09/11/2016 – CanucksBanter

Gary Bettman; Bill Daly — Gary Bettman (left) and Bill Daly (right)

By Jason Brough Sep 6, 2016

According to NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly, the league is happy with how the current CBA is working and doesn’t think “there is anything major that would need fixing.”

Translation: Daly doesn’t foresee another work stoppage, at least from the NHL’s perspective.

“I think there’s a general satisfaction with how the system is working,” Daly toldSiriusXMNHL, per Today’s Slapshot.

“From time to time, tweaks are needed. I think the sign of any healthy collective bargaining relationship is, particularly when you’re talking about tweaks, you try to deal with them mid-term and try to make adjustments. I think we’ve been successful with the [NHLPA], at least during the first four years of this agreement, in being able to do that, on both sides of the table.”

The NHL and NHLPA each have the right to opt out of the CBA after the 2019-20 season. Otherwise, it’s set to expire after the 2021-22 campaign.

“It’s early, but I don’t see any storm clouds on the horizon, at least yet,” said Daly.

In spite of that optimism, there’s reason to wonder if the players’ association is quite as happy with the current system — specifically with regards to escrow.

Fortunately, there’s still time for that situation to work itself out. Escrow only becomes a concern when league revenues fall short of projections, which they did in 2015-16 due to the dramatic decline of the Canadian dollar.

Source: http://www.prosportsdaily.com/Headlines/ExternalArticle?articleId=424762

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA -Heading to the Aces net? Heads up! You’ll have to get around Dax Lauwers…no easy task. The Anchorage native will join pro tryout candidate Tim Boyle at training camp later this month.

Aces Head Coach and President of Hockey Operations Rob Murray made the announcement of Lauwers signing and Boyle’s agreement Wednesday.The 24 year old Lauwers is your prototypical stay-at-home, defense-first player with an edge…and that’s exactly what Murray likes about him.

“Dax is gritty and plays hard. He prides himself on his d-zone play,” said Murray. “With only 27 games played at the ECHL level, Dax is looking to prove himself at this level.”Lauwers, at 6-2, 210, played 18 games last season with the Cincinnati Cyclones. He also spent time with the Missouri Mavericks. In 2014-15 he saw action in 9 games with Colorado after finishing his NCAA career at Northeastern University.

23 year old Tim Boyle is also a blueline candidate. The 6-2, 190 pounder was a 4th round draft pick of the Ottawa Senators in 2012. Last season the Higham, MA native played 42 games for the Mississippi Riverkings of the Southern Professional Hockey League, scoring 3 goals with 3 assists and 50 penalty minutes.

“Tim is a big defenseman who skates well,” said Murray. “He comes from a hockey family and has solid skills.”
Boyle was an NCAA champion with Union in 2012-13. His brother Brian plays with the Tampa Bay Lightning of the NHL.