in NHL Betting Trends

Bending Over For the Fans

The NHL season will be back this year after missing the entire last season due to a contract dispute with its players. Both the NHL and its Player’s Association have reached an agreement in principle that will allow the fans to see the league back up and playing in 2005-2006. All that is left now is to finalize the details.

The keystone to the new deal is a salary cap of $39 million US for each team that will be the basis for the new collective agreement. Also, the new rules state that no one player is entitled to make more then 20% of a team’s total salary. Hence, the maximum salary for NHL players becomes $7.8 million US.

Even though the NHL is still in deep trouble in at least half a dozen markets, including Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Carolina, Phoenix, Nashville and Florida, just the fact that the teams are back up and playing is good news for hockey fans nationwide.

The league will also undergo a marketing structure overhaul. The NHL is in desperate need of recapturing the hearts and minds of their US fan base. Of course nothing sells tickets like a winning hockey club, but lower ticket prices and increased TV exposure are the keys to success in the US market. Washington, Tampa Bay, New Jersey and Boston are all teams that might adjust their ticket prices in order to boost sagging attendance.

Teams won’t be allowed to sign players until next month in order to allow agents and team executives the chance to learn the ins and outs of the new system.