By Fitzgerald Cecilio

The NHL will implement an across-the-board 20-percent pay cut and a four-day work-week for all of its employees in the aftermath of the lockout that began last weekend.

According to multiple sources by ESPN.com, office staffers were already informed that the pay cut and four-day work-week will begin Oct. 1.

The salary cut stemmed from the league's third work stoppage since the 1994-95 season after the league and players union failed to come up with a new collective bargaining agreement.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman ordered the lockout after he was authorized by the league's board to do so if no labor deal was reached by Sept. 15.

In a radio interview, deputy commissioner Bill Daly said that both he and Bettman would forego their entire salaries during the lockout.

Daly and NHLPA special counsel Steve Fehr had several informal discussions since the lockout but no formal meetings have been scheduled.

The league and the players are divided in the issue of hockey-related revenue. The NHL is willing to give 43 percent but players want more cut from the billion-dollar earnings of the league.

Several players, led by New Jersey Devils winger Ilya Kovalchuk, have opted to play overseas during the lockout.

Kovalchuk has decided to play for SKA St. Petersburg in the Kontinental Hockey League starting Sept. 23.

Aside from Kovalchuk, Pittsburgh Penguins star Evgeni Malkin and Ottawa Senators defenseman Sergei Gonchar signed with KHL's Metallurg even before the lockout was formally announced Saturday.

Meanwhile, New York Islanders defenseman Mark Streit is headed to his native Switzerland to play with his hometown team in Bern.

Kovalchuk and other NHL stars have signed a deal with an opt-out clause, which allows them to return home once the lockout ends.

 

NHL cancels preseason games through September 30th

New York, NY, United States (4E Sports) - As expected, the NHL announced that it has shelved all preseason games through Sept. 30 due to the lockout.

The league's official website indicated that it also postponed the 2012 Kraft Hockeyville preseason game, scheduled for Oct. 3 in Belleville, Ontario.

The league is expected to cancel more preseason outings, including the New Jersey Devils-New York Islanders preseason contest at Brooklyn's Barclays Center on Oct. 2.

The league has locked out its players following the failure by both sides to reach a new collective bargaining agreement to replace the old one that expired Saturday. The lockout was the league's third work stoppage since the 1994-95 season.

The cancellation, according to sources, is a clear sign that there is no progress in labor talks between the league and players' union.

Also, the move is an indication that the start of the NHL's regular season Oct. 11 is in jeopardy.

The cancellation came after the NHL informed employees that it will implement an across-the-board 20-percent pay cut and a four-day workweek starting Oct. 1.

In a radio interview, deputy commissioner Bill Daly said that both he and Commissioner Gary Bettman would forego their entire salaries during the lockout.

Daly and NHLPA special counsel Steve Fehr had several informal discussions since the lockout but no formal meetings have been scheduled.

The league and the players are divided in the issue of hockey-related revenue. The NHL is willing to give 43 percent but players want more of the billion-dollar earnings of the league.

 

Rick Horrow predicts the NHL will be back before Christmas

 

 

NHL Orders Pay Cuts, Four-Day Work-Week for Employees