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Are we there yet?

November 14, 2012, 6:25 PM ET [2 Comments]
Cam Gore
San Jose Sharks Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Waiting for the two sides to come to an agreement and end the second NHL lockout in eight years has become like a child riding in the back seat of a car. You know where the final destination is, but we don’t know how long it is going to take to get there and we can’t see out the front window so we really have no idea if the end is in sight.

It is quite depressing when the people who should know the answer to the question “are we there yet?” have no clue.

The frustration keeps piling on to a new level that I didn’t think was capable of reaching. The Winter Classic was a date that would not want to be missed by the owners or the players, or so many people thought. This game creates large amounts of revenue and the feeling was that the owners would soften by then and a new agreement would be in place. That day has come and passed, along with a non-refundable $100,000 deposit to the University of Michigan. I know chump change in the grand scheme of things but worth mentioning.

The cancellation of the W.C gave the union new perspective knowing that the owners were willing to balk on that cash count and back to the tables they went. In the last week plus the two sides have been meeting and talking but reports say they aren’t making much headway. Both sides are dug in and aren’t willing to budge on the issues that are preventing the league from getting back on the ice.

Meanwhile NHL level players are signing in the ECHL. Last week I worked a game with the Stockton Thunder where they played against the San Francisco Bulls and the Sharks’ Ryane Clowe had signed with the team but didn’t suit up for that game. He joined Theo Peckham as two regular NHL players who are playing well below their level but aren’t left with a lot of choice if they don’t want to go overseas. These are just two of the names that have signed contracts to keep their game sharp during the lockout. I was informed that Clowe had been skating with the Bulls for a couple of weeks prior to his signing.

This is an option for NHL players but it is strictly a temporary deal. However, this does affect the guys whose place they are taking on the team. The ECHL is a developmental league and every game that an NHL player suits up they hinder the potential career of an up and comer to professional hockey. I’m not blaming NHL guys, because they have to do something to stay in game shape, but this is an example of how this treachery to the fans affects players on many levels.

The only bright side to the NHL in the last few months was the Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Pavel Bure, Adam Oates, Joe Sakic, and Mats Sundin were inducted on Monday night at the hall in Toronto. All of these players were deserving of the nod from the decision committee and all of the speeches were well done.

All of these players standout for different reasons which was very unique and had they not played in the Gretzky Lemieux era they would have had more personal and team accolades to show for.

It is amazing to see how humble professional hockey players are compared to athletes from other sports and how quick they are to share the credit of their success as the speeches alluded to.

The induction came at a good time for the league because there has been so much turmoil and negativity around the NHL lately.

Keep your sticks on the ice,
Cam Gore
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