It's business, certainly, but I'm still utterly frustrated with the NHL's inability to get labor disputes resolved timely. NHL hockey is three for three on potential lockouts going back to 1994. Fehr has been in charge of the NHLPA for two years, correct? There's been plenty of time him to get familiar with his job and the two sides to start talking. There was plenty of time this summer to start talking. It didn't happen, the two sides planned on putting regular season hockey in jeopardy.

(rant time, to clarify this post isn't an angry letter at you)

I understand they did this because long term gains via negotiations would outweigh short term revenues, but I still feel it hurts the brand. The fans came back last time, and the league grew to a bit over $3 billion. One can argue we'll all be back, or at least enough of us that it won't matter, and you'll probably be right. I can't help but look at the paradigm of successful professional sports, the NFL.

The NFL and NFLPA did their sparring, the necessary parties got involved, and they had a CBA in place with the time needed to get the ball rolling. The NHL and NHLPA, however, couldn't even be bothered to make offers until a lockout was less than a month away. Where the NFL maintained the hype of the season opening, hockey fans and casual fans have pretty much no idea what the deal is.

Now, it's not an even or entirely fair comparison. The two leagues have different issues to negotiate, and I don't have all the details (nor does anybody, I suppose). It's not exactly an even comparison to to judge hockey against football and its mass appeal. But I think it's fair to say football knows the value of maintaining the excitement its product has, and that's a big part of the mass appeal. It's a fixture in popular culture, and even through labor disputes, a year without a CBA, and a dispute with the referees (with embarrassing and hilarious results), football refused to give up its iron grip on the weekend.

So I'm going to backtrack and say I don't think it's assured everybody will be back when this is all done. I think a lot of people will be frustrated enough to reconsider. I don't think it's assured the league will grow the same way it did since the last lockout. These lockouts leave a lot of people with a firm opinion that the NHL is second rate among professional sports leagues, and right now I'm not inclined to argue with them.

(This rant, as they often do, lost focus but I think I got my point across)
- BulliesPhan87

this is a lot to read

this is a lot to read
- JoeRussomanno

Your avatar is wonderful

Your avatar is wonderful
- Giroux_Is_God

you mean "out of this world"

this is a lot to read
- JoeRussomanno

- BulliesPhan87

What's the longest EASHL game you played in NHL 13?

I just wrapped up a third overtime game. Scored five minutes into it.

- BulliesPhan87

What's the longest EASHL game you played in NHL 13?

I just wrapped up a third overtime game. Scored five minutes into it.
- KGBflyers10

Go to work!