TORONTO - The National Hockey League Players' Association has tabled its first offer in the latest round of collective bargaining talks with the NHL.
The union says its proposal to the league includes a smaller percentage of revenues for players and an expanded revenue sharing program to help struggling teams.
Union leader Donald Fehr says players could give up as much as US$465 million in revenue under the proposal if the league continues to grow at an average rate. If the league grows at the rate it has over the past two seasons, he says the amount could reach $800 million.
"We do believe that the proposal the players made today, once implemented, can produce a stable industry ... that can gives us a chance to move beyond the recurring labour strife that has plagued the NHL the last two decades," said Fehr, flanked by players and union representatives including superstars Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin.
Fehr also said the union's proposal does not call for the removal of the hard salary cap the league won in the last round of negotiations.
The NHLPA also proposed expanded revenue sharing to help financially struggling clubs, which could reach more that $250 million per year.
"In essence, when you boil it all down, what were suggesting is that the players partner with the financially stronger owners to stabilize the industry and assist the less financially strong ownership groups."
Fehr didn't say what percentage of league revenues players were willing to accept.
An NHL proposal tabled last month called for a significant decrease for players in revenue share by introducing new contract restrictions, including a five-year cap on deals.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said Tuesday he has received the union's proposal and hopes to continue talks Wednesday.
"It's clear to me that they didn't put it together in an hour or two, and as a result we're going to need to take a little bit of time to evaluate it," Bettman said.
The current CBA expires Sept. 15 and the NHL has said there will be a lockout if a new agreement isn't in place by then.
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