Not the season for a NHL lockout

The NHL is in a lockout because of the expiration of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. And yes, there was just a lockout in the 2004-05 season, as if we could have forgotten. It’s also the fourth lockout for the league during the time it has been around.

What will I do on New Year’s now, instead of watch something I marvel at every year: The Winter Classic? It is such an amazing event, where hockey is played on an outdoor, open-ice rink.

Most people are probably thinking that I could instead watch football, which will most likely happen, but to me, a world without hockey is like a world without puppies and kittens. I just don’t know what I’ll do.

I watched the NHL Player’s Association press conference two days before the lockout where Pittsburg Penguins’ captain Sidney Crosby spoke. He basically told reporters basically the season would not start on time, which wasn’t news. He said he hopes games will begin at some point during the season.

I’m not a player or an owner, and I’m sure I don’t fully understand all of the negotiations going on, but I know the fans are hurting because of this. I have read countless comments from fans saying the NHL has let them down yet again, but this time they will not be back to watch it once play resumes.

The 2004-05 lockout cost the NHL a lot of fans. Hockey had come back after that lockout in full force, though, and grew in viewers and revenue. Last year was one of the best years in the league, but now we won’t have a season again.

The NHL sent out a statement to fans saying they want to bring hockey back as fast as possible and they are, “negotiating around the clock” but as a fan of the game, I feel their words are empty. There have been no talks since the lockout. They are not in a hurry to come to an agreement so why should the fans care and have hope?

I just hope the league realizes it is hurting its fans deeply. It has let us down once again. I want a fair agreement to be reached for both the owners and the players, but I would appreciate if they had more sympathy for the fans of the sport. The ones they take the ice for 82 games every season.

While I wish for the best, I fear for the worst. I fear negotiations won’t be settled for this whole season and the NHL will lose a great amount of fans because of this. It won’t lose me, but I am highly disappointed. Until I hear skates scrape against the ice this season, I will be in a seasonal winter depression.