Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

Mirtle offers some new-CBA highlights

06/08/2013 at 2:31am EDT

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)...

- No more will teams be able to play nine exhibition games, as the Leafs always seemed eager to do: “Each Club shall schedule no less than six (6) and no more than eight (8) Exhibition Games during Training Camp.”

- Expanding the playoffs by having four more teams involved in a play-in round is also still in play: “If the League desires to implement a Playoff Qualification Round with respect to future NHL Season(s), it may only do so with the consent of the NHLPA, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.”

This is good news given the fact that plain old prescription drugs (i.e. painkillers, sleep aids and the like) are the most abused medications in regular society as well as professional sports...

- This one could be known as the Boogaard rule: “Prescription Drugs. Each Club shall identify one (1) individual who is responsible for monitoring on an ongoing basis, or auditing on a regular basis, prescription drugs that have been given to each Player on the Club, with a particular emphasis on monitoring controlled substances and sleeping pills, if any, that have been prescribed.”

Mirtle continues at length, and this clause caught my eye given that the Stanley Cup Final will begin next week:

- Players will now be paid quite a bit more in the playoffs, with the total compensation up from $6.5-million in the last CBA to between $14- and $17-million in this one. Teams that advance deeper in the postseason receive more of that cash, which acts as a modest bonus.

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Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.

From breaking news to in-depth stories around the league, KK Hockey is updated with fresh stories all day long and will bring you the latest news as quickly as possible.

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