As of Sept 15th, the NHL (Gary Bettman and the Owners) have officially locked out the players from playing hockey this season until there is a collective bargaining agreement in place. The players have responded is many ways. Taking to twitter, signing with teams over in the KHL and even resorting to expressing sympathy for the fans in a short commercial. Lets take a look at some of those.
Once it was announced that Bettman had officially locked out its players, the players decided they were gonna play anyway. Just not for the NHL. Many have signed overseas playing for the KHL, taking roster spots from other players who do not make millions like the NHL'ers. Don Cherry threw in his two cents today.
The list of players who have already signed with European teams can be found here.
NHL players who signed in Europe during lockout.
There a handful of Canucks practicing out the UBC rink this morning along with one LA King, Willie Mitchell. They were all wearing their NHL team practice jersey's inside out in protest. Although, as Bieksa pointed out on an interview, the logos are still on the helmets and pants.
Defenceman, Kevin Bieksa had this to say about it.
And if you're wondering about who pays for the ice time and who takes care of their stuff while they are on lockout. Here's your answer.
The NHLPA have also started a campaign on tv to get the sympathy of the fans. I saw this today. I wonder what the NHL will respond with?
Personally, I'm not moved by it. I just want to watch my favorite hockey team play hockey. The only people getting caught between these two money hungry entities are the fans. The fans, especially in Vancouver, love their hockey. This is a hockey mad city. If the Canucks/NHL won't provide us with hockey, we always have the Vancouver Giants down the street. They provide just as entertaining hockey as the Canucks. They may not look like Bieksa, to give it that glam factor, but they boys play hard and deserve to have a solid fan base. They even slashed prices to entice more fans to come. Taking full advantage of a league that refuses to let it's players play.
Let's hope the talks resume between the two sides and we get to watch some NHL hockey this season.
