The NHL announced this afternoon that they have cancelled all games through January 14, 2013.
As suspected from day one, the NHL has had a clear date in mind for when a collective bargaining agreement must be in place in order to schedule a minimum of 48 games for the 2012-13 NHL season.
In spite of the fact that both the NHL and the NHLPA appear to be very close on a number of issues, the two groups are prepared to cut off their noses to spite their face.
The NHLPA has threatened to issue a “Disclaimer of Interest,” which would dissolve the union and allow the players to sue the NHL for antitrust violations. As of tonight (and to be announced tomorrow), the players have already voted to give their executive committee the authority to file the disclaimer.
The NHL, meanwhile, has already preemptively filed their own class-action lawsuit, arguing that the disclaimer is just a negotiating tactic and that “dissolving the union” on paper wouldn’t reflect how they were actually operating. The NHLPA has until January 7 to respond to the NHL’s lawsuit.
It’s a circus, really.
Now that all games have been cancelled up to the breaking point, there is no more room for public posturing and theatrics. Players have to consider how realistic and important their remaining counterdemands are while the NHL has to consider how important these items are while their integrity, sponsorship and popularity are trampled into the mud.
Who will blink first?
And 85% of the Population still doesn’t care
A losing Battle by both sides when you think about it.
Owners have very little to lose here and 80% of Foreign ayers will go back to their homelands to play Hockey and support themselves and their Families
While most Americans could care less
Of the 4 major sports in this town, it’s been Flyers hockey that interests me more than the other three ever since catching hockey fever back in ’73. But this nonsense from both sides has killed the enthusiasm and anticipation I once had. Even got DirecTV premium programming back in August to catch every game… OH WELLLLLL!!!!!!!!!
The NHL has killed the golden goose… idiots! If the Euro players run from the league here, hopefully 10 cities lose their franchises and we finally get back to a non-watered down product. That’s how little I care. At least this year I won’t have to endure another 6-0 beatdown by the visiting Bruins like I did last year with son before Christmas!!!
JJ, stick a fork in this season!!!!
Pman, you have made it abundantly clear that you don’t like hockey. Stop being cool guy and take off eh. Some of us really do like hockey and are said that there is no season.
Love the game of hockey.Grew up slappin the street hockey ball in the trash can.
Most Americans dont care. But then again most americans are happy shopping online with a diaper on.I need hockey back,its on every night.Flyers are an exciting team.
GO FLYGUYS….pathetic..rich people arguing with rich people.
“But then again most americans are happy shopping online with a diaper on”
This just made me spit coffee on my computer screen. Nice work Rock.
I love the SPort of Hockey and played both ICE/Street Hockey until my mid-20’s Fyi and was a very good player with speed,good puck/ball handling abilities and a sneaky quick and deadly wrist shot in my day, and excellent at Face-Offs but never had a big slap shot and was more a facilitator for the Lines I played on
I hate what the NHL has become over the last 20 Years though where it used to be a mostly North American Sport and now probably 1/2 the Players are from European/Russia which come and go and make it hard for a Fan to follow since the Teams change Rosters every Season it appears..
Just like most Professional Sports the almighty Dollar and TV Deals dictate the SPorts anymore and that’s a reality of the world we live in.. I love the SPort and follow Playoff Hockey very much, but the NHL is Saturated with too many teams, too many foreign players and too long of a Season in my opinion that the first 50 games over every Season are a sleep-walk where the energy,focus and urgency just aren’t there (like the NBA has Become as well) and Hockey being a 2nd Tier Sport outside the Northeast and Upper Midwest, it would be a lot better if the played a 60 Game Schedule, reduce these joke of Franchises that are in Florida,Arizona,etc,etc and concentrate with thier base of North American fans and get back to where Teams can only have x amount of Eurorpean Players and increase the North American Players around the NHL.. Half these players on Teams don’t even Speak English??? Let them play in their own Countries and Leagues..
zzzzzzz…thanks for that bro…we all needed to know about you rec league exploits.Your still a hater….gator.
the Crosby Olympic Game winning goal was awesome
the Flyers/ Penquin rivalry last playoffs was so great, it even carried over with the Steeler fans hating Eagle fans and all of that could be lost.
what are these knuckle heads doing to their fan base
I love hockey.I love the Flyers. They are my favorite local team. THe NHL players and owners have lost their perspective on where they fit in the national sporting landscape. As much as I was looking forward to this season I think it is the best interests of the fans to let the season fade away. As great as the Flyers fan base has been in supporting the team it is now up to us to evaluate its continued support. The ownership has for the last several years slowly priced out the true core fans. Maybe it’s time we left ticket buying to the less enthusiastic business people and corporate officers who attend games to do business and could care less about the team. You know the people who leave after the second period even if the game is close as I saw some many times over the last few years. Maybe by taking a hiatus for a year ownership and players will get the message. I doubt it but a stand needs to be made.