NHL Lockout IV: The Sequel

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 13: Don Fehr, executive director of the National Hockey League Players Association meets with the media at Marriott Marquis Times Square on September 13, 2012 in New York City. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

While you were watching football over the weekend, the National Hockey League has locked out its players for the fourth time in 20 years.  It's the third time under commissioner Gary Bettman.  Notice we didn't say anything about further negotiations.

Remember the last one?  Sure you do.  In that one, the NHL ended up canceling the entire 2004-05 season, then spent the next few years trying to win back fans.  The CBC showed "Movie Night In Canada" instead of "Hockey Night In Canada".

Almost no one thinks this season is a lost cause, but we've seen this movie before.  Owners and the NHLPA (now headed by Donald Fehr) are battling over how to divvy up $3.3 billion in revenues.  Both sides want to reduce the others' portion of the money.  In other words, it's just another labor dispute between millionaires and billionaires.

Players have decisions to make while the lockout is in progress.  They can either (A) go to Europe or the minor leagues if they want to get in any playing time, or (B) keep playing pickup games with whomever they can find at practice rinks.  Such is the price of staying united with the NHLPA.

The regular season is supposed to begin October 11, but don't count on it.  As long as the lockout lasts, teams will be forced to offer refunds for games the NHL cancels.  And some of those franchises that are on shaky ground to begin with (Phoenix Coyotes, Florida Panthers, etc.) simply can't afford that.

Thanks to the lockout, teams like the Minnesota Wild now look like idiots for signing free agents such as Zach Parise and Ryan Suter to expensive, long term contracts.  Which doesn't say much for the teams' ability to pay ordinary players, who make peanuts by comparison.

For you, the hockey fan, there are alternatives.  If you live in Minnesota, the "State of Hockey" boasts plenty of high school and college competition.  If you live elsewhere, please support your local college or minor league team.  If you lack either of those options, there's always You Tube.

Or you can forget hockey and see what's going on in the other sports:  The NFL with its replacement referees screwing up games.  College football, where only teams from the Deep South need apply for the national championship.  Major League Baseball, which threatens to extend its season into winter by adding two more teams to the playoffs.  And then there's the NBA, which just had its own work stoppage last season, and everyone's pretty much forgotten about it.

So who needs the NHL?