Despite increases in revenue, the N.H.L. claims that overall financial losses have been caused by greater increases in player costs. The N.H.L. is looking for a salary cap or similar device to deliver cost certainty in its upcoming negotiations with the players' union. The union disagrees with the way the League's financial well-being is being measured, and disputes the need for salary caps.
See "With Union Talks Nearing, N.H.L. Is Citing Big Losses", Richard Sandomir, The New York Times, October 8, 2003