The NHL Lockout for Dummies

The NHL Lockout for Dummies

What it is and Why its happening

Most of you have probably heard there is a chance that Gary Bettman and NHL officials may lockout the 2012-13 season. If you're anything like me, you probably do not understand why. Over the past few days, I have been researching the lockout and I came up with a couple of reasons as to why its going to happen. To start, the National Hockey League Players association, or NHLPA and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman are unable to come to agreements about the player's share. The player's share is the percentage of NHL revenue that goes to the hockey players. Currently, the players share is around 57 percent. Bettman and the NHL owners believe that this number is too high, and offered a 24 percent cut. Bettman wants to lower the player's share, and the NHLPA is strongly against that. Another problem that the NHL is facing is the disagreements in revenue sharing. The revenue sharing system is basically the proposed obligation of wealthier teams to give money to fiscally lesser teams, in order to keep the NHL balanced. As the revenue of the NHL increases, the fiscally lesser teams believe that they should earn money from wealthier teams, while the wealthier teams disagree. Bettman has made the ultimate decision that if an agreement can not arise between the NHLPA and himself by September 15th, there will be a lockout. So why that date? The current collective bargaining agreement or CBA expires on the 15th, and if new terms cannot be reached by then, a new CBA cannot be written. There is about a 50 percent chance that the NHL will lockout this year. Do you think it will happen? Leave a comment below!

Fun Fact: NHL Commissioner, Gary Bettman, has been responsible for 2 NHL lockouts prior to the possible upcoming one. The 1994-95 season was shortened to 48 games, and the 2004-05 season was canceled completely.