Someone finally used the “L” word, or at least implied it. Any hopes that the NHL season would progress even if there was no agreement between the league and the NHLPA were dashed yesterday as NHL commissioner Gary Bettman was quoted as saying that “the owners are not prepared to operate under this collective bargaining agreement for another season.”
While not surprising, that comment extinguished the tiny flicker of hope that cooler heads would prevail. After all, it is not often that Donald Fehr comes across as the voice of reason, just ask any MLB owner… it makes you wonder if Fehr has outmaneuvered the owners by stating that the players were willing to play under the current agreement as negotiations were continuing.
So now, quite a few Chicken Little's are running around screaming to anyone who will listen that the end is near. I am not sure that is the case or not. Many pudits have believed that the season wouldn’t begin on time... if at all. I was hopeful that it would… but I have to admit, I am not as hopeful as I once was.
I remember on a late spring edition of SlapShot Radio, Pete Weber and I talked lockout with Jeff Marek. Jeff's take was that the league will return in time for American Thanksgiving, as that is when the NBC contract begins… it makes some sense… that is when NBC money kicks in (the day after Thanksgiving game) and it would give the league time to do a 24/7 on HBO and would limit the damage of a lockout, at least financially.
So, keep hope alive hockey fans... my take is not quite as bleak as Howard Berger's in his column today, but my hope that the season will get started on time is fading.
So, what do you think? Does a lockout of any length damage the NHL?
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ROAD TRIP!
Alrighty gang! We have got a final destination for our road trip. We really couldn't get the logistics worked for the Washington game (sorry DC Pred fans) ... so...
We are heading to the Lone Star State! SlapShot Radio will be road tripping to Dallas for the season finale on April 13th. We have made arrangements for tickets and are working on the other logistics, bus, hotel, etc... depending on the MLB Schedule, we may even try to catch a Rangers game!
Circle the date and join the SlapShot Radio crew for a road trip to Dallas... 4/13/13. More information to come!
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