The league and the association representing NHL players continue meeting Thursday for the fifth straight business day in hopes of avoiding a lockout that could take place as early as September 2020. While many analysts state both the NHL and NHLPA are leaking very few details of the meetings, the fact that they are still talking is likely a good sign.
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The players have until this Sunday to decide if they want to withdraw from the current collective bargaining agreement. If they do, both sides will have until September of 2020 to reach a deal, or a work stoppage is in the cards. If players decide they are fine with the current agreement, it will remain in place until September of 2022, giving everyone involved more time to reach a new agreement and avoid any games being missed.
If there is one major concern that causes players to withdraw from the current agreement, it's likely escrow, the league's model for sharing revenue between owners and players. Right now, salary growth is outpacing the league's revenue growth, which means players are often not getting paid the full amount of their contracts.
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