Looks like the NHL lockout is finally over

[Fartsauce 0]

The NHL's long awaited new CBA will be completed today, sources close to the talks told TSN Wednesday.

 

An extended session between the NHL and NHL Players' Association, which started at Noon et on Tuesday, is apparently continuing and should soon produce the agreement  that would be the catalyst to ending the 301-day labour dispute, the longest in the history of North American professional sports.

 

It has become painfully evident that the two sides have had to do more than dot i's and cross t's and satisfy legal requirements in the last few days. Mind you, there has unquestionably been a lot of that to do. But there has also been back and forth negotiations on some final unresolved issues.

 

Sources say there's nothing left on the table that is likely significant enough to derail the entire process, which is now in its final hours, but more time is required to finish off these items to the satisfaction of the league and the union.

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Today is the 10th consecutive day the two sides have been engaged in marathon talks and the appearance seems to be that they are now prepared to meet for as long as it takes to get an agreement.

 

 

 

The wait should be over before the end of the day.

 

Stay tuned.

 

 

This is the day i've been waiting for. I know it won't "officially" be announced today because of the ratification and all that, but we all pretty much know it will pass. October, The Oilers, Hockey night in Canada, the battles for 8th place in early April, the towels waving in the playoffs, the stanley cup being raised high in the air...it all seems so far, but not so far away.

[nl5xsk1 0]

Well, maybe I'll finally get to change my signature ...

 

And this really could be an exciting time to be a hockey fan. So many unsigned FAs, so many teams over the cap, so many teams way UNDER the cap, the draft, Crosby ... just too much to look forward to.

[Boon 0]

NH what?

[Fartsauce 0]

Why do people who obviously dislike the nhl always post in these threads? If all you're going to do is post garbage, stay out of the thread. I don't like basketball and I don't go in nba related topics and shit all over the league.

[The Czech Republic 0]

I'm glad hockey is back, but it's going to be so very hard for me to get back into it. Baseball has surpassed hockey as my favorite sport since the lockout started. It's hard to believe that nobody won the Stanley Cup in 2005 because of all this nonsense.

[Guest Ether]

Since I can't put it past the NHL to screw anything up, I'll have to believe it when I see it.

 

Still, it will be great to put on the Pens and hear Mike Lange say "It's a hockey night in Pittsburgh."

[Fartsauce 0]

I agree with that. I've fell even more in love with Baseball the past year but I have a feeling that once the first week of the nhl season is back, a lot of us will be forgetting that this lockout ever took place.

[nl5xsk1 0]

Why do people who obviously dislike the nhl always post in these threads? If all you're going to do is post garbage, stay out of the thread. I don't like basketball and I don't go in nba related topics and shit all over the league.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I couldn't agree more.

 

And I can't believe how many people have allowed baseball to replace hockey as their favorite sport. Comparing the two are comparing apples & oranges. One is fast paced and exciting, the other is baseball.

[Fartsauce 0]

I also have to give props to the NHL and PA who are STILL apparently dotting the i's and crossing the t's and have been meeting nonstop since TUESDAY AT NOON. That's almost 24 consecutive hours.

[bob_barron 0]

I became a huge basketball fan because of the lockout. It's going to be very hard for me to get back into it.

 

I mean, a whole season was lost....for nothing!

[smh810 0]

NHL and players' association reach new collective bargaining agreement

 

By IRA PODELL, AP Sports Writer

July 13, 2005

NEW YORK (AP) -- The NHL and the players' association reached an agreement in principle Wednesday on a new labor deal, ending a lockout that wiped out last season.

 

The sides met for 24 hours from Tuesday into Wednesday to hammer out the collective bargaining agreement that will return the NHL to the ice.

 

Both sides still need to raitfy the deal. That process is expected to be completed next week, the league and the union said in a joint news release.

[Prophet of Mike Zagurski 0]

I'm indifferent now because while the players weren't playing hockey, I have been playing and waterboy...coaching hockey. I hope the game improves and I hope people come back. I can't wait to see the aftermath.

 

When the Cincinati Mighty Ducks came to the Pond, they drew about 5,000 people each game. I think the Ducks could do around 7,000 -10,000. We may have better attendance because the team is going to change. They have new owners, a GM, and a new coach.

 

The players must feel terrible about this whole situation. I wouldn't be suprised if Bob tells them to go on strike halfway through the seasob to get some of the things they lost back.

 

PS. I am going to score a goal one day.

[BHK 0]

Finally.

 

I can't wait for the NHL to come back.

[DerangedHermit 0]

Good...........

 

 

now the NHL can rig the draft so the Rangers get SID-NEY CROS-BY

[Dangerous A 0]

Why do people who obviously dislike the nhl always post in these threads? If all you're going to do is post garbage, stay out of the thread. I don't like basketball and I don't go in nba related topics and shit all over the league.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Here, here to that. I'm not a hockey fan by any means, but I also hate it when trolls come along (I remember MikeSC in particular in regards to basketball) and start bashing whatever sport is being discussed in a particular thread. I'm just happy for hockey fans because being deprived of a sport you love because of labor issues just flat out sucks. Being an NBA fan, I only had to deal with the short mini-lockout from 1998-99 and that sucked.

 

Congrats, hockey fans.

 

Now, if I can only get something done about the football snobs.... oh yeah, MikeSC isn't here anymore

[Boon 0]

Why do people who obviously dislike the nhl always post in these threads? If all you're going to do is post garbage, stay out of the thread. I don't like basketball and I don't go in nba related topics and shit all over the league.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

It was a joke skippy, settle down.

 

I don't like hockey? Tell that to my Boston Bruins ticket stubs for the past seven seasons.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

I'm not a hockey fan and I have no idea why. It has most of the things I like in a sport, physical violence in particular. Most of the players are also very ugly and competitive, and they can fight.

 

The closest professional hockey teams are in Chicago and Detroit though, and I don't have a particular attachment to either of those teams. It also gets no airtime in my state.

 

I think I'm going to start liking the Senators for absolutely no reason. They worth a damn?

[DerangedHermit 0]

I don't like hockey?  Tell that to my Boston Bruins ticket stubs for the past seven seasons.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

It's a known fact Bruin fans do not like hockey

[Boon 0]

I don't like hockey?  Tell that to my Boston Bruins ticket stubs for the past seven seasons.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

It's a known fact Bruin fans do not like hockey

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Curses!! Foiled again! Those damn Bruins!!

 

Seriously, I feel bad for the Bruins and the Celtics. Nobody gives a rat's ass about them in this town. If it ain't Red Sox, it better be Patriots, or else nobody cares.

 

It's too bad, really. Oh well, more tickets for the rest of us.

 

Back on topic: I'm happy that the NHL is back. It's not my favorite sport, but it's one of the best sports to watch in person, and I know it has a very strong following in other parts of this country and Canada. Let's just hope that they don't follow in the path of baseball and screw the product trying to get fans back.

[nl5xsk1 0]

Boon

I agree ... so many Boston sports 'fans' only like a team when they're playing well. The Fleet Center will be empty for most of the year and then as soon as the B's play well and get a good playoff seed the place gets packed with "die hard fans" ... who then proceed to fuck up the fun for those of us that have been going all year.

 

AoO:

Yes, the Sens are a fun team to watch, they have a lot of talented but historically they've been a bit weak and thus get pushed around in the playoffs. I forget where you're at geographically, but are there any minor league teams nearby? The games are dirt cheap (best seats are normally $15 or so) and there's pretty much a few fights every game.

[the max 0]

I'm not a hockey fan and I have no idea why. It has most of the things I like in a sport, physical violence in particular. Most of the players are also very ugly and competitive, and they can fight.

 

The closest professional hockey teams are in Chicago and Detroit though, and I don't have a particular attachment to either of those teams. It also gets no airtime in my state.

 

I think I'm going to start liking the Senators for absolutely no reason. They worth a damn?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

How close are you to Columbus or Nashville?

[fairtoflair7 0]

YESSSS Finally... I need my hockeyyy

 

The Lottery order is going to be picked supposevly on July 21 with tthe draft on the 30th.

 

Here's how the lottery will work.

 

http://tsn.ca/nhl/feature.asp?fid=7314

 

I can almost guarentee that Crosby will go to the Rangers. Screw them

 

Lets go Islanders!@!

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

I'm not a hockey fan and I have no idea why. It has most of the things I like in a sport, physical violence in particular. Most of the players are also very ugly and competitive, and they can fight.

 

The closest professional hockey teams are in Chicago and Detroit though, and I don't have a particular attachment to either of those teams. It also gets no airtime in my state.

 

I think I'm going to start liking the Senators for absolutely no reason. They worth a damn?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

How close are you to Columbus or Nashville?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

More or less equidistant as I am to Chicago and Detroit.

 

There's a minor league club or two. The indianapolis Ice and the nearby Ft. Wayne Komets. I've been to a couple Komets games, and wasn't really impressed. Decent enough to get lit and holler a while, but they didn't get too rough.

 

Who's that Bertuzzi guy play for? He's the one who skated up behind the other guy and wrecked his gourd, right?

[Justice 0]

AoO:

Yes, the Sens are a fun team to watch, they have a lot of talented but historically they've been a bit weak and thus get pushed around in the playoffs.  I forget where you're at geographically, but are there any minor league teams nearby?  The games are dirt cheap (best seats are normally $15 or so) and there's pretty much a few fights every game.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I think the best comparison would be to the Kings a while back when they just couldn't get past the Lakers: Talented and perhaps Cup-Worthy, but they just seem to lose it when it's all on the line. They always choke against Toronto for whatever reason.

[the max 0]

Who's that Bertuzzi guy play for? He's the one who skated up behind the other guy and wrecked his gourd, right?

 

Vancouver Canucks

 

And if the Bruins somehow make it with the #1 pick...good god.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

NHL-Poor

New York Rangers- Rich

 

I forsee bribery.

 

The Cosby Show was set in the Big Apple. Every writer in North America has called him "The Crosby Show' at one point.

 

Duffman has a bad feeling about this.

 

 

 

And on the last post, does this mean the door's open for Bertuzzi again? The rest of the regular season and playoffs were punishment enough. Bring him back.

[Vern Gagne 0]

I bet we see an huge increase in scoring this season.

[Guest nWoCHRISnWo]

Damn, finally. Lots of fans were saying they didn't miss NHL all that much, but I missed it a ton. It's just not Spring when you're not huddled around a TV with your friends or at a bar watching a game 7 play-off game.

 

If Crosby ends up on the Rangers, a LOT of people will be crying conspiracy. And suprise suprise, Rangers have the best chance of getting him. Along with 3 other teams, such as the Pens. Go Pens!

[KanadianKrusty 0]

GOD DAMMIT!, and there I was thinking I was gonna be ok for another season. Now TSN and Rogers Sportsnet are gonna completely ignore MLB and the CFL (which is pretty much all that's interesting during summertime) to cover all the NHL crap... yay

[LaParkaMarka 0]

The ONLY thing they covered was baseball. I'd much rather see the local stations center more on the CFL and pretty much everything other than baseball. Besides, this offseason will be insane. The draft lottery madness (imagine Crosby going to the Devils), the fact that most teams have like no one signed (Vancouver has 5 players signed, the Bruins have 4), the possibility of hilarious cap mismanagement by GMs unfamiliar with the system...oh, this has potential. So much potential.