NHL Announces Tentative Agreement

A tentative agreement was reached Thursday night between the NHL Players Assn. and the league’s 21 clubs, averting a strike that could have shut down training camp in mid-September.

“We can announce that we have a new five-year collective bargaining agreement subject to ratification,” NHL President John Ziegler said after the sides met on and off for more than 13 hours in their fourth day of the current round of negotiations.

Players dropped their demand for total free agency, allowing clubs to continue receiving compensation for lost free agents. However, a compromise was reached that both sides said would allow greater player movement and provide more money for stars.

Alan Eagleson, executive director of the NHLPA, said he expects the proposed contract to be ratified next week.

It was also agreed that the first round of the playoffs would become a best-of-seven series instead of best-of-five.