NHLPA is pondering CBA option, and Toews discussed escrow as concern
As the NHL awaits the NHLPA's decision on whether it'll opt to reopen the collective bargaining agreement, Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews is concerned about one of the biggest potential sticking points between the two sides: escrow.
Escrow takes a portion of the players' salaries and puts them in a pool. The league then determines how much of that pool has to be paid to the owners in order to reach a 50/50 revenue split. The setup was agreed upon during CBA discussions in 2013, and Toews isn't a fan.
"I'm no financial expert," Toews told John Dietz of the Daily Herald at the end of last season. "All I see is that I've signed a contract and to me, it's not exactly being honored. So I don't care what business you're in - to me, that's kind of ridiculous."
As Dietz notes, players used to receive their escrow back. Now, due to a rising salary cap that's led to heftier contracts, and revenues that have failed to keep up with those larger agreements, players lose in excess of 10% of their annual salaries due to escrow.
"They've done a good job of making the players look like the greedy ones in the past several lockouts, and I wouldn't be surprised if they try to do it again," Toews continued. "To me, it's pretty black and white."
The NHL officially declined its option to reopen negotiations Aug. 30, a decision "based on the current state of the game and the business of the game."
The NHLPA executive board meets Wednesday to discuss its side of the matter and has until Sept. 15 to make a final decision. If the players opt to reopen talks, the current CBA will be terminated in September 2020. If they decline their option, the CBA will run through the 2021-22 campaign.
"There's obvious incentive for the NHL owners to have (escrow)," Toews said. "They get money back, depending on their performance. So now that responsibility falls on the player."
Toews signed an eight-year, $84-million contract with the Blackhawks in 2014. His $10.5-million annual cap hit is the fourth-richest among all NHL centers.
The 31-year-old appeared in all 82 games for Chicago in 2018-19, registering a career-high 81 points in his 12th NHL season.
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