Picking at Scabs

I'm sure that all are aware by now that the deeper into 2005 the NHL goes without a new CBA, the taller the prospect looms of using replacement players. It's a notion that fits absolutely no one's ideals, but it's been thrown out there anyway, and the league has the gall to publicly consider it a possible solution, or at least the means to achieving one. I call this "gall" because they must know that fans are at best going to be split on whether to attend games played by minor-leaguers and lower-end players, so it isn't going to solve any monetary difficulties. This is especially true in places like Raleigh, where the Hurricanes have been losing less money by not opening the RBC Center for games at all, than if the season had been taking place right now. In addition, I can't even fathom the animosity that will develop between the players who cross the picket line and the locked-out NHLers - not to mention the sense of ultimate betrayal the NHLPA will feel towards the league.

Detroit goalie Manny Legace has said that he won't blame minor-leaguers who cross the picket line, and that's big of him to say. He acknowledged that there will be some resentment, but he knows that for a lot of those guys, it will be as close as they ever get to dreams of playing in the NHL, not to mention that a lot of them could probably use the money. He kept himself free and clear of 'PA reprimands, however, by adding that regular NHLers would be morally remiss in crossing the line: "We're all supposed to stick together as one big family." Well done, Manny.

Right back to the darker side of replacements, if that's the way the 2005-06 season will be played, then the Stanley Cup is going to be awarded to a bunch of guys who probably aren't even playing AHL-calibre hockey. Does this bother anyone else? I hope so. The league wouldn't free up the Cup this year to give to a national champion, or a North American champion, or what have you...the NHL could have been at the fore of organizing a massive - and potentially massively successful - tournament that pitted teams from any league against each other in order to find a continental Grand Champion. Hell, the NHL, as organizers, could have even invited teams from European elite leagues and made it a worldwide event, giving themselves invaluable exposure as the tournament organizers and advertising themselves to all four corners of the world. But no...there'll be no award ceremony this year, and without a new CBA, next year's award ceremony will be a complete and utter joke.

This is the state of our game. Depressed yet?