After 113 days of NHL's 3rd lockout in 18 years, the National Hockey League and its Players Union finally agreed on a new CBA that will shorten the 2012-2013 season to just 48 (or 50) games. Teams have started to practice today and will continue to do so on a regular basis until the season kicks off on January 19th. Although the CBA will not officially be ratified until later this week (fingers crossed), all teams have started to prepare for the season even without knowledge of their schedule.
So what does this new CBA mean..and why the hell did it take so long to reach? Well, it was finally an all or nothing ordeal. If a deal had not been reached, we would most certainly be talking about another year with no hockey.
The major key points of the new revolve around salary caps and play salaries. The deal is a 10 yr deal, with an opt-out clause by either sides after 8 years. This means that we will have guaranteed hockey through the 2019-2020 season.
The CBA deal splits revenues 50-50 with the league and players, although dropping the salary cap to $64.3 million from the current $70.2 million. It will also limit player contracts to 7-years (8 years if resigning) and the maximum salary variance from year to year can be 35% and at no point can the yearly salary be lower than 50% of it's highest yearly salary. Obviously there are other agreements and tons of fine print, but there are some of the major ideas.
--- The 2013 Blackhawks ---
The Chicago Blackhawks 2012 campaign came to an end on a 4-0 shutout loss to the Coyotes at home in late April...that now seems ages ago...
Monday morning, the team participated in a informal friendly skate that brought out Crawford, Hossa, Sharp, Bolland, Carcillo, and several others back on the ice. While they admitted that no one is in game-shape right now, it won't truly happen until they are playing in an actual game. Most of all they are all excited and anxious for the puck to finally drop.
Blackhawks went 45-26-11 last season and squeaked their way into the playoffs for the 4th straight year, including the 2012 run that ended with the championship.Vegas currently has them in a tie for 3rd as the best odds to win it all this year, behind Penguins and Rangers respectively.
The best thing about the lockout is that is that given the time for all the players to come back healthy. Hossa, Sharp, Crawford, and Toews were all battling stringers at the end of last season, all are healthy now.
Patrick Sharp has had back to back 30+ goals season and isn't showing as signs of slowing down. Hossa has the second most goals on the team last year with 29, but had team high 77 points. Both serve on possible the best line in hockey, or at least definitely one that most teams don't want to compete against.
Supporting cast of players such as Kane, Bolland, Stalberg, Keith, Seabrook and others aren't something to leave out of the conversation as many of them are also often seen on the top line and helped out the team plenty on days when tops performers haven't been playing their best.
Then there's Jonathan Toews. The best captain in all of hockey and quite possible the most valuable player in the league. He had 29 goals and 57 points in 59 games last year and lead the Blackhawks to their 4th straight playoff appearance.
All have been waiting for the season to start just as much as their fans -- the best fans in NHL. Since the 08-09 season the Blackhawks have packed the United Center more than any other NHL team. So get your hockey jersey's out and cue up "Chelsea Dagger" because hockey's back and the Blackhawks are ready to take the ice... (Puck Drop)
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