Thursday Deadline for 82-Games NHL Season
Today (Monday, October 23) marks the 32nd day of the NHL lockout that has delayed the start of the 2012-13 NHL season in North America, and is causing the team owners, players and fans to grind their teeth as the dispute continues.
However, according to reports, while the NHL pre-season cannot be saved, if the NHL team owners and the players' association reach an agreement by Thursday of this week (October 25), the 2012-13 NHL season could still go ahead with each team playing a full 82 games.
However, as the NHL lockout continues, the likelihood of that happening is growing increasingly unlikely as neither side seems prepared to compromise even a little. And even with reports that a conference call between both sides took place this weekend, no progress was made.
No bargaining or bargaining meetings scheduled
NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly was quoted as saying yesterday: 'We had a conference call today to answer some of their questions. [But] no bargaining, and no bargaining meetings [have been] scheduled.'
NHL betting fans eager to see the lockout end so that the 2012-13 NHL season can get underway, may be in for even more of a wait as neither side looks close to reaching an agreement. That said, NHLPA special counsel Steve Fehr has confirmed that the players' association did suggest a 50/50 split of all the revenues associated with the NHL, which the team owners seemingly dismissed out of hand.
Last Friday as a direct result of the NHL lockout, it was announced that the earliest the season can start is on Friday, November 2. But at this point no one seems to be holding their breath as the deadlock continues to hold the new season back, once again highlighting how greed has affected the sport.
It's all about who gets the biggest piece of the pie
Because of the highly lucrative TV rights and revenues associated with most professional sports these days, it is not uncommon to see 'bunfights' to determine who gets the 'biggest piece of the pie.' And the NHL is certainly no exception.
While it may be understandable that both the team owners and the players want their fair share, ultimately it is the ice hockey fans who suffer the most, as they have been deprived of their favorite sport over money. So far the NHL lockout has resulted in 135 games to be called off.
And if the situation is not resolved soon, such favored annual matchups as the New Year's Day Winter Classic could also fall by the wayside, and fans will miss out on the Detroit Red Wings taking on the Toronto Maple Leafs at Michigan Stadium. Isn't it time to end the NHL lockout?
