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Players' ratify new CBA, Board of Governors to do same Friday

Friday, August 31, 2007

The NHL moved one step closer to opening for business Thursday when players voted to ratify the new Collective Bargaining Agreement with the league. NHLPA executive director Bob Goodenow said that about 87 or 88 percent of the players voted in favor of the deal.

"I'm pleased to announce that NHLPA members voted today and ratified the new Collective Bargaining Agreement. If the board of governors do the same on Friday, the hockey world will soon be able to celebrate the return of NHL hockey," Goodenow said that a news conference that was attended by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.

"We stand here at a point where we can now together move forward in partnership to take our game to spectacular heights," Bettman said. "And we can do it for the good of the game and, most importantly, for our fans. That's what we in partnership are committed to doing."

The NHL Board of Governors will vote to ratify the deal tomorrow and will also vote on proposed rules changes. The league will also hold the draft lottery. On Saturday, the league officially opens for business.

"I am optimistic that we will bring this promptly to a successful conclusion so that we can go together and get this game -- and the attention on this game -- back where it belongs, on the ice," Bettman said.

The new agreement will feature a salary cap on team payrolls and on the share of overall of league revenues that will go to player compensation.

The team payroll cap for the upcoming season will be $39 million and overall player compensation will be capped at 54 percent of overall league revenues.

Both Bettman and Goodenow touted the partnership aspect of the agreement, saying both owners and players will have an interest in helping the league and game grow.

"I have no doubt that labor and management can work together for the benefit of the game and the fans in an unprecedented way," said Bettman.

New Jersey Devils center John Madden was optimistic the deal could work.

"It's not the deal we once had when we were collecting 75 percent of revenues nor is it the deal we set out to have, but I think it's going to work," Madden told the Associated Press. "I think our game will grow.

"With the competition committee and everybody else putting their minds into making the game into something the fans can come to the rink and enjoy, I think it'll grow and that means the cap will grow."

Goodenow was asked about the all the speculation that his days as the head of the NHLPA could be numbered. He said he had no plans to leave. Bettman said he planned to be staying in his position as NHL commissioner.