Since the 1995-1996 season, each NHL team plays 82 regular season games, 41 at home and 41 on the road. All this could change quite soon, as reported by the renowned journalist Larry Brooks.
Indeed, he recently reported that the league and the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) will soon enter into negotiations to raise the salary cap, in view of the next season. The initial plan was to raise it by one million dollars (from $82.5M to $83.5M), but both sides will also look at the possibility of increasing it a bit more, up to $84.5 or $85 million.
To do this, the players will either have to give more money into escrow, something the NHLPA refuses to do, or find a way to increase the league's revenues.
On this topic, the Players' Association, according to Brooks, would be ready to increase the number of games from 82 to 84. This would also come with a reduction in the length of training camps.
With the seasons becoming increasingly challenging and the number of injuries increasing year after year, it is surprising to see the NHLPA moving towards this solution. The new head of the NHLPA, Marty Walsh, will therefore have to bring out the money argument (the escrow) to his members, to convince them.
