NHL Players Reject Owners' Counterproposal; Season Cancellation Very Possible:



In the latest of discouraging signs that the 2004-05 NHL Season will be canceled, the National Hockey League Players' Association rejected a counterprospal from the owners that included a hard salary-cap (or, as the owners euphemistically call it, "cost-certainty"). Last week, the owners rejected an initial proposal from the NHLPA, which assented to significantly reduced player salaries, but not a hard salary cap. No further meetings are scheduled, and the 90-day lockout has no end in sight.



While NHL fans are no doubt disappointed by the lockout, there does exist something of a silver lining: increased fan interest in amateur hockey and professional women's hockey. Also, if the NHL cancels the entire season, it will be interesting to see the degree to which the NBA and NFL benefit with increased attendance, TV ratings, and merchandise sales. Particularly for the NBA, the NHL lockout would seem like a useful opportunity to expand its fan base, although its unclear how much crossover exists between NBA and NHL fans.

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