NHL Lockout Has Hockey Fans Distressed
There is no more popular sport in Canada than ice hockey, so as the National Hockey League (NHL) finds itself embroiled in a lockout heading into the 2012-13 NHL season, millions of hockey fans across Canada are distressed about the risk that the season may never actually get underway this year, because of greed.
Whether or not their concerns are justified will remain to be seen. But what is for sure is that the NHL lockout is entering its fourth week, with no signs of a resolution on the cards as neither the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) nor the 30 NHL team owners seem prepared to give an inch.
To summarize, the NHL lockout began on September 15 this year when the NHL's collective bargaining agreement (CBA) expired. The team owners initiated a lockout of NHLPA members, which has indefinitely delayed the start of the 2012-13 NHL season, and is not only costing all concerned millions of dollars, but it is depriving hockey fans of their favorite pastime.
Team Owners Seeking Contract Term Limits
At the heart of the issue are many changes to the financial framework of the NHL that the team owners are intent on implementing. For instance, they want to see the players' current 57 percent guaranteed share of all hockey related revenues (HRR) radically reduced. They also want to see salary arbitration done away with, the introduction of contract term limits, and the amendment of rules that surround free agencies.
Unsurprisingly, the NHLPA has not been at all receptive to these changes, and itself seeking fixed salary caps that are not tied to NHL revenues, as well as an increase in revenue share between the team owners.
With such wide chasm in terms of what both sides want, the situation is at an impasse with the biggest victims being the fans, who just want to watch their teams play hockey. But being a professional sport like any other, ice hockey in Canada these days has become more about the money than the game itself.
NHL Lockout Costing Teams Millions of Dollars
Ironically, the longer the NHL lockout continues, the less money there is to divide up amongst the parties involved. It is no secret that this year's cancelled NHL pre-season has collectively cost team owners $100 million, not too mention millions in lost revenues for the 82 regular season games that have so far not been played.
As for NHL betting, the only hockey wagering going on currently is between fans on which side will fold first - the NHLPA or the NHL team owners. For our betting buck, the team owners will crumble sooner than later as they watch the $3.3 billion 2012-13 NHL season continue to fast dwindle before their very eyes.
