mpdman said:
I still haven't figured out what you guys want to protest.
Do you want to protest that there will be no NHL this year?...
Are you protesting the players...?...Are you protesting the owners?
BOTH sides, not either/or.
They have their own interests to defend, the franchises and the players, but the fans' interests aren't factored into the equation. There's no reason the season shouldn't be played: if they took into consideration the fans' interest, and the good of the league longterm, then they would submit to some sort of short-term arbitration (for a year perhaps) and continue negotiating in the meantime. Instead, the players plan on some time off and the owners build a war chest to cover an extended lockout.
The fans needn't passively sit about going "Gee, if they can't agree then no hockey for a year or two is what must happen then, oh well, it can't be helped." (whiners are those who complain after the fact, when nothing can be done, like fantasy sports players who criticize settings
after the draft - protesters do something before it's too late)
What is needed is a few to lead the effort to put BOTH sides feet to the fire on this thing.
A "
FOR THE FANS" campaign could be directed at both the NHL and NHLPA, with "FOR THE FANS" on signs at the final game, maybe with a website someone can whip up, with an online petition people can click on, individuals can do some sort of protest event to attact the very easily drawable media - after all, the media has focussed too much on the inevitability of there not being a season if the two sides don't get there way soon.
I'm willing to donate time and energy to the cause; many of us will have a lot of extra time and money on our hands without a season to follow.