed to play one fewer exhibition game--which means a little less money in terms of gate receipts for both sides (and many teams charge regular-season prices to watch try-outs and AHL'ers skate)...
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