If the NHL and players can get their negotiating act together in November, it could create an interesting June.
The Toronto Star reported Tuesday that the two sides have "more or less agreed" to several issues, the most intriguing one a change in the date for the free agent signing period.
Currently, it's July 1. But if a deal is reached, the date could be moved to June 15 or two days after the end of the Stanley Cup Final, whichever is latest.
The other areas of common ground, according to the Star:
- Allow cap space to be included in transactions, to encourage trades and get teams out from under heavy contracts. This is a favorite of Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke. That would eliminate the need for teams to bury contracts in the minors, which the league was trying to get rid of anyway.
- A joint health committee.
- Eliminate re-entry waivers.That was part of the league's Oct. 16 proposal.
- A neutral, third-party arbitrator to deal with appeals of suspensions. In the past collective bargaining agreement, Commissioner Gary Bettman handled appeals.
- Minimum roster requirements to avoid situations where teams dress fewer than 18 players to save salary cap room.
The move of the free-agency date would be beneficial in Canada, where July 1 is a national holiday. It also would allow teams to better know their needs going into draft weekend.
With arbitration dates also possibly moving earlier, general managers and players could get peace of mind a little earlier in the summer.
The new date would be tougher on teams involved in the Final because they would have less of a window after the playoffs to lock in their free agents.
The latest clinching dates of recent Finals were 2006 (June 19 in an Olympic year) and 2011 (June 15 in a non-Olympic year). Those teams would have had two days to decide whom to sign or let leave - or would have had to make a decision before the playoffs.
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