What is the major issue?
How revenue, which last season totaled $3.3 billion, will be divided. Players are guaranteed a 57% share of the revenue, and the owners want to see the players' share dramatically reduced.
How far apart are they?
There is a wide gap, both in philosophy and dollars. The owners' last offer was a straightforward six-year deal that would reduce players' share from 49% to 47% over the course of the deal. The players are offering a three-year deal in which they would accept less of a share of anticipated future growth. Their latest offer tacked on the possibility of extending it by two years. According to players, their share of the revenue would be reduced from 54.3% to 52.3% over the course of their offer. Players want that money to be used to fund additional revenue sharing for financially stressed teams. Owners dispute their numbers because they are tied to an anticipated growth of 7.1%, the average for the past seven years.
TIMELINE: What led to this lockout
Will does the lockout mean?
Players can't use team facilities and won't be paid. Training camps won't open until a new collective bargaining agreement is reached. However, under lockout rules, any injured player will be paid until he's cleared by the team doctors. That would cover players such as the New York Rangers' Marian Gaborik, Edmonton Oilers' Taylor Hall and Philadelphia Flyers' Chris Pronger.
Will the Oct. 11 start of the season definitely be delayed?
Probably, but it's possible to reach a deal by Oct. 1 and start on time if training camps were reduced to seven to 10 days. Given the fact players train year-round, this is possible.
Will players begin signing with European teams?
It's possible that some Europeans will start playing right away, but most players will wait a few weeks to see what happens before they start heading overseas. Other issues: The Swedish Elite League isn't going to allow its teams to sign NHL players unless they commit for the season. The Kontinental Hockey League has placed restrictions on which NHL players would be eligible to sign there. The Russia-based KHL is the European league that comes closest to paying NHL-style wages. Players can get up to 65% of their NHL pay.
TIMELINE: How past lockouts unfolded
How would this lockout be different from the season-canceling 2004-05 one?
The last time the owners and players negotiated, the main issue was the systemic change from a free market season to a salary cap. Coming into the lockout, both sides were preparing as if the season could be lost. There is no such undercurrent this time. This fight is clearly about money.
What are the pressure points that will bring the sides together?
Players would normally start drawing checks Oct. 15, and their checks are significant. The average NHL salary is $2.4 million. In addition to losing revenue, owners would not want to lose the Winter Classic outdoor game Jan. 1. This is a major event for the league, and this year it will be played at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, where it's likely to draw a hockey-record crowd of more than 115,000.
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