yeah, but sure came pretty darn close eh ?

id4joey – Please note friend that in the context of a season which will now likely extend to the end of next June, two weeks is indeed just a “matter of days”. For cities like Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal, it’s make absolutely no difference when the season starts … they’d be seeing sell-outs and merchandise “flying off the racks” even if the season started in March ! But those cities are not what this stoppage is all about. Rather, this stoppage is about the ailing “sunbelt” teams, where the “diminishing” disposable income right now has it’s eyes set on the exciting MLB playoffs, the new NFL season, the much anticipated clash of Kobe vs Lebron, etc. How many people do you think would be paying to see a Panthers/Coyotes game this weekend, had this stoppage not happened ? Perhaps a few, but not that many. Certainly not as many required for October to be a “viable” working month for the ailing franchises in question. Also note that many people have suggested that the “momentum” or “good will” of the NHL is being damaged by this stoppage ? Again I would contend that had the season started as per usual, far “greater” damage would have been inflicted on the NHL’s good-will, with near-empty arenas throughout the “sunbelt” such as Florida, Dallas, San Jose, Phoenix, Carolina, Nashville, Columbus, etc.

Now if this stoppage goes beyond November, “then and only then” would I be prepared to agree with all of the naysayers who believe that the “end of days” for the NHL are upon us. But that’s not what I think is going to happen ! Rather, I see a resolution coming shortly, probably no later than Halloween … and given the “14 x days” required rolling-out period, that would allow for a start by approximately mid November. By that time baseball is over and the die for the NFL’s playoff picture will have already been cast. We’ll see soon enough though, one way or the other … in fact, I’m willing to bet 1000 x Dadouns that we have an agreement by Halloween !

I’ve been watching NHL hockey since 1967 and during that entire time, only one other person ever played with the same genius, creativity and “masterful” skill as Gretzky … and that was none other than Bobby Orr. So if Wayne say’s we’re going to have a season, then by George we’re going to have a season !

It’s absolutely bewildering how we can be here today, only two days past the “official” designated start of the season, yet so many of you have already thrown in the towel and given in to despair ? Regardless of whether or not this is a “contrived plan” as I’ve maintained, the fact is that with the simple stroke of a pen, things can start rolling again almost overnight ! Even Fehr said just the other day that an agreement could be reached “within “6 hours” if need be. Remember that there won’t be a requirement for training camp or a meaningless exhibition schedule. So once the word is given, our season could easily be “up and running” within a matter of days. It’s ironic really, as all spring people we’re bashing us King’s fans for being nothing but a bunch of “uninformed” band-wagoners, etc. Yet here with this “apparent” labor impasse, these same people have jumped on the “doom & gloom” train themselves, with such a speed and in such great numbers, that it completely defies logic ?

The bottom line is that “to date” here at PHT, only three people have shown themselves to be “resolute” in their conviction that there “will” be a season this year …

- Wayne Gretzky
- Bobby Orr
- Blomfeld

Dude looks like Mork from Ork