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