No Winter Classic

Happy Halloween everybody. Well I wish I had good news for all of you hockey fans out there. Unfortunatley that isnt the case. With all hopes of having an 82 game season shattered, now the NHL is about to take away one of the best things the NHL has come up with in a long time. The Winter Classic!!! It is expected that the NHL will cancel this years Winter Classic that was set to be played at the Big House in Ann Arbor Michigan. There was also going to be a whole bunch of outdoor games played at comerica park as well. The alumni Game, AHL Games, and some college games as well. This was a huge event for the city of Detroit and Ann Arbor. While it is only the winter classic that is being canceled, I do not hold hope that the other events will happen either. This is very disapointing to say the least. The Winter Classic has turned into one of the premier events to take place on New Years Day. This was the first year Detroit was going to host the event after playing in Chicago's Winter Classic against the Black Hawks. The Red Wings were going to host the Toronto Maple Leaf's in what was sure to be a terrific Original Six matchup. Not only are we losing a terrific event, but the city of Detroit is losing out on tons of revenue generated by the event. With both the NHL and the NHLPA making no plans to meet before tomorrow, it is almost inevitable that the NHL will cancel the Winter Classic. :(

KHL

So since the NHL is still in a lock out, the players have all started playing over seas. Most are going over to play in the KHL. (Continental hockey league). It is the main competition to the NHL. So while the NHL loses money and fans, the KHL is now getting our high profile players and much more media attention. All the more reason to get a new negotiated and the NHL season going.

Will there be an NHL season?

Well we are now two days away from the deadline to get a deal done that will give the NHL a full 82 game season and it seems that both sides are no closer now than they were a few months ago. Just recently the NHL owners made a propoasal to the NHLPA that would split all NHL related revenues 50/50 between the owners and playes. This was probably the best deal we have heard in a while. Its what it should be. Neither one should make more than the other. We all thought it was a done deal. We thought the NHLPA has to except this. Well guess again as the NHLPA came back with 3 counter proposals. The biggest concern with the players is that they want their current contracts to be honored. The NHL owners rejected all three proposals and all talks have stopped. Gary Bettman has cancled all games scheduled till November 1st. If a deal is not done by this Friday then their will either be a shortened season or no season at all and by the looks of how things are progressing now, im not counting on there being any season at all. This has been very disappointing. Both sides are not willing to budge and until someone is, there will be no negotiations.

NHL lockout

On the 25th day of the lockout both sides are still at a stand still. The owners and players are still trying to come up with a deal that will benefit both sides. Meanwhile all of us Hockey fans are stuck watching pathetic KHL hockey. Teams are laying people off due to the lockout. The super stars are going over seas and still getting paid Millions. There doesnt seem to be any urgency to get this CBA negotiated any time soon. Billions of dollars at stake and they cant seem to come to an equal agreement. It should be 50/50 split down the middle. The NHL cant survive without both Owners and players. Hockey shouldnt be about the money. Its about the moments created that will last forever.