Lockout ends after a marathon meeting (Renaud Lavoie)

[smashem]

I'll start getting pumped when camp opens Sept 2013, other than that i hope a horrible team wins it all. Gonna be funny though to see how many fighters are out of shape.

[vznyisleszv]

i know everyones pissed off and we all have the right to be but im thrilled i get NYI back. i cant wait to see what carkner n bolton do the first time someone hits JT. add brooklyn news, its finally starting to be fun to see and support NYI!

yes, thats what happens when your team is the biggest puzzball team a year prior and now theyre semi-tough. i cant wait. DROP THE PUCK!

[chilly666]

The National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players' Association reached agreement on the framework of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement early Sunday morning.

After a marathon 16-plus hour negotiating session at the Sofitel Hotel that began Saturday afternoon, the sides announced an agreement in principle shortly after 6 a.m. Sunday.

The League did not announce the start date of the season or the number of games each team will play. Those details will be announced soon.

The deal, agreed to at approximately 4:40 a.m., was announced jointly by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA Executive Director Donald Fehr in the same hotel conference room where the negotiations were conducted with the assistance of Scot Beckenbaugh, Deputy Director for Mediation Services for the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.

"Don Fehr and I are here to tell you that we have reached an agreement on the framework of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, the details of which need to be put to paper," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. "We have to dot a lot of I's and cross a lot of T's. There is still a lot of work to be done, but the basic framework has been agreed upon. We have to go through a ratification process and the Board of Governors has to approve it from the League side and, obviously, the players have to approve it as well. We are not in a position to give you information right now about schedule, when we are starting. It's early in the morning and we have been at this all day and all night, obviously. But, we will be back to you very shortly, hopefully, later today with more information in that regard."

Fehr, meanwhile expressed an eagerness for his constituency to get back to playing hockey after a negotiation that stretched across 113 days.

"Any process like this in the system we have is difficult; it can be long," Fehr said. "I've said repeatedly throughout this process, somebody would say, 'What do you see ahead?' And, the answer was, 'You get up tomorrow and you try to find a way to do it and you keep doing that until you find a way to succeed.

"As Gary just indicated, we have the framework of a deal. We have to do the legal work and we have to do the constituent-communication work. At least, from my [standpoint], and I'm sure Gary's too, we need to let them know the details before we tell all of you. Having said that, hopefully, we're at a place where all those things will proceed fairly rapidly and with some dispatch and we'll get back to what we used to call business as usual as fast as we can."

Beckenbaugh, who took part in these negotiations at three different junctures of the overall process, worked with both sides from this past Wednesday until the deal was finalized Sunday morning. Commissioner Bettman praised the work of Beckenbaugh and thanked the mediator for the role he played in the potential settlement.

"I want to recognize the extraordinary contribution that my colleague, Scot Beckenbaugh, Deputy Director for Mediation Services, made in providing herculean assistance of the highest caliber to the parties throughout the most critical periods in the negotiations," FMCS Director George Cohen said as part of a statement.

The new CBA, which still must be drafted and formerly approved by both parties, would replace the agreement replaces the agreement that expired Sept. 15.

[Humpzilla]

This is what's happening in the AHL right now, with guys making a fraction the Dime these spoiled, over-paid & out of touch NHLers are making

Eric Neilson vs Jay Rosehill - YouTube

Jared Nightingale vs John Kurtz - YouTube

Hell, you'll see more passion in the LNAH

hockey fights roch vs laferriere 5 jan 2013 -...

[D Y B FLYERS]

It's about time! I'm not going to lie, I can't wait for the Flyers to start! I know some of you guys are done with the NHL, but personally I don't think there's any league in the world that puts on a better show. Sure the league is a watered down version even from 10-15 years ago, but I'd still rather watch any NHL game over and AHL or ECHL game. Also looking foward to going to some. LET'S GO FLYERS!!!

[caps87]

Finally. It still dumbfounds me that they didnt do these marathon meetings months ago.

But Im excited, cant lie about that. And im hopeful a shortened season will mean more intense hockey since every game means more. But this league is not getting a dime from me for tickets, merchandise, etc for a long time.

[Boston Garden]

It's nauseating to see people "thank" the NHL and everyone involved in the lockout on social media.....it's fucking embarrassing.

The fact people are already inquiring about tickets is a joke as well, rest assured at least this league won't rise above being the 4th sport in America.

[lilburtis9363]

..yet one **** was still not given. I refuse to pay to watch any of this "shortened season." You already lost so many fans and won't get them back. Stream them for free and maybe i'll watch otherwise **** the nhl

[DARCY T]

im disappointed.i hoped i wont see jagr in stars uniform and im not looking forward to see new pussified dallas stars

[chilly666]

The NHL and NHL Players' Association reached a tenative deal on a new collective bargaining agreement around 4:45 a.m. ET Sunday. While the deal still needs to be ratified by the players and the league, here are some of the main highlights, based on information from sources:

— The CBA will run for 10 years through 2021-22, with an option to terminate the deal after eight years.
— Players receive defined benefit pension plan.
— Owners and players split revenue 50-50 each season, with the players receiving US$300 million in deferred "make-whole payments" to ease the transition from previous system.
— A pro-rated salary cap of $70.2-million for the shortened 2012-13 season followed by a salary cap of $64.3-million in 2013-14. The salary floor will be set at $44 million for both years.
— Seven-year limit on free-agent contracts (eight-year limit when a team signs its own player to an extension).
— A maximum salary variance of 35 per cent from year to year, with no more than a 50 per cent total difference between any two seasons in the contract.
— Teams can only walk away from a player in salary arbitration who is awarded at least $3.5 million.
— Each team will be given the option of two "amnesty buyouts" that can be used to terminate contracts prior to the 2013-14 season or 2014-15 season. The buyouts will cost two-thirds of the remaining amount on a deal — paid evenly over twice its remaining length — and will count against the players' overall share in revenues, but not the individual team's salary cap.
— Revenue sharing between teams increased to $200 million annually.
— Unrestricted free agency continues to open on July 1.
— The participation of NHLers in future Olympics has yet to be determined. The decision will be made outside of the CBA.
— The minimum salary starts at $525,000 and reaches $750,000 for the 9th and 10th years of the new CBA.

Link

[Broons66]

The league itself has sunk to the level of candlepin bowling and bull riding in terms of popularity and interest. Jacobs doesn't have to worry about me inquiring about tickets. Haven't been to more than a handful of games since the last lockout anyways. But I'm sure the vault on Causeway will be packed with pink hats opening night anyways.

[NJDevils17]

Thank god this nightmare is over.

I can't wait for the season to finally start.

[OriginalSix]

It's gotta be a shitty feeling being a Bruins fan right now. One of the most exciting teams around with the biggest asshole at the helm. Yet they will still pack the place. A shame really.

[Humpzilla]

ESPN started their 9 am Sportscenter with a quick 30 second blip about the Lockout being overwith. No emotion. They then switched to football talk.

No emotion.

[cookie monster]

So who's ready for the lockout of 2023, Lol?