Updated: 8:40 p.m. CT
After months' worth of drama, rhetoric, talking and not talking, the NHL and NHLPA have finally agreed to a deal that will salvage part of the 2012-13 season.
The two sides agreed to a tentative 10-year collective bargaining agreement, according to reports, ending a lockout that swallowed up much of the 2012-13 schedule. The deal, which was reached a little before 4 a.m. CT, came after a marathon negotiation session that went more than 16 hours in New York.
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Commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr spoke to the media briefly this morning.
"We've reached an agreement on framework of the CBA, the details of which need to be put to paper," Bettman told reporters. "We've got to dot a lot of 'Is' to cross a lot of 'Ts,' but basically the framework has been agreed upon. We have to go through ratification process. The board of governors and players will have to approve. We'e not in the position to give any information. Well be back to you very shortly, hopefully later today, with more information."
Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews, via text, was "really happy" that the lockout was finally over.
"A lot of credit goes to the players who were in the bargaining sessions and worked very hard to get a deal done," Toews said. "I'm excited to play hockey again, although it's bittersweet because a lot of damage was done to our game. As players we need to keep showing our fans we care. We might have a long road ahead of us there, but for now it's great to know well be back on the ice very soon."
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Now its a matter of when training camp and the regular season will begin. Its most likely to be a 48-game regular-season, although its still possible to squeeze in 50. Many athletes who were playing with European teams are working to return home. Patrick Kane, who played the past few months for EHC Biel in Switzerland, is headed home according to agent Pat Brisson.
He's home tomorrow, Brisson said via email. He is very excited and looking forward to play.
"Hopefully, in a very few days, fans can get back to watching people who are skating and not the two of us.-- Donald Fehr, on the end of the NHL lockoutCSNPhillys Tim Panaccio, who was in New York for the negotiations, reported that the 2013-14 salary cap, will be 64.3 million. The league originally wanted it to be 60 million and wasnt budging on that for some time. The cap floor will be 44 million. For 2013-14, the Blackhawks currently have 57.2 million of cap payroll spent on 17 players.
The cap for the remainder of this season is 70.2 million. And players' maximum length of contracts is now reportedly seven years (eight if the player is re-signing with his current team).
One of the first people Bettman thanked was federal mediator Scot Beckenbaugh, who was a key component in these negotiations down the stretch. Beckenbaugh, who had had several fruitless meetings with the two sides in the past, helped bridge the gap between the league and NHLPA this weekend. Beckenbaugh spent about 13 hours on Friday going between the two groups before they all got together on Saturdayearly Sunday.
Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service director George H. Cohen recognized Beckenbaugh in a statement early today.
"I want to recognize the extraordinary contribution that my colleague, Scot Beckenbaugh, Deputy Director for Mediation Services, made in providing assistance of the highest caliber to the parties throughout the most critical periods in the negotiations," Cohen said.
Said Beckenbaugh declined comment to reporters, other than to say, "I'm as famous as I want to be."
Dates for training campsregular-season starts have not yet been announced. And Fehr, standing with Bettman, probably echoed the sentiments of many with his closing statement to reporters.
"Hopefully, in a very few days, fans can get back to watching people who are skating and not the two of us," he said.