NHL Lockout- When profit corrupts sport

The NHL Lockout 2012-2013, possible the most ridiculous and unnecessary lockout of them all. Why? Because unlike other lockouts which was how players could be recognized more for their level of skill (i.e. higher paychecks), or owners trying to figure out new ways to do business, this one’s an ongoing conflict between the members of the NHL on how to split up a multi-billion dollar industry- hockey. Even though since the lockout the NHL has grown from profits of 2.1 billion USD, to 3.3 billion USD. One of the major tenants of this lockout is to have players take a 24% pay cut, due to a reducing salary cap.

What makes this situation even more complicated is the labor associations of both Alberta and Quebec, who believe that this lockout is violating the rights of the players in their respective provinces. For example, there are now various legal debates in Alberta, on various interpretations of the Alberta Labor Relations Code.

The teams that are going to be most affected by the lockout are those that are financially unstable. Of course due to the magnitude of hockey-lovers in Canada, teams like the Leafs, and the Canadians won’t have any issue (due to their large fan-base who purchase anything with a logo of their team on it). Its teams like the coyotes and the blue jackets that are going to be definitely faring worse.

For the player’s part however, many are fine with reduced salary growth if it means getting back on the ice. Now we have a disagreement on the players and owners, the latter looking for sources of more revenue.

Often in conflicts like these, there is plenty of blame to go around. For example a very interesting perspective is one that blames the fans and the capitalistic nature sport has become. As fans pay more and more, owners get greedier and greedier, and as a result we have a business.

Worst of all, this lockout says millions about the nature of the owners. The owners don’t really care for hockey or for the fans, there in it for the money. To the owner’s hockey is like an oil well and they will only be satisfied once they deplete the resources dry.