NHL Lockout

The National Hockey League has now been in a lockout for 90 days and has canceled games through December 30^th. 526 games, that is the number of games that has been cancelled so far this year including, the famous Winter Classic that had only been around for five seasons but was one the biggest revenue generators the NHL had. With games getting canceled for the un-seeable future fans can only hope this lockout doesn’t end up like the one that canceled the entire 2004-2005 NHL season. So what are the reasons behind this seemingly unenviable lockout?

The reason for this lockout is because the old Collective Bargaining Agreement has expired and there was never an agreement reached for a new one between the Players Union and The Owners. During many talks and proposals it seems like the main side causing the lockout is the Commissioner  and the Owners, who want a lot more of the revenue in terms of splitting it with the Players Union. Last year the NHL revenue was 3.3 billion, which is 1.1 billion more than 2004-2005 revenue which was the year after the previous lockout. The 30 Owners know that this sport is growing and want many new restrictions on contracts and salaries caps that will benefit them and screw over the players in the end, because that’s what the Owners have always done.

Another factor going into this lockout is that the Players Union actually have a president that is trying to make things fair. For years everyone knew the Owners would get their way because the players never had a strong leader to stand up for them and make things fair. Until, former Major League Baseball Players Union President Donald Fehr decided to take his talents into hockey to take the same position. Mr. Fehr has been known for always getting his way and making things fair. As he always got his way when working in baseball for the players. So now that the Players Union actually has a voice and trying to make things fair for once. This has caused a Lockout that some people say could last for possibly two seasons.

As a hockey fan I know that this lockout will last for the season, or at least I would prefer that because if there was a season it would be too condensed and forced. I would rather see the Owners and Players Union just work on getting the NHL back for next year because with canceling games through the beginning of the year 2013 gives fans little hope for a season this year. The most demoralizing thing about this lockout is the fact that this is the second lockout in less than a decade, with the last one cancelling the entire 2004-2005 season.