scaredsensfan said:
Can anyone logically tell me why the players would all of a sudden capitulate? The owners losing one season have far more to lose than the players losing a season.
I mean, you try and repair hundreds of thousands of people in your fanbase.... the players wont be blamed in the end. Sure the public as usual is misguided now, but if the owners cancel the season, the season ticket sales even in the strongest of hockey markets will plummet. Imagine what it would be like in Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Anaheim, Chicago?
The fact remains the majority of fans see the owners' position as the more reasonable one. That's not likely to change as a result of the season's cancelation nor will fans' allegiances. A canceled season might make fans dislike both sides more, but it won't get them to change how they view the situation.
Calling the public "as usual misguided" does nothing to further your argument. If you want to lay claim to some intellectual superiority because it makes you feel better about yourself, be my guest. However, a more thoughtful person recognizes there are very smart people on both sides of the issue.
As for destroying the league, fanbases, etc., it's not going to happen. The hardcore fans will be back and, unfortunately, those are the only fans the league has right now. Let's face it, there's pretty much no such thing as a casual hockey fan. Those are the people a prolonged labor dispute would alienate, but since they're such a rarity for pro hockey, it doesn't really matter all that much.
p.s. How does one "repair hundreds of thousands of people in a fanbase"? Are they broken? Should the NHL bring in a team of mechanics to fix them? Just wondering.