NHLPA News

New York - Both organizations have come together on a collective bargaining agreement that will result in a shortened professional ice hockey season beginning later in the month.

New York - Now that the world is safe from the fiscal cliff the next big issue is whether or not 2013 will see an abbreviated season from the NHL, today NHL commissioner Gary Bettman remains cautiously optimistic that it will.

If you are still bothering to read about the NHL lockout you might be interested in knowing there's nothing to report. Or is there? While the two sides haven't had meaningful contact in over a week, there are dates upcoming that mean something.

The most recent news is that the NHL and the NHLPA are once again back to not talking. This is disappointing, especially at such a crucial time in the ongoing fiasco that is their current attempts at a new CBA. Not even talking? So what's up with that?

There is one event, and one media company, that will benefit significantly from the NHL lockout. The World Junior Hockey Championship (WJHC) is going to be a record-breaking television event for BELL/TSN in Canada.

As I become increasingly angry with the players in the NHLPA for in essence saying 'I was overpaid before so deserved to be overpaid now' it is easier to stomach the loss of NHL hockey. After all, the last laugh is on us because players are losing, too.

There will be no end to the NHL's lockout if the players can't get it out of their collective heads that they should not have to make concessions. They must do so because Gary Bettman and the owners are understandably tired of losing. Losing money.

If you insist on blaming the NHL lockout solely on Gary Bettman, that's fine. But while you're at it go ahead and blame the sinking of the R.M.S. Titanic entirely on the tip of the iceberg. The evidence suggests someone else at work.

It appears the NHLPA is insisting upon dropping proposals onto the table that tell the league how to solve the issue of teams losing money. Given the way things are going - no CBA, no hockey - it seems a pointless distraction.

While many NHL fans seem disinterested in finding the latest new reason to hope the league is on a track toward a CBA and a 2012-13 season, nonetheless there is one. The league and the NHLPA are showing signs of finally getting it done.