Many of these questions are why I don't see the NHLPA holding up. It's too easy for the people who get paid the big bucks to sit out, but for the younger players who have played 2-3 years in the NHL and can't go to the AHL or juniors, and aren't on the level to get a cushy contract in Europe, they have to sit by while everyone else makes the decisions.
212 players are set to make the league average or more "next season". 348 players are set to make less than the league average "next season". That's 62% of the league that probably wouldn't be affected by increases in salaries and would be happy to make their million or so a year. That means that 38% is really acting as the majority, and as many of the cushy European contracts expire and you see the money makers coming home to no work, they'll buckle. It could very well cost the players, owners, and worst of all the fans the entire season.
Instead of spending $897 million a year on players as the NHL is proposing, the NHLPA wants $1.242 billion to be spent on players instead.
More money is to be lost by the players who make the big bucks too. If the NHL wins and cuts salaries by 28% like they are proposing, your average $1 million salaries player becomes a $0.7 million player. BUT your $6 million player becomes a $4.3 million player, a much steeper drop off.
It's clear the money makers are in control of this one.