The Lockout Ends

It's been 301 days since Commissioner Gary Bettman and the NHL Owners locked out the NHL Players Association. 301 days, one canceled season (1,230 games), a whole lot of very angry fans, a loss of a major fan base (the US isn't going to be so keen on coming back) and the second lockout in 10 years. Not bad for Canada's largest sport. The CBA (Collective bargaining Agreement) is still only tentative but is said to contain the first every NHL salary cap, on a team-by-team base, and a pay cut for any player that is already under contract. For more on the story click here or here. The NHLPA is meeting next Wednesday and Thursday in Toronto, while the owners meet in New York on Thursday to vote to ratify the deal. Speculation from the experts says that both sides will agree and there will be a face-off in the 2005-2006 NHL season. It is my estimate that the NHL lockout will end at between 310 and 312 days (just to give time to count the vote). This is the longest lockout in North American sports history. I must say I hope the NBA has as many problems as the NHL, I think they could just use a season off in general, maybe it would get all the thugs out of the league. Oh, well, one can only hope.