NHL lockout ends
{{date|July 14, 2005}}

The [[w:National Hockey League|National Hockey League]] and its players [[w:labor union|union]], the [[w:NHL Players Association|NHL Players Association]], came to a long sought-after agreement Wednesday over a new [[w:NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement|NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement]], ending a [[w:National Hockey League labor dispute (2004-05)|bitter and damaging 301-day lockout]] of the players. The agreement came after a all-night negotiation session with the union. However, the deal must still be ratified by owners and players. A vote for ratification will be held on Thursday, July 21, 2005.

The deal includes a [[w:salary cap|salary cap]] for players. The combined salary of all players in the league cannot exceed 54% of league-wide revenue. Players who are still under contract will have a 24% rollback.

Also in the proposed deal are some rule changes. Smaller goaltending equipment, making two-line passes across the neutral zone (fom blue-line to blue-line) legal, and shootouts at the end of an overtime period in the case of tie games are all rules that will probably be enacted when the new season begins.

The lockout was very damaging to the NHL. The league became the first United States sport organization to cancel an entire season. It is the second time the [[w:Stanley Cup|Stanley Cup]] has not been awarded: the first time was in 1919 during an [[w:influenza|influenza]] outbreak.  

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/20050714-0104-hkn-nhllockout.html
|title=Long freeze ends, NHL lockout all but over 
|author=Podell, Ira
|pub=Associated Press
|date=July 14, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/14/sports/hockey/14nhl.html
|title=N.H.L. and Players Reach Agreement
|author=Caldwell, Dave
|pub=New York Times
|date=July 14, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2106776
|title=NHL, players' union reaches agreement in principle
|author=ESPN.com news services
|pub=ESPN.com
|date=July 13, 2005}}

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[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Sports]]
[[Category:National Hockey League]]
[[Category:Ice hockey]]
The National Hockey League and its players union, the NHL Players Association, came to a long sought-after agreement Wednesday over a new NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement, ending a bitter and damaging 301-day lockout of the players. The agreement came after a all-night negotiation session with the union. However, the deal must still be ratified by owners and players. A vote for ratification will be held on Thursday, July 21, 2005.

The deal includes a salary cap for players. The combined salary of all players in the league cannot exceed 54% of league-wide revenue. Players who are still under contract will have a 24% rollback.

Also in the proposed deal are some rule changes. Smaller goaltending equipment, making two-line passes across the neutral zone (fom blue-line to blue-line) legal, and shootouts at the end of an overtime period in the case of tie games are all rules that will probably be enacted when the new season begins.

The lockout was very damaging to the NHL. The league became the first United States sport organization to cancel an entire season. It is the second time the Stanley Cup has not been awarded: the first time was in 1919 during an influenza outbreak.  

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United States Sports National Hockey League Ice hockey