from Katie Strang of The Athletic,

According to the CBA, ratified in January 2013 after an 113-day lockout and slated to run through 2022, the NHL has the right to terminate the current agreement early on Sept. 1, 2019. The NHLPA has the same opt-out right on Sept. 15, 2019. That’s just a little more than a year away.

Will either side take the opportunity to terminate the agreement and opt for a labor standoff?

Taking a look at the parameters of the current CBA, the general health of the league and the lack of a large gulf on any of the major issues that have triggered previous standoffs, one may believe there is no good reason a new deal cannot be reached. The prevailing sentiment in this camp is that there are some tweaks to be made here and there, concessions required from both the NHL and NHLPA, but no ground-shifting, wholesale changes necessary. That, assuming neither side tries for a massive transfer of wealth or change in dollar flow, there is a deal to be made that both sides can live with.

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