Sup Case

In 1992, the first strike in NHL history was called by the players and lasted for 10 days. NHL players called this strike near the end of the regular season as they sought bargaining advantage before the playoffs. Most of the revenue generated by the owners occurs during the playoffs as owners could generate up to $500,000 each game. Player bonuses ranged from $3,000 to $25,000 depending on how far the team went into the playoffs so players used this advantage to seek greater playoff bonuses (1). Another stumbling block that led to the lockout was the revenue generated from players trading cards went entirely to the owners. Players wanted the ability market their own image and share the revenue from trading cards(2). This strike forever changed the relationship and perception between NHL owners and the NHLPA. The NHLPA could never be overlooked as a group that would be happy to be walked over and overlooked but now they were viewed as a union that could cause serious consequences. The 1992 strike forced owners to seriously consider the needs of players and the power that they held.

The 1994-1995 NHL labor lockout occurred after the agreement between the NHL and NHLPA came to an end and the owners locked the players out. Afraid that there was no CBA to protect owners from another disastrous lockout negotiations were put into place to come up with a collective bargaining agreement. This lockout lasted 104 days and a total of 468 games were lost. Negotiations were in progress over implementing a salary cap, salary arbitration, how to help small markets, rooking contracts, and free agency. NHL owners felt that they were spending too much revenue generated on their players so they fought to implement a salary cap where the revenue given to players was controlled. Both sides were in agreement that they needed to help out smaller market teams whose teams generated less revenue and as a result the players were paid less. But the players never gave into the demands