by Connor Smith
The National Hockey League’s labor dispute that put the 2012-2013 season on hold ended when players and owners reached an agreement on Jan. 6. The lockout lasted 113 days, about half of an average season. A 48-game season began Jan. 19 and will end on April 27.
“I’m happy that the season is back because it allows fans like me to get to watch the sport we love. It may not be a full season but half is good enough,” said sophomore John Bruckman.
When a lockout lasts this long, there truly are no winners, but in this case, the owners came out on top. The owners’ share of all revenue will increase from 43 percent to 50 percent in the newly ratified agreement, an increase that could earn owners an additional two billion dollars over the next ten years.
Small-market teams will also benefit from a lower salary cap of $64 million per year. This will allow the small-market teams such as the Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets, and Phoenix Coyotes to make a stronger push for free agents because they won’t have to match the high salaries offered by teams like the New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, and Washington Capitals.
Losers of the lockout include virtually all other parties. The employees were left out of a job for the past four months and will now have to take a 20-percent pay cut. Players lost 40 percent of their yearly salary, crucial practice time and the ability to bond with new players so they are ready when the puck drops. The fans lost months of watching their favorite teams in action.