SAVING THE NHL SEASON : The Deal

Main points of the collective bargaining agreement that the NHL Players Assn.’s executive committee accepted Wednesday. The agreement must be ratified by union membership.

* Length of agreement--Six seasons, including this one. Both management and the union have the right to reopen the agreement after the 1997-98 season.

* Unrestricted free agency--For the first three years of the agreement, any player 32 or older with at least four seasons (of 40-plus games each) becomes an unrestricted free agent. For the next three years of the agreement, any player 31 or older with at least four seasons (of 40-plus games each) becomes an unrestricted free agent.

* Restricted free agency--By June 30 or other agreed upon date, clubs must make qualifying offers to “Group II” players--generally those with at least three years of experience who have not reached their 32nd birthdays in the first three years of the agreement and 31st birthdays in the last three years of the contract. Qualifying offers must be 110% of the previous year’s salary for players earning no more than league average or 100% of the previous year’s salary for players earning above the league average. If no qualifying offer is made, the player becomes an unrestricted free agent. If another team makes an offer to a restricted free agent, his original team has a right to match the offer.

* Salary arbitration--In most cases, a player will be eligible for arbitration after five seasons in the league or after the player reaches the age of 25. The team can choose if an arbitration award is for one or two years, though a player within a year of unrestricted free agency would be bound only by a one-year award. Each club may walk away from three arbitration awards of at least $550,000 in any two-year period but may not use all three walk-aways in any one year. After a team walks, the player has seven days to decide if he wants to remain with his team at the team’s arbitration offer or he may elect to become an unrestricted free agent. A team can walk away from the second year of a two-year arbitration award.

* Entry draft--Nine rounds for players 19 and older. Players who are 18 may opt into the draft.

* Entry-level salaries--A player drafted in the first round in 1995 can receive no more than $850,000. In 1996, the first-round cap is $875,000. In 1997, $925,000. In 1998, $975,000. In 1999, $1.025 million. In 2000, $1.075 million.

* Minimum salary--$125,000 through 1998; $150,000 remainder of agreement.

* Roster size--Active roster of 20 players, including two goalies. Overall roster will have no limit this season, 24 players thereafter. In event of expansion, NHL may lower the limit to 23.