“We were extremely disappointed to have to make today’s announcement. The game deserves better, the fans deserve better and the people who derive income from their connection to the NHL deserve better,” Bettman lackey Bill Daly read in a statement.

“We remain committed to doing everything in our power to forge an agreement that is fair to the players, fair to the teams and good for our fans. This is not about ‘winning’ or ‘losing’ a negotiation. This is about finding a solution that preserves the long-term health and stability of the League and the game. We are committed to getting this done.“

You can’t make it up. Under Bettman’s leadership, the NHL is now in their third lockout since ’94. Oddly enough, the first one that led to a shortened season came on the heels of a memorably postseason with the Rangers breaking a 54-year drought for the franchise’s fourth Stanley Cup. If the second one was all too predictable leading to the loss of an entire season (’04-05), then the third is puzzling, leaving fans and players fuming. All due to a few Scrooges among an owner minority who forced the teflon commish into a corner. It’s worth noting that they didn’t need a majority vote to approve the work stoppage. But it didn’t matter. All it took were a few bad seeds to cast the ’12-13 season into doubt.

When it was announced on the radio earlier, I didn’t flinch. Why bother? They don’t give a rat’s ass if these games are played. Obviously, they could care less about loyal workers who must find work elsewhere. That it comes on the heels of the first Presidential debate is fitting. Less than 24 hours removed from Mitt Romney outclassing supposed leader Barack Obama, it makes me want to throw up my hands that the same can’t be done to Uncle Gary. He’s been in charge for nearly 20 years and even with revenue at an all-time high, it’s the same old story. It’s the NHL who can use a new face with fresh ideas. John Davidson, who recently parted ways with St. Louis, comes to mind. But why would he ever want the unenviable task of working with two sides that hate each other? I’d rather see JD return to the booth and replace Joe Micheletti. When I’m nearly forgetting Micheletti’s first name, you know things are bad.
All too ironic is that it’s a miserable Thursday here in the Big Apple with muggy, overcast weather filled with fog and rain. I guess there really is poetic justice. Most embarrassing is the short article on NHL.com that lasted three sentences. Not quite the PR that was created by a great playoffs that saw the first ever No.8 seed, the LA Kings win their first Cup over No.6 seed the New Jersey Devils. That was fun. Even if Adam Henrique broke our backs, helping the Devils avenge ’94. Instead of being on the verge of his second season, the super soph is preparing for the AHL along with our own kid Chris Kreider. Both can still benefit down in the ‘A.’ More so Kreider, who never played pro hockey until he debuted with the Rangers last Spring. Henrique was a finished product who proved to be pivotal during the Devils’ run.

The AHL will benefit from a wealth of talent that also features former Calder winner Jeff Skinner, Jordan Eberle and Taylor Hall. If you’re planning to see hockey, you may as well make a trip to your nearest minor league affiliate. It’s not like I have the option of watching juniors up close. But I’ll follow them the best I can. We’ll try to set aside a day to track all of Battle’s (Devils, Islanders, Rangers, Sabres) prospects. The CHL is in its second week and the USHL is underway with the NCAA around the corner.