Gary Bettman says NHL won’t reopen current CBA, reducing chances for lockout.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said Friday the league will not exercise its option to reopen the current collective bargaining agreement with the NHL Players’ Assn., reducing the chance of another work stoppage.
The union has until Sept. 15 to exercise its option to reopen the labor deal. If it chooses not to do so, the agreement would run through the 2021-22 season. If the unio n decides to exercise its option, the labor agreement would expire on Sept. 15, 2020.
The NHL has locked out players three times, including an especially rancorous dispute that led Bettman to cancel the 2004-05 season. That settlement instituted a hard salary cap for each team and gave players revenue-sharing rights.