NHL Offer 50-50 Revenue Split in a Bid to End Lockout

The National Hockey League (NHL) lockout negotiations finally made some progress after the League offered the union a 50-50 split in hockey related revenue and plans for an 82-game season that would start on Nov. 2.

The Stanley Cup would be played “before the end of June, pills ” said NHL commissioner Gary Bettman if a deal is reached. It would mean playing an extra game every five weeks.

“We believe it is our best shot at preserving an 82-game regular-season and playoffs, bronchi ” Bettman told reporters during a break in talks with the union. “This offer we made is contingent upon having an 82-game regular season.

“We offered a 50-50 share of hockey-related revenues we believe we address the concern that players have about about their salaries as a result of reducing their percentage.”

The league envisions a one-week training camp, leaving the two sides about nine days to reach a final deal.

“We believe this is a fair offer for a long-term deal. It’s one we hope will get a positive reaction so we can drop the puck on Nov. 2,” said Bettman.

The union has requested time to look the proposal over.

“Our hope after we review this is that there will be a feeling on the players’ side that this will be a proposal from which we can negotiate and try and reach a conclusion,” NHLPA executive driector Donald Fehr told reporters.

When asked if the proposal was an improvement over previous league offers, Fehr said: “In some respects I think it is, in other respects I’m not sure. We have to look at it.”

The talks started about a half-hour later than expected Tuesday, but Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly made the short walk on Bay St., south from the league offices in the Air Canada Centre to the NHLPA offices where Fehr and his staff waited.