I really want to talk hockey. I want to do my preseason previews. I want to get excited about the countdown to camps opening. I want to know that in a few weeks I won’t be wasting my time getting my voice in shape for a long season of announcing.

Unfortunately… I can’t. The looming September 15th expiration of the Collective Bargaining Agreement hangs heavy over every hockey fans head. It hangs over the heads of the Bridgestone Arena workers, who will start to lose real money in as soon as two and a half weeks. It hangs over the heads of the small business owners on Lower Broadway, the ones that own the bars and restaurants that count on the revenue from 50+ nights of hockey in Nashville for their very survival.

I still believe the situation is light years better than 2005… it’s the one thing that both sides appear to agree on. With negotiations (at least publically) at a standstill, the attention turns to some key dates…

- September 11-12 – NHLPA holds player meetings in New York… while the players seem to be united, they can take an opportunity like this to reevaluate their position. Also a chance to agree not to strike should the league come back and say that they will play the season under the old CBA. This is something you have not heard from Donald Fehr.

- September 13th – There is a scheduled Board of Governors meeting in New York. It does appear that Gary Bettman will be looking for guidance and a mandate from the owners regarding a lockout. Perhaps one last chance for the owners to say … OK, let’s play one more year under the existing CBA and negotiate through the season to get a long-term deal done as long as the players agree to not strike once the season begins… something they have not said throughout this negotiation.

- September 15th – Expiration of the current CBA… potential beginning point of an NHL lockout.

- September 16th – Scheduled opening of training camps

- September 19th – Scheduled first preseason games.

- October 11th – First day of the regular season

- October 15th – Players miss their first paychecks

- November 23rd – “Black Friday” Game – First NBC Telecast of the season

Most people I have spoken to still consider November 23rd as the key date, the date that the NHL doesn’t want to go past. It still allows the full preparation for the Winter Classic and allows for HBO’s 24/7 to shoot. If you use that week as the starting point, you can still probably fit in a 72 game schedule without extending too far past the April 13th close of the season.

Keep your fingers crossed that cooler heads prevail and an agreement gets reached, which is not beyond the realm of possibility… but then again…

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Random Notes

- Not sure what all the carping is about regarding Shea Weber’s contract. He is back in town, working out… There is no NTC or NMC… It does take a little while to get things down on paper and official. Take off the tinfoil hats gang…

- Stu Grimson now has his own blog on the Predators website… nice to see him get a more honorable profession… :-)

- Looks like Bobby Ryan is staying in Anaheim… he is making some very conciliatory comments after demanding a trade.

- Shane Doan looks like he will be staying in Phoenix as things look to be settling in the desert. Glad to see this… now it is up to the fans to get out and support a very good hockey team that is committed to staying.

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ROAD TRIP!!!! Update!

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!

We just ordered our tickets… to order yours please contact Group Sales Manager, Stormye Stevens at (214) 387-5635, mention you're with the SlapShot Radio Road Trip and she'll get you set up.

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You are invited to follow me on Twitter. Search for @PredPAPaul… Not only will I be updating when I get news or updates, but we are having a bit of fun by getting your input on Gnash introductions, weigh in on Twitter and who knows, we may use your introduction for the best mascot in the NHL at the next Preds game!

Also... make sure to "like" SlapShot Radio on Facebook... here's the link.

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On the next SlapShot Radio

We are on summer hiatus and will return with our first show on October 3rd at 7pm on 102.5 the Game!

Preseason advertising packages are available… if you would like to reach our large and highly engaged fan base, please reach out… email [email protected] for more information.

Click here to download or listen to any of our previous season’s podcasts.

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