NHL players postpone final paycheck

NHL players are waiting to figure out what to do with their final paycheck of the 2019-20 season.

When the NHL season went on hiatus over a month ago, players were scheduled to receive three final paychecks this season. They received their penultimate paycheck two weeks ago, and were scheduled to receive their final paycheck on April 15.

The players and league divide all hockey-related revenue each season evenly, 50-50. Throughout the season, a percentage of players' paychecks is withheld and put into an escrow pool. If the league’s share of revenue is below 50 percent at the end of the year, they take from the escrow pool to make up the difference, and anything leftover is returned to the players.

With the league suffering significant losses in revenue due to the shutdown, players will likely end up owing the owners more money than what currently sits in the escrow pool in order to ensure the 50-50 revenue split.

The total amount that was supposed to be paid out to players on April 15 was around $120 million, according to TVA Sports' Renaud Lavoie. Lavoie reported on Saturday that the players voted to defer their decision on what happens with the final paycheck until May 15. The hope is that by that time both sides will have a better idea on if the league will be able to finish the season, and therefore a better idea of what percentage of that final paycheck will have to be returned to the league.