National Hockey League: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 05:14, 23 July 2005

Revision as of 06:26, 23 July 2005

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There have been three work stoppages in NHL history. The first was a [[strike action|strike]] by the [[National Hockey League Players Association]] (NHLPA) in [[April]] [[1992]], which lasted for 10 days. (Though the strike began toward the season's end, it was settled quickly enough for affected games to be rescheduled.) A [[lockout (industry)|lockout]] at the start of the 1994-[[1995|95]] season proved far more disruptive, lasting three months and forcing the league to reduce the schedule from 84 to 48 games. Teams played exclusively intra-conference games during the lockout-shortened season. The resulting [[collective bargaining agreement]] was set for renegotiation in [[1998]], and the agreement was eventually extended to last until [[September 15]], [[2004]]. [[National Hockey League labor dispute (2004-05)|Negotiations for a new agreement]], launched in 2004 to replace the expiring 1995 deal, turned into one of the most contentious collective bargaining sessions in the history of professional sports. The league vowed to install what it dubbed "cost certainty" for its teams. The NHLPA countered that the move was little more than a [[euphemism]] for a [[salary cap]], which the union initially said it would not accept. With no new agreement in hand when the existing contract expired on [[September 15]], [[2004]], league commissioner Gary Bettman announced a lockout of the players union and cessation of operations by the NHL head office.

On [[February 16]], [[2005]], with negotiations still stalled, the 2004-2005 season was cancelled, and the NHL became the first major North American sports league in history to lose an entire season because of labor disputes. (''See also'': [[2005 in sports]]). On [[July 13]], [[2005]], the NHL and NHLPA jointly announced that they had tentatively agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement which would allow the resumption of hockey for the [[2005-06 NHL season|2005-06 season]]. On [[July 21]] of that year, the players overwhemingly ratified the contract by an nearly a 4-to-1 margin,. including anThe announcementsame byday Commissioner Bettman ofannounced a draft lottery forto determine first pick, which would allow the rightswinning team to draft teenage [[phenomenon]] [[Sidney Crosby]]. The [[Pittsburgh Penguins]] and the [[Mighty Ducks of Anaheim]] were the only two teams with three chances, asthree balls in the Pittsburghlottery Penguinsdrum. Pittsburgh won thatfirst rightpick in the draft. The draft is scheduled for [[Ottawa, Ontario]] on [[July 30]]. The owners approved the agreement the next day, along with new rules to spark intrestinterest in the game.

The NHL and [[EA Sports]] also produce games based on the league for the [[Personal computer|PC]] and various [[game consoles]] approximately every year. (See [[NHL series]] for a detailed description for each.)

==== See also ====

[[2005 in sports]]

===[[List of NHL seasons| NHL seasons ]]===