{coyotes} NHL players accept linkage as negotiations resume

 

NEW YORK - The NHL Players' Association brought a proposal to the league on Wednesday that makes some movement toward the owners' position.

The league on Monday had asked for the union to present a full economic proposal to see how far apart the sides are.

It wants the players' share to be a fixed percentage of hockey-related revenue and the union had agreed to that, according to a person familiar with the talks who spoke on condition of anonymity because details of negotiations are confidential. Previously, players had been seeking a fixed dollar amount: last year's $1.883 billion, plus 1.75% interest over the life of the deal.

Also, the person said, the union is asking the league to add $180 million to its make whole proposal. The league had offered $211 million in deferred payments designed to ensure that players didn't lose money off existing contracts with the drop of the players' share from 57% to a 50-50 split.

Executive director Donald Fehr and his negotiating team left for lunch while the league examined the proposal. The two sides were scheduled to get back together at 1 p.m. ET.

Fehr didn't discuss the specifics of the proposal, which he called "comprehensive."

But he did say that he believes the two sides are now about $182 million apart over the course of the five-year deal. During an earlier proposal to the league, Fehr said, the NHL had said the sides were $900 million apart, a figure that the union never accepted.

"We have moved far more than halfway," he said, adding, "It is about as good as we can do."

Joining Fehr and his brother Steve were nine players: Adam Burish, Chris Campoli, Dan Cleary, Mathieu Darche, Ron Hainsey, Shawn Horcoff, Kevin Shattenkirk, Andy McDonald and Daniel Winnik.

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