CBC’s Elliotte Friedman is reporting this morning that the NHL Lockout has destroyed hockey for at least another month. According to Friedman the league has decided to wipe away its November slate of games.
For the Buffalo Sabres, that means 11 more games are now off the docket.
This is certainly a disappointment compared to roughly a week ago, when it seemed hopeful that not only would the lockout soon end, but a full 82-game slate was a possibility. The league made a proposal that on the surface would eventually get to the owners and players to a 50/50 revenue split, but the NHLPA countered with three offers that were all quickly rejected by the league.
Commissioner Gary Bettman maintained a full season being contingent on an agreement being reached before October 25. Now who knows when…or if they’ll even be a NHL season.
Among the most outspoken critics of this lockout is Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller, who sent the following email to ESPN.com: “The two sides are close enough to a deal that missing the bulk of a season is wrong and missing an entire season is not only insane, it is a blatant disregard for the sport, the fans and the culture we have grown over decades — just to satisfy egos, not the needs of either side.”
Among the contests slashed for Buffalo was three games against the Philadelphia Flyers, including a home-and-home series on November 16-17.
For now, the NHL Winter Classic on January 1st between Toronto and host Detroit is still on.
At this point, who cares.
