Death Watch on NHL Season Has Begun

[truthpusher]

http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2005/02/11/ap/sports/d886li780.txt

Friday, February 11, 2005 7:05 PM MST

Death Watch on NHL Season Has Begun
By IRA PODELL

NEW YORK - The weekend has arrived and the death watch on the NHL season has begun. Commissioner Gary Bettman's deadline for reaching a deal with the players' association is rapidly approaching. If there's no agreement before Monday, he is expected to pull the plug on the season that never was.

When he would do that is anyone's guess, but it should come soon.

"I don't know what he's waiting for," Los Angeles center Sean Avery said.

Representatives from several teams told The Associated Press on Friday they had not yet been given word or warning from the NHL to get ready for the cancellation of the season. They do expect notification from the league before such action is taken.

Bettman already has the authority to cancel the season. He hoped to make a deal this weekend that would allow for a 28-game schedule and a full 16-team postseason.

more:

http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2005/02/11/ap/sports/d886li780.txt

[LisaM]

1. Rot in hell, Bettman

Why doesn't he just become the Nascar commissioner - since he is so taken by the Nascar cities, where he has been busy placing hockey teams.

[Skink]

2. So does this mean next year a whole lot of them...

will take steroids and score 250 goals to get the fan interest back.

[CatholicEdHead]

4. In some areas

but not all areas. Wild Country will bounce back fast along with most Canadian markets.

[givemebackmycountry]

3. It's funny that I came across this post...

Right now, there's a tape rolling in the background of the Colorado Avalanche vs Dallas Stars playoff series from last season.

I miss hockey. I do.

It was what got me through no football.

The NBA sucks.

NASCAR is entertaining on about half of their schedule.

I MISS HOCKEY and may they rot in hell if they whack the Stanley Cup playoffs this year which looks like is going to happen.

First time since 1919 when the Spanish influenza canceled the playoff finals.

The owners SUCK, The union SUCKS, The players SUCK, Bettman SUCKS, It SUCKS we have no hockey...the greatest game in the world.

[ckramer]

5. The real reason the NHL being shutdown I guess is low attendence

therefore not enough income to pay these millionaire players after the owner's share.

So it's them who did themselves in.

[ckramer]

6. Another thing

Watch college hockey, it's more fun and exciting than NHL.

http://www.uscho.com/

Hockey East Online

[Patiod]

11. Not enough refs = blood-drawing violence

My college boyfriend played for Penn State, and it was like freaking Rollerball out there. One ref stayed up with the puck and Anything Goes behind his back. Guys showed me horrible scars where opponents cracked them anywhere the pads met (inside of elbow, back of knee, neck).

God, I loved it, though.

Plus live hockey beats televised anyday (except for the ungodly smell of the players from unwashable equipment - we learned not to sit near the entrance to the locker rooms)

[Allenberg]

7. Hockey should start a new league with

teams in

Boston
Montreal
Detroit
Chicago
New York
Toronto
Minneapolis
Hartford
Philadelphia
Ottawa
Winnepeg
Vancouver
Calgary
Edmonton
Quebec
Denver

[drumwolf]

8. I agree, we probably need a new hockey league

...although it would be nice to have a team in San Francisco too. We have plenty of transplanted Northeasterners and the Sharks have a big fan base.

I used to work for the NHL in the late '90s and I can vouch that the organization is extremely bloated and arrogant. It would be a huge bummer for hockey fans in the short term if the NHL were to go under, but it would probably be necessary bitter medicine for the sport.

[devilgrrl]

9. What happened to Buffalo and LA???????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:mad::mad::mad::mad:

:wtf:

[SeanQuinn]

10. NJ Devils are..where?

One of the most sucessful NHL teams in recent history are..where?

[Allenberg]

12. So I forgot a few places, sue me.

:P

But seriously, hockey should consider a smaller league.