Oh it's cancelled... I'm 99% sure that the talks now are about legal and finacial issues with the cancelled season... and about laying the ground-work down for negotations dealing with the 05-06 season...

He won't go unless forced out, and I don't expect that to happen either. A cancelled season is horrible, but it won't be enough for him to leave.

Plus, resigning would be admitting that he (and by association, the owners) are wrong.

NHL Lockout is over. They have reached a deal.

From the Toronto Star:
Click Here For More Info

Yea....i've known about this for a few months.

It was very weird last season not to have all the la kings guys in the office and seeing them leave the kings to go to other holdings by AEG, it will be nice to see some old faces again, I just love those guys.

It will be also nice to have a cold arena again ;)

but lets be honest, if the NHL didn't come to an agreement for this upcoming season, the NHL would be dead in the water, time will tell if the league can survive.

It will be nice to see Ziggy Palfrey on the ice again.

I'm tempted, but refuse to celebrate until everything is officially signed, sealed and delivered.

Until then, I'm saving my pennies for opening night tickets at Nationwide Arena :D

It's too little too late for me. I've mostly lost interest in the NHL.

I'm going to focus my attention on minor legaue hockey now. Although I am happy for players like Sydney Crosby who will have his chance at the NHL now.

Why?

I've never understood this attitude - you don't lose interest in solid waste collection when they have a labor disagreement. It's ultimately up to you to decide how you spend your time and entertainment dollars, but I've never understood how your implicit enjoyment of something changes simply because of a year off, or a perfectly valid labor dispute. Enlighten me.

I have to agree on the signed, sealed, delivered part also. But this is the most promising news we hockey fans have had in a LONG time. I am an avid AHL Norfolk Admirals' fan, but seeing as our coach was just hired by the Blackhawks, I am looking forward to next season. The teams aren't going to be anything like before with many players left without deals. Going to be an interesting season. Too bad the Olympics are going to be in the middle of this.

It's really easy to lose interest in something when it doesn't happen for a long time. It's really easy to lose interest in something because attitudes can change. Why is that such a difficult concept for you to grasp?

My psychic prediction is that the strike drags on for another season, or least cuts into the upcoming one. Sorry.

Let's start with me stating the usual, "chill out, I'm not trying to be a dick, I'm honestly stunned and curious, as a massive hockey fan" bit -

Next, let's go with your last part - what attitudes have changed? I'm all about supporting local and minor-league hockey, but I'm curious what you think is different right now than before with the NHL - or is it that your attitude has changed?

If so, how, and why?

I'm thrilled! Hockeytown returns.. woohooo!!!!!!

I love my Wings and missed them terribly. They are saying Yzerman WILL return, thank goodness, because the saddest thing about the lockout was not knowing if he would return afterward. So, we still get our last season from him.

I figured the lockout was going to be over when the Red Wings announced coaching changes. Why go through all that if they weren't going to play anyway?

Right.

Let's look at this way. We've all seen the brother or sister who was extremely involved in their fraternity/sorority as a collegian, but once they go alum they lose interest. It happens, people change, interests change, lives change. I'm still not understanding why you don't get that.

Anyway, it's my attitudes that have changed. I'm not interested in supporting the NHL anymore. It's been a whole season and I have found that minor league hockey is more exciting than the NHL. International hockey is more exciting than the NHL. Women's hockey is more exciting. It's a different game and I enjoy watching other leagues, and not the NHL.

I myself am a massive hockey fan. I love the game. I play the game. I coach the game. If you've never played, and have never experience the game at a grass roots level then it might be hard to understand. I find the NHLers are playing for the money and the others are still playing for the love of the game. When you still play for the love of the game, it's a different, more exciting game.

OK - this makes more sense, I was taking your statements as "something within the NHL has changed", which was my misunderstanding.

I don't personally find women's hockey more exciting, although the ice plays quite a bit 'bigger' and it certainly allows a more 'pure' form of the game, with much larger passing lanes. International hockey can be more exciting, but with a larger surface and different referee standards it's hard to compare, for me.

I grew up playing, starting at age 5 and through high school (although in a bad region), refereed in college (including BU women's hockey) and still play semi-regularly, so I can relate to your feelings - I just disagree. Fair enough.

I just don't think the NHL is the be all and end all of hockey. I also think there's a difference between being an NHL fan and being a hockey fan. I consider myself a hockey fan.