But some changes, such as harder caps on international spending and stricter penalties for higher payrolls, were clear wins for owners. The union has built a formal analytics department, introduced a smartphone app for players and overhauled its communications staff. Bruce Meyer, an experienced lawyer who worked closely with the former union chief, Donald Fehr, at the N.H.L., was hired to be the chief negotiator. Clark estimated that the union had undergone more staff changes in the past few years than at any point in its previous five decades. Clark has spent much of the last year meeting with and talking to agents and players around the country.

Source: International New York Times July 08, 2019 09:00 UTC