nhl teams are losing money, and since owners don't want to lose the money nor raise ticket prices -- they're dropping the cuts onto the players. Who, obviously, aren't too damn happy.
NHL players really need an image makeover. Your average NBA player makes $250,000 a year in ancillary deals. Same with football and baseball. Only the top top NHL players become household names and get movie offers, sponsorships, video games, endorsements, you name it. That's where a lot of good money for sports athletes are.