NHL Cancels All Preseason Games
The NFL referees lockout is over, but the NHL lockout is still going strong. The National Hockey League cancelled the remainder of the preseason today after failing to come to an agreement with the players’ association.
The NHL said in its announcement:
“The cancellation of the preseason schedule was necessary because of the absence of a Collective Bargaining Agreement between the NHL Players’ Association and the NHL.”
The NHL had previously canceled all of the preseason games during September.
According to ESPN, the owners and the players haven’t met since September 12. The two parties are scheduled to meet this Friday.
NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said:
“Obviously, we’ve got to talk before you can get a deal, so I think it’s important to get the talks going again… But you also have to have something to say. I think it’s fair to say we feel like we need to hear from the players’ association in a meaningful way because I don’t think that they’ve really moved off their initial proposal, which was made more than a month ago now.”
The league hopes to get the players back on the ice before the scheduled start of the regular season on October 11.
NHLPA special counsel Steve Fehr said:
“We are pleased the league is willing to come back to the bargaining table, and we look forward to Friday’s discussions.”
Several NHL players have already made plans to play this season in Europe.
Do you think the NHL lockout will end this weekend? Will there be a hockey season this year?
