The ink isn’t even on the new CBA yet, but I am jazzed about the upcoming, yet shortened season. The lockout was unfortunate and fans everywhere are going to be feeling like the fat kid on prom night for a long time, but it’s time to get over it and get back to hockey and cheering on your favorite teams. I look forward to looking at where every teams stands right now going into this season.
However, there is a lot to do and figure out before I can even start a season preview.
Courtesy: Washington Capitals
Sources are saying that the season will most likely start on January 19th, unless they can expedite the paper work for a January 15th start date – and 2 extra games would mean more $$. Also, and this is the big issue, there are murmurs out of the KHL that teams might be offering inducements (a raise perhaps? Russian escorts? Who knows?) to NHL players who signed on during the lockout to stay for the rest of the season and not go back to their respected NHL teams. There were a few Russian players (ahem, Ovechkin) who said they would seriously think about staying in the KHL depending upon on the new agreement. I’m still not sure how each team will handle a lower salary cap (which starts next season) or what the process will be to either slash contracts or trade away assests, but it’s going to be very interesting to see if players like Ovechkin do indeed come back. Next year will be a completely different scenario than this shortened season.
What intrigues me about the start date of either the 15th or the 19th is that each team has to convene, practice, get some chemistry and play in a week to a week and a half. The first few games are either going to be brutal to watch or blowouts because no one remembers how to play their respected system. A lot of players have been training and/or playing in the AHL, KHL, Swedish Elite and other Euro Leagues for the past few months. They’ll be in shape, but it’s gonna be a sloppy first week of play.
And did I mention that the CBA still has to be written out and then signed? The NHL Board of Governors will be meeting on Wednesday to vote on the new agreement. It will most likely be approved, but what if…?
There are so many questions that still need to be answered before the potential start date, but I’ll do my best to get whoever actually reads this the skinny on what’s going on aroudn the league. It’s gonna be a long week.
More to come…
