SB Nation Minnesota - NHL Lockout Is Upon Us And, Unfortunately, There's No End In Sight

NHL cancels regular season games through Nov. 1

2012-10-20T03:24:44Z

The NHL announced on Friday night that it has cancelled all league games through Nov. 1, which amounts to 11 percent of the season. Despite the announcement, the league is maintaining that if an agreement is reached quickly, it may be able to squeeze in a full 82-game schedule.

Things could get worse quickly, though. ESPN New York reported that a source close to the league said that the NHL could make "much more significant" cancellations if the two sides can't come to an agreement by the end of the coming week. The owners submitted a proposal to the union for the first time in a month on Tuesday but rejected three of the union's counterproposals back. The two sides do not currently have any talks scheduled.

As the lockout wears on, the NHL will soon be in danger of having to cancel the 2012 Winter Classic. The game, which takes place on New Year's Day, is annually the most marquee NHL regular season game of the year. This season's matchup is set to pit the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs in Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor.

NHL Lockout 2012: No progress at Tuesday meeting

2012-10-03T13:45:46Z

Representatives of the NHL and NHLPA met on Tuesday, but little progress was made. The two sides met to discuss secondary issues and did not even touch on the basic revenue-splitting issue that caused the owners to lock out the players in September. There are currently no further meetings scheduled between the two sides, and the fear of a long and protracted lockout is looking more and more likely to come to fruition.

Deputy NHL Commissioner Bill Daly was not particularly upbeat when speaking to the media after the meeting:

"Today," NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said, "was not overly encouraging."

The regular season is scheduled to start on Oct. 11th, but unless a miracle deal is worked out in the immediate future, the first games of the season will be postponed or canceled soon. The entire preseason has already been canceled, and Daly estimated that the NHL lost around $100 million by losing those games.

NHL labor talks to resume Tuesday

2012-10-02T12:53:07Z

The NHL and NHLPA will resume meeting on Tuesday morning in New York City, according to a report from the Associated Press. The two sides met for three straight days over the weekend, but the talks were concerning smaller issues, such as what defines "hockey related revenue" and player safety. The biggest issue between the two sides, how to split revenue between the roughly $3 billion in revenue between the league and players, remains unsolved. Tuesday is the only day that meetings are scheduled this week.

The NHL locked out the players on Sep. 15th, when the previous collective bargaining agreement expired. The entire preseason has been cancelled, and it's expected that the start of the regular season will be delayed by the league sometime this week. The season is currently scheduled to start on Oct. 11th.

Two United States senators, both from New Jersey, have sent NHL commissioner Gary Bettman a letter, urging him to resolve the lockout as soon as possible to avoid Congressional intervention. Congress as jurisdiction over professional sports leagues, as they fall into the category of "interstate commerce."

NHL lockout could send Zach Parise to Switzerland

2012-09-28T13:29:21Z

The NHL lockout is beginning to weigh on players across the league, but Minnesota Wild left wing Zach Parise will be watching upcoming negotiations very closely because he says he has an offer from a team to play in Switzerland during the stoppage.

Parise recently told Michael Russo of the Star Tribune that he will make a decision on that offer soon, if the meetings over the weekend appeared to go nowhere.

Representatives for the NHL and NHLPA are scheduled to meet in New York to have another round of negotiations over the weekend, but talks are expected to focus on secondary issues like travel pensions rather than the core economic issues dividing the two parties.

Parise and others have been organizing charity games and workouts, but the 28-year-old left wing expressed concerns about his own health and his preparation for hockey activities when the NHL does finally commence operations again. The Wild signed Parise as a free agent July 4.

Locked out NHL players kicked off ice skating rink

2012-09-27T00:32:46Z

About 40 NHL players were scrimmaging at a rink at the St. Louis Park Rec Center outside Minnesota on Tuesday -- at least they were until they were booted off the ice by a figure skating coach. According to Michael Russo of the Minnesota Star Tribune, players like Matt Cullen, Zach Parise, Niklas Backstrom and Mikko Koivu were scrimmaging on a fresh sheet of ice when a woman named Coach Marla strolled out to center ice and told the players that she had reserved the ice for a private figure skating lesson.

The players believed that Marla had reserved a different sheet of ice but relented and moved back to the chewed-up rink they had been skating on earlier in the morning. The locked-out players rent ice at the Rec Center four times a week as they stay in shape for an NHL season that could theoretically kick into gear at any time.

The NHL and NHLPA haven't negotiated seriously since Sept. 12 but will meet on Friday to discuss non-core issues.

NHL Lockout Sends Wild Defenseman Jared Spurgeon To Switzerland

2012-09-21T23:55:08Z

The NHL lockout already nearly sent Minnesota Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom to Europe, though an injury will keep him in America for the foreseeable future. That means that Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon will be the first Minnesota player to officially sign overseas as he's reportedly headed to Switzerland.

Spurgeon is expected to play on the same line as Ryan Suter this year, leading to high expectations, so his being in shape and ready to play as soon as the lockout is over will be key. Ben Goessling of the Pioneer Press reports that should be the case, too, as he'll play for the SCL Tigers alongside friend Tyler Ennis -- a center for the Buffalo Sabres.

Jared Spurgeon became the second Minnesota player to make arrangements to play in Europe during the NHL lockout - the WIld defenseman confirmed via text message this morning he has agreed to a deal with the SCL Tigers in Switzerland.

It'll be interesting to see how many Wild players end up playing in Europe before the lockout is over.

Stay with this StoryStream for more lockout coverage involving the Wild, and be sure to visit Hockey Wilderness for more Minnesota Wild news. Also check out SB Nation's NHL hub for more news and analysis from around the league.

Xcel Energy Center To Host Wild's Minor League Training Camp During Lockout

2012-09-21T16:04:35Z

The NHL lockout will keep most Minnesota Wild players from doing anything at the Xcel Energy Center for the foreseeable future, but that won't stop the team's top prospects from showing their stuff. In fact, the Houston Aeros are holding training camp in St. Paul, bringing a slew of the top Wild prospects to the city.

Mikael Granlund, Charlie Coyle, Jonas Brodin and quite a few others will also be in attendance for a pair of scrimmages open to the public next weekend, according to the Wild blog on the Pioneer Press website:

Just because the Wild aren't opening camp on time - and don't appear to be headed to the ice any time soon - doesn't mean there won't be hockey soon coming to the Xcel Energy Center. The team announced on Thursday morning that the Houston Aeros will begin training camp in St. Paul, giving fans a chance to watch the team's top prospects in a pair of free scrimmages.

So fret not, hockey fans! Hockey players are still going to be showing their stuff in the cities!

Stay with this StoryStream for more lockout coverage involving the Wild, and be sure to visitHockey Wilderness for more Minnesota Wild news. Also check out SB Nation's NHL hubfor more news and analysis from around the league.

Inside The NHL Lockout Negotiations (What We Think Might Be Happening, Anyway)

2012-09-21T13:01:19Z

Well, it's Day 6 of the NHL Lockout. The NHL has canceled all scheduled preseason games through September 30. Players are leaving for European teams. Those still in Minnesota have to work out on their own. Naturally, the league and the players' union are in frantic negotiations, trying to rescue a season that's on the verge of being dramatically affected by a labor stoppage.

Ha ha! We like a little joke, here at SB Nation Minnesota. OF COURSE the league and the NHLPA haven't been negotiating. Instead, both sides are sitting around like jilted middle-schoolers, refusing to be the first to pick up the phone. And so in nearly a week, we've had no movement from either side towards the beginning of an NHL season.

With this in mind, we thought we'd take a look at what we figure both sides are doing. It probably looks a little something like this...

SCENE: NHL Headquarters. Late afternoon. Commissioner Gary Bettman stands at a floor-to-ceiling window, looking across New York as if trying to convey great leadership. As a hindrance to this, he is wearing a cape made from a bedsheet, and a hat of his own devising that appears to be a cross between a Revolutionary War tricorner and a disused Phoenix Coyotes toque. He mutters to himself.

BETTMAN (muttering): Surely, the rebels must soon give in.

The door opens. An intern enters, wearing a Quebec Nordiques jersey to show his low rank.

BETTMAN: Ah, private! You must be here to give me the afternoon report. How goes the war?

PRIVATE NORDIQUE: Uh, we're not in a war, sir. Public relations sent me in here to talk to you about maybe doing a few interviews about the lockout.

BETTMAN: Don't use that word!

PRIVATE NORDIQUE: Uh, right, sorry. A few interviews about this "terrorist situation."

BETTMAN: I'm sorry, but I just don't see the need. From what I gather, we're winning the hearts and minds of fans without any effort, yet again! The media wouldn't cross me, of course, they're in my pocket - no, I'm afraid that we won't needing any further propaganda campaigns to win this war.

PRIVATE NORDIQUE: Sorry, but where are you getting this? The media thinks you're awful. Everyone thinks you and the owners are entirely at fault for this. And the fans hate you. You get booed wherever you go. You aren't even allowed in Canada any more because you're on a watch list.

BETTMAN: They aren't booing! They're saying "BETTMAN!"

PRIVATE NORDIQUE: That makes no sense. Listen, Gary, you need to do something about this, and soon. People are getting antsy. Don Cherry drove a Zamboni into the front desk yesterday, he was so mad.

BETTMAN: LIES! GET OUT! TRAITOR! J'ACCUSE! LE PETIT FROMAGE DE MAURICE RICHARD!

PRIVATE NORDIQUE: Did you just call me "Maurice Richard's little cheese?"

BETTMAN: LEAVE ME!

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Meanwhile....

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SCENE: NHLPA Headquarters in Toronto. A janitor descends a dark concrete staircase that leads into what appears to be a cellar. Dripping water is heard from a not-quite-identifiable location. A single 25-watt light bulb illuminates Don Fehr, who sits, alone, on an old folding chair.

JANITOR: You need anything, Mr. Fehr? Maybe you want to come out of there? People are starting to ask after you. People are starting to worry.

FEHR: Oh, no, Winston. I'm fine.

JANITOR: For the eighteenth time, my name's Earl.

FEHR: Of course it is, Winston. (to himself) Such a faithful servant, one could not possibly find a better valet than young Winston...

JANITOR: You feeling all right there, Mr. Fehr?

FEHR (waving hand dismissively): Of course, of course, no troubles. Tell me, how are things on... the surface?

JANITOR: Well, not so good. The fans are pretty mad. They're on your side for the time being, but mostly they just want hockey to start.

FEHR: Good, good. Things are all proceeding quite pleasantly with my plan.

JANITOR: Wait, this is your plan?

FEHR: Of course, dear Winston! Surely I must have laid out the details of my plan before. First, we make sure our statements include backyard rinks, and peewee hockey, and other such love-of-the-game-type cliches. And then when the sympathies of fans are assured, the owners come crawling back! They negotiate on our terms. The salary cap? It disappears, my dear boy, just disappears! 57% of revenues is nothing - they'll offer us 75% soon! The owners will be bankrupt and I'll be a hero to players and fans alike, and EVERYONE will KNOW THE NAME OF FEHR!

JANITOR: Uh... that's just never, ever going to happen.

FEHR: Nonsense, my dear man! Now, please leave me, my eyes grow weary in this bright light. You mark my words, Winston. Gary Bettman will come crawling down those stairs, oh yes he will. He will, or my name isn't Don Fehr.

JANITOR: Oh geez.

The janitor flicks the light off and ascends the stairs. He heads to his workshop, tucked near the loading dock, where he turns on a small TV that's virtually buried in a pile of junk.

JANITOR (happily): Hey, college hockey's on!

He hums to himself as he turns to a few projects on his workbench. As he gets busy, he gradually forgets about his strange conversation with Fehr - and indeed, seems to forget that the NHL exists at all.