Be prepared: lockout for 2 seasons

[Warden]

B. Goodenow (NHLPA exec) having told to Avalanche players to be prepared for a two-year shut down and having used a figure of "70%" that there will be no NHL next season while addressing to Trashers.

Rumors from Russia (next strongest hockey league in the world): Some managers already talking with ruski's hockey clubs about next year possible contracts with NHL players....

[GoYanks016]

Can someone please explain to me what is going on and why?

[Fizzley]

Can someone please explain to me what is going on and why?

The agreement that the NHL has with the players in the NHL (The NHLPA (NHL Players Association)) is going to expire just before next season. That means that unless Gary Bettman (Commissioner of the NHL and representative of the owners) can work something out with Bob Goodenow (Head honcho of the NHLPA), there will be no way that a new season can start.

Personally, I don't know why it's taking so long. They should've started up talks long ago, IMHO.

[GoYanks016]

Why the heck don't they make an agreement?

[Tobinentinc77]

Rumors from Russia (next strongest hockey league in the world):
I heard the next strongest was in sweeden.

[g-unit80744]

Rumors from Russia (next strongest hockey league in the world):
I heard the next strongest was in sweeden.

Too bad I liked the NHL. "Sports is not a game its a buisness." -my grandfather 8)

[Warden]

The Pittsburgh Penguins cleaned out their lockers on Monday and for some it was with the knowledge that it could be a very long time before they return.

The uncertainty of collective bargaining agreement talks had a number of players expressing concern that any potential lockout this fall would be a long one.

"Financially, the union has told us to plan to be out the whole year," forward Ryan Malone tells the Pittsburgh Post Gazette.

"We have to be ready for there to be no hockey until after Christmas or maybe even for the whole season. That would be disappointing, but we're definitely set up to not have the season."

The Penguins NHLPA rep, Steve McKenna, is optimistic that a settlement can be reached but only if the owners drop their demand for a salary cap.

"We could probably sit down and hammer it out in one day," McKenna tells the newspaper. "What we need to say is, 'OK, a salary cap isn't going to work. Is there something else we can do to make the league better?' I think there is."

The league and the players association haven't met formally since last October.

www.tsn.ca

[Warden]

I just found it on russian website and translated it using Babel Fish.

The Czech hockey player yaromir yagr signed preliminary contract with one of the Moscow clubs. According to the information "gazeta.Ru", the discussion deals either about THE CSKA (CENTRAL SPORTS CLUB OF THE ARMY) or with the "Dynamo".
"There is great probability that I will leave to Moscow. This is 95 percent done deal ".

In the interview for newspaper Moscow News Czech forward it stated: "in the case of lock-out in future season I will come out in the Russian super-league. I already concluded with one of the Russian clubs conditional contract ".