“Time keeps on ticking, ticking, ticking...into the future....”
Well here we are! Beginning of November, almost two months into the latest lockout, a month of the season gone, and by numerous accounts the cancellation of the Winter Classic is all but done as of today. The reality of the situation has smacked us in the face numerous times from the time the Cup was raised to the present day: The owners and players are on very different wavelengths, seem to be driven by a mutual distrust, and have the endgame of being the “winner” in their sights. It’s this type of scenario that leads one to be quite pessimistic regarding the potential outcome of this labour battle, with the only real certainties being that a) the league is bound to take a hit in certain areas of the US once things get up and running again; and b) the only real losers here are the fans.
Now, from my perspective (which is admittedly a typically dreary one!), the next big shoe to drop will be the cancellation of the season. With the cancellation of the Winter Classic, one has to believe that the owners are going to dig in deeper in regard to their bargaining resolve. They will have lost their big ticket event of the year, one that many believed would challenge the record for attendance at an outdoor game, and, in turn, their big “reality TV” exposure via HBO’s 24/7 series. Remembering how personal this has become, this will create a great deal more resentment in the owners towards the players, which will undoubtedly impact the “negotiations” in some manner. If we look at how poorly talks are going now, the addition of even more ill will into the mix cannot do anything positive. Thus, in my mind, I can’t see things moving forward in a constructive manner, and I feel the end result is most assuredly the cancellation of the season, likely before the mid-February date that the last season was cancelled on.
Now whether this actually comes to pass is completely up for debate. Regardless, the dialogue that the prospect of this going down stimulates is of great interest to me, as it inevitably comes around to a measure of whether or not the sacrifice of the season is “worth it”. Of course, “worth it” is not meant to say that it’s worth it from the outset of negotiations to be aiming for a lost season to achieve “goal X”. Rather, it’s saying that, given where we’re at right now, would losing a season at least have some positive repercussions for fans moving forward. Namely, if we were to lose a season, if not two, would it be worth it if the end result were a restructuring of labour relations that would see this type of thing not occurring again, if not at least in the foreseeable future. A threat of “mutually assured destruction” perhaps leading to cooler heads prevailing in future negotiations to avoid further lost seasons. Might immediate loss lead to more long-term harmony? And what about some of the potential spillover effects that one might see in tandem with putting the league on indefinite hold? For me, while I don’t wish the loss of a team on any fan base, the hockey fan in me would LOVE to see a 24 team league again! Potential silver lining for me, albeit a bit of a morbid one!
All this being said, there are those who would much prefer to see a deal get reached right now and the current season be salvaged. Given the current underlying animosity between the parties at present, however, I would have to think that, unless both sides were to make a significant, concurrent shift in the direction of a partnership-based mentality, the threat of further problems recurring upon the expiration of said CBA would loom large, and there would be valid reason for people to be concerned of additional labour unrest in the not too distant future. This is not to say that the prospect for repairing this NHL – NHLPA divide is not there, and could not conceivably happen. But based on the history we have, between the last lockout and this current one, one could be forgiven for thinking that old wounds remain unhealed in this relationship, and the likelihood of a true shift in the relationship is unlikely without some major shared threat triggering it.
Pushed for a preference between variations on these two trajectories, I can say quite honestly that I would take the current loss for the future gain. Lose a season and a half, if not two, so that the players and owners are forced to see that their survival is contingent on finding a way to work together that does not involve these regular work stoppages. Perhaps a few teams go under (losing money for the owners and jobs for the PA), sales drop off in fringe markets, people stop coming back in record numbers and TV-land becomes disinterested in the sport yet again. Maybe this is what it takes for both sides to swallow their pride and see that they need each other and have to find a way to make it work.
But that’s merely my preference. I’m curious as to what others think. So Hockeybuzz, would you rather:
1) Lose a season and a half to two seasons and not have to worry about a lost season for the foreseeable future.
OR
2) Salvage a half season this year, but with the probability that there would be another work stoppage sometime in the next decade?
I value your thoughts and would love to hear them! Share away in the comments folks...
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Do you have a piece of treasured memorabilia that has a great story behind it? Let me know and you can be featured in an article. Doesn't matter how big or small the piece is, how valuable it may be, or whether it's a common item or more oddball. If you think it has a story, contact me via the information below and we'll chat. In the meantime, check out some previous "Display Case" articles via the links below to see what others have submitted in the past...
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Shawn Gates
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Facebook: Shawn Gates
Facebook Group: Hockeybuzz Collectibles
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Previous “Would You Rather…?
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