Ice Hockey: The CBA and the future of the NHL

OK, this has to be on everybodies minds.

What is going to happen to the NHL after this year?

Does everybody agree on something and we get a new CBA?

Do the players or the owners scoff at one another and the NHL die?

Or does the CBA expire, a few teams head to the WHL and a few teams renegotiate with the NHL?

Also what happens to the minor league teams? Do they keep playing? What about the players on those minor league teams that are under NHL contract, can they play for their minor league club?

wait what!!!?!!?!?!?!? the NHL coudl be done after the season?

Unfortunately yes. The Collective Barganing Agreement between the owners and the NHLPA expires at the end of this season. There is already talk of a work stoppage for next year.

Very sad really. The players don't seem to realize that its their salaries that cause teams to lose money. The players just want as much money as they can get out of their employers.

Here is an interesting story on what is currently going on.

Current status of CBA talks.

yea i heard that could happen, it is really sad. Im surprised that more teams havent gone bankrupt by now because of the high salaries players want now and days. The owners can't make that much money cause the arena size isnt large at all, and they usually dont sell out every game, only when playoff time is when they sell out the crowds.

HOw are the talks and everything moving along?

Not heard a whole lot, just some rule change suggestions.

* Move the goal line back 3 feet
* Don't let goalies play the puck behind the net
* Smaller goalie pads (they are for protection, not to stop the puck)
* Wider blue lines
* Some form of salary cap type thing
* Automatic icing
* Reinstate tag-up offsides

The nice thing is that they can test some of the rules out in the AHL and other minor leagues. Next year, there will be no 2-line offside passes in the AHL. Also, they will be using the wider blue-lines the whole year.

I think a great first step would be to actually enforce the rules. A hook is a hook, whether the player being hooked goes down or not.

Its a great step to helping the NHlL out, i wonder how it will work out in the AHL?

Is the NHL going to be out for a year?