113: both the number of days the NHL lockout lasted and my level of anger on a scale of 1 to 10. All that time, I was wondering if a deal would ever happen, or if there would even be a 2012-2013 season. The hockey gods answered my prayers.
The NHL lockout officially ended on January 6, 2013. A new Collective Bargaining Agreement, or CBA, was reached between the NHL and the National Hockey League Players Association (NHLPA). Most of the details of the new CBA were not released, but the burning questions we all were asking were finally addressed. The new CBA will last ten years, through the 2021-2022 seasons, with an option to terminate the deal after eight years. That means that an NHL Lockout will not happen for at least another eight years.
The sides also agreed to split hockey-related revenue 50/50 over the duration of the ten years (which they could’ve done on the first day of the lockout, but I digress). No specific date was released as to when training camps would begin, though a statement was released that the first regular season game for every team would be between January 15 and 19.
Many (almost all) of the NHL players went to play in other leagues around the world, often in their home countries. Many high-profile players (including Alex Ovechkin), signed contracts with teams in Europe. But don’t worry, all of these contracts have “out clauses.” This means when the players signed the contracts, they knew that when the lockout ended, they could move back to the US and continue to play in the NHL.
As an avid Capitals fan myself, I feel both anger and happiness. I feel angry at the fact that the NHL owners and commissioner acted so senselessly for well over three months. I mean, they could’ve ended the lockout after just a few meetings, but they decided to act as selfishly as possible: only caring about the money and not the fans. They were more concerned about securing their positions in the league than actually accomplishing a deal. On the other hand, I’m also happy that the dreadful nights of not watching the Caps crush their opponents are finally over.
In the end, we can all finally let out a sigh of relief at the fact that it’s all settled. The ice is being prepared, that stands are being filled, and most importantly, hockey is being played.