Hey, it takes some serious posture for some posters considering some of their posts (I don't want to get into their posters... I still have my vintage Iron Maidens and Pink Floyds in a sleeve somewhere in my basement).
Seriously, though, the fan is a casualty of necessity in this case. The owners feel it necessary to stop the season in order to maximize their profit, now that they have the chance to do so. The players feel it necessary to protect what working reality they have now that the owners have pretty much declared labour war.
I'd like to think otherwise, but we're being taken for granted that we will come back when this is all over one way or another. This side of the border, I'd say they're right. As for the sunbelt, I hope they have deeeeep pockets. Like the the Ed Sniders and Jeremy Jacobs of the world give a damn. Now that they've collected on the expansion fees, like hell if they're going to subsidize their southern cousins. I wouldn't be surprised if the Coyotes and Blue Jackets get moved or absorbed. Can't say I'd shed a tear.
As I said elsewhere, Linden called it IMO. No NHL hockey till Christmas at the earliest. Buttman's supporters among the owners won't miss much revenue in that time with baseball and football in full swing in their markets. I'd like to see the PA stick to its guns, put a November/December deadline of their own and threaten to call off negotiations until May if it doesn't get worked out. Farm their players out to the euro leagues and give the owners the real threat of a whole season's worth of lost revenue. Maybe lobby the IIHF to make it difficult for players in the euro league's to come back before next season at the earliest and watch the complexion change.
I'd like to see a more collaborative labour atmosphere and there was an illusion of one right after the last CBA was signed, but considering the assholes who keep Buttman in place there won't be any so long as they still own the franchises they do. Maybe it would be worth it for a prolonged labour stoppage, the KHL and other euro leagues to swoop in and sign a bunch of stars and put the existential scare into these robber barons. Might wake them up to get the league's ship in order because it's been broken for decades, sunbelt expansion or no.
Love the Sport. Love the Team.
Hate the League.