NHL Season Slip Slidin' Away?

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Jan 26, 2005 8:40PM

For the three of four Blackhawks fans left in Chicago, they are surely getting more and more concerned that the NHL season will be wiped out entirely. For most Chicagoans we really haven't noticed there's been no hockey, what with Bill Wirtz keeping the games off TV and all. With the worst record in the league last year, he was really doing us all a favor.

But in some places, they do care about NHL hockey, so negotiators for the NHL and the players union are meeting again today in Toronto. Six negotiators meeting, again without NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA executive director Bob Goodenow. These latest meetings are perhaps the last glimmer of hope for hockey this year.


Two days of meetings last week, first in Chicago and then Toronto, lead to brief moments of promise that a new collective bargaining agreement could be worked out and a shortened season salvaged, only to have talks break off without progress.

This time around, the two sides are trying to generate an informal joint proposal rather then opposing formal proposals. However, the NHL wants to establish cost certainties with a salary cap, while players are dead set against a cap. So it's not looking like a deal is close. In fact, some players are even fearing the labor problems could continue into next season.

Chicagoist doesn't think that'll be the case -- should labor problems be that problematic, it's more likely the league will collpase entirely. Who needs hockey anyway, when the Bulls are kicking some ass this winter!