The NHL won’t release the new schedule until the players ratify the deal. The regular season was supposed to begin Oct. 11, but the lockout wrecked those plans after it took effect Sept. 16.

The outdoor Winter Classic and the All-Star game won’t be played this season.

Last season, the NHL generated $3.3 billion of revenue. The new deal will lower the players’ percentage from 57 to 50.

Players will receive $300 million in transition payments over three years to account for existing contracts, pushing their revenue share over 50 percent at the start of the deal. They also gained a defined benefit pension plan for the first time.

The salary cap for this season will be $70.2 million before prorating to adjust for the shortened season, and the cap will drop to $64.3 million in 2013-14 — the same amount as 2011-12. There will be a salary floor of $44 million in those years.

Free agents will be limited to contracts of seven years (eight for those re-signed with their former club).

Salaries within a contract may not vary by more than 35 percent year to year, and the lowest year must be at least 50 percent of the highest year.

The minimum salary will remain at $525,000, and there were no changes to eligibility for free agency and salary arbitration.

The threshold for teams to release players in salary arbitration will increase from $1.75 million to $3 million.

Each team may use two buyouts to terminate contracts before the 2013-14 or 2014-15 seasons for two-thirds of the remaining guaranteed income. The buyout will be included in the players’ revenue share but not the salary cap.

Revenue sharing will increase to $200 million annually and rise with revenue.

An industry growth fund of $60 million will be funded by the sides over three years and replenished as needed.

Issues such as whether NHL players will participate in the 2014 Olympics and realignment within the league will be addressed with the union down the line.