Will There be a Lockout Next NHL Season?

[Bricktop]

It seems as if the NHL could be in some serious trouble right now. American viewership is down, teams are in the red and now the issue of a salary cap is causing a war between the league and the union. Will there be a season next year?

[MoRcHeEbA]

Yes there will be a lock out and there will probably be half a season if they're lucky, The owners are out to play hardball this time and they're gonna win.

[YOUR Hero]

I really believe that this will be over quick. I predict the players will "blink".

[YOUR Hero]

...Yes thre will be a lock out, or very close to one. Either way, the season will start later than normal.

[BCWWF]

I voted no because I think everyone realizes the importance of it and won't fu</>ck it up.

[Bricktop]

The issue of a salary cap is kinda a joke. Other sports have always found ways around it, such as signing bonuses and incentive based bonuses that don't count towards the cap.

[da_king]

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it'll start out as a lockout, yes. probably last close to half a season.
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[John la Rock]

ya the NHL is fucked

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

Yes there will be


NHL is going to have something big to recover though...in every other sport after a lockout something big has happned to the "save" the league

[Zen v.W.o.]

...

I don't think there will be a lockout. I have a feeling the owners are gonna realize they'll be losing out on revenues, and the players are gonna get to their senses and realize they can still live decent lives with a lil less cash offered to them.

If they dont, they'll just hurt themselves in the long run.

[VonErich Lives]

There will be a lockout, the players eventually will fold, I wouldn't be shocked if the NHLPA folds, and if it lasts anywhere close to a season if a few NHL teams fold also.

[Bazooka]

This season alone prooves how entertaining hockey can be, and I expect viewers will tune in next year to see some of the great action displayed in the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals.

Probably the most exciting games I've seen in along time between Tampa Bay Lightning and Calgary Flames.

I doubt there will be a lockout next season. Or maybe that's just my optimistic side speaking. :-\

[Guest #1]

Yes, and it'll be long... :'(
The new tv deal does not create a situation where the owners are loosing a large chunk of revenue, and the elimination of costs might be an incentive to stand pat under Bettman.

The players now have more options, however rediculous they may be. WHA, Europe. It is kind of unbelievable that players would be willing to take drastic pay cuts and work in a cap league (WHA) just to protest and fight against a cap in their prefered league.

I really think that there are easy outs to solve this dispute, soft caps, revenue sharing, *I'd like to see exemptions for drafted players on any cap system (just to have team consistency)* but I see that the sides are hardening their positions, and the draft looked like a wait and see result. Less of the help a team immediately and more projects (cheaper) earlier on.

Bottom line is that neither side is going to suffer for a while, and that smells alot like long to me.

All I know is I want to see NHL this October, but what I see it isn't likely