Uh oh, I think I just heard the first rumble of thunder on the distant horizon.

Posted by Hippy Dave from San Francisco by way of Detroit on 11/09/09 at 02:33 AM ET

Sigh.

Think we all saw this coming, but tried to ignore the big flashing light.

Posted by mrfluffy from Cincy on 11/09/09 at 08:56 AM ET

Great. Just what we need. A soon-to-be-former baseball guy leading hockey players in their dealings with a hockey league run by a former basketball guy. Guess no one who’s been involved in hockey all his life is smart enough to run either the NHL or the NHLPA. This has disaster written all over it.

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 11/09/09 at 09:59 AM ET

I may be in the minority, but I see this as a positive. I hope the players hire a leader, who won’t be screwing the players/retired players and their pension fund.

I also think the players need leadership that will tell bettman and the hawks of ownership to stick it.

The most recent collective bargin agreement which was signed is constanly refered to by bettman/daly as a “partnership” is anything but a partnership.

We lost an entire season and Stanley Cup Champion due to an owners LOCKOUT, not a Work-Stoppage!

So, gary got his salary-cap and is a hero to the owners. Well, we have had the cap for 3+ years now, and are the teams in Nashville,Tampa,Atlanta,Columbus, Long Island any better off today? We all know how “well” Phoenix is thriving (Box-Office not Win Loss Column).

I hope the players hire a tough as nails barginer, and if that means the players do hold a walkout, well then so be it. If the result is that bettman goes away, I’ll gladly take that.

Remember, the KHL was not around last time, and those crazy Russian Billionaires have more cash to throw around than they know what to do with.

Things will be different this next time and I hope the players don’t budge an inch!

Posted by Down River Dan on 11/09/09 at 12:10 PM ET

I see this as a positive, too.  The NHLPA needs to revise its constitution so that it can function as both a sports union and viable business entity, and a healthy, functional NHLPA is in a better position to collectively bargain with the NHL sooner than later.

The players will NOT STRIKE.  That’s a ridiculous suggestion, at best.  After two lockouts, what could the players possibly gain by committing the same, “Ah, hell, you’ll come back, right?” patronizing attitude toward the people who pay their salaries.

Posted by George James Malik from South Lyon, MI on 11/09/09 at 02:25 PM ET