I remember watching an interview of Crosby when he was about 15 years old and he said that "It would be a dream to play in the NHL because I would be doing something I love and getting payed for something I would do for free"... (not an exact quote) This isn't a shot at Crosby, he's one of the best no doubt but I'm sure every player in the NHL thinking back to their childhood would play for free if it mean't playing in the NHL... myself included. But we see how greed manipulates many people, not only the NHL but the NHLPA as well. Fans provide 100% of the proceeds and we don't get a seat at the table. It's kinda shameful. Now to Steve's question. In a perfect world, the NHL will start on November 2nd but in reality, I can't see it happening because both sides probably won't come to an agreement in such a short amount of time. I really hope they save the season. I pray every night, but the fans don't mean as much to the NHL as their wallets.

The season will not be saved for 82 games. I think it's very doubtful. It will be shortened if they somehow get a deal.

As much as Im hoping for a deal to get done, I dont believe any deal gets done this season. Both sides are too far apart

its not happening maybe by mid November early December but anything after that and hbo will drop there deal with the NHL and if they cant get it going by january 1st i doubt we will see another winter clasic in 2014.

I don't think the NHL will resume play on November 2. With the NHLPA's response to the NHL's offer I think if we get a season it will start with the Winter Classic, and a shortened season. If the NHL doesn't start by January 1, the seasons a loss.

I don't the the NHL will be able to squeeze in the 82 games it's supposed to be. I think the NHL will start it's season on Winter Classic. Not necasarilly meaning that they won't come to an agreement with the CBA a couple weeks before then. But I think they will come to an agreement in about a month. It just takes a long time to prep for the Winter Classic and I think it will a good way to kickstart the NHL season since all the fans are hibernating right now.

I just don't see the season starting before November 2nd. The owners and the players disagree on far too many things and have waited too long to start seriously negotiating a deal. Both sides are committed to standing pat and this process is only really beginning now. And btw Steve, you should just mail Lambert the Atkinson card, he doesn't deserve Carlson :p

The NHL said that if the games were to start November second will be the latest. Now November second is our only hope for a season to start. As much as I hate to say it, I don't think the season will start on an 82 game schedule, but maybe they can do what they did in '94 and go for a shorter season.

thanks.

I think it will be saved. with 3 offers fehr threw at betman. I think fehr will feel gary out a bit more all squeeze every penny out of gary to save money for the players. They both know what they want and i think here soon they will combine ideas and make a cba everyone can live with!!!!

Not a chance. Both sides are to selfish and refuse to compromise on anything...especially the players. I think the season will be lost 100%.

I believe they can get something done in the next 5 days. Lock up Fehr and Batman in a room and let them duke it out.

I think it is a 50/50 chance. I think the deal will be done Nov 11-Dec 11. If not I think the deal will not be done.

I don't think they'll come to agreement till half way through I think we'll get like a 50 game season and maybe that's good for leaf fans bcuz we might have that good winning streak going on for a month or two haha... Never thought about that HBO series I completely forgot and to be honest that just made me sad lmao

No, I don't think it will start on Nov 2nd, but I still think they will start after the Christmas break.

I hope they still get a full season. The Winter Classic better not be cancelled. I hate John Carlson!!

I'm not very optimistic on the November 2nd start. Best case scenario, I see the season opening near the end of November with a 72 game schedule or something like that OR they cancel it into January and hope they salvage all-star weekend. Again, I'm not to positive on either of these..

Although I would love for there to be a full season, I don't think it will be saved. I think if it could have been saved, they would have come to an agreement by now.

Not a chance....the owners are selfish and the players are just looking to play. Both sides can barely meet for 10 mins so no season...

I think they will start!!! Although, I get bad feelings at times. Let's just hope they start as soon as possible :)

Kyle Repar-

I don't see any chances of a deal coming anytime before December, unfortanetly. Both parties seem to be drifting farther and farther away than we would like them to be. Although allstars like Sidney Crosby and Steven Stamkos have not left to Europe or anywhere else so that could give us some hope on a new deal. I think that they should lock Gary Bettman and Donald Fehr in a closet with some water and bread and not let them out until a deal is done!

Based on how the PA responded to the NHL's offer, I think it will be a while before we see a resolution, but I hope I'm wrong.

I think with all that's occurred lately, we can probably expect to see a cooling off period. It seems like neither party is willing to budge just yet to get the season started ASAP.

there isnt gonna be an nhl season

I have hope but my brain sais no. They might get a deal in the begginning of november but no way in hell they are starting at the 2cnd. Btw if we dont get 74 comments i will get more pissed then if canada loses to the us in any sport lol

Not going to happen. Too much ego. Neither the owners nor the Fehrs want to be seen as losing. Therefore we all lose.

I don't think it'll be done before Nov 1. Even if we do have a season, it won't be 82 games.

Leafs finally get to be in the Winter Classic and the season is cancelled. Go figure.

I hope the deal is done in the next couple weeks which would mean they still have to have some sort of training camp. End November is when I think both sides will figure out what they really want and what they can live without. Please NHL come back.

Do I think the season will start on Nov 2nd? To be honest, no, but do I hope so? Yes. I think an agreement will be reached around the end of November so I'm gunna say thats probably when the season will start..I wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't till December. This is like a game of chess..played in slow-mo..and Bettman's the pawn(s).

Haha Lambert's totally getting the Carlson card...

Anywho, I was excited to watch 24/7 with the Leafs. But of course like anything else in life, if it seems to good to be true, it probably is. I'm excited to watch hockey again, and as sad as it sounds, I'm ready for another rocky Leafs season. But most of all, I just want a season of any sort.

No obviously it's not starting till the 2nd nor is it gonna be 82 games. I think the NHL can get going by early December in the earliest I'd say or late Nov. Thing is that the PA is really drawing a line here and I don't see them accepting a sizable pay cut which any offer the NHL makes right now would involve even if they move the math around. NHL might step up to 52% or more of a soft landing situation later on which should get things going.

Entering for the Atkinson card cos I think he's an underrated young player and I like that Crown Royale design.

I think there wont be a season because bettman weird

I don't see them playing on November 2nd, but I think it will be a few weeks later. I think the bargaining chips will fall in early November

I don't think it'll start by November 2nd but I sure as hell hope so! HBO 24/7 is BY FAR the best part of the Winter Classic and if the Leafs miss out on that I'll be extremely upset.

By the way nice jersey just bought the same one.

Hah, no. I have no faith in the NHL, and considering the way things are going, the season is not going to start by Nov. 2. By the way, if by any chance I do win one of the cards (which if I do, I would love it to be JCar's), will you ship it to China? :)

I'm optimistic that a deal can be done, but probably not before mid to late December, which sucks!.

I hate to say it, but I can see no season happening. The bickering of rich people is something that could go on for a while. Even if they can agree on an idea they can't agree about how to get there.

I hope there is a season, but I wouldn't be surprised if we didn't get one.

I want it to start on the 2nd, but lets get realistic, its not going to happen. Also how will I know if I win?

no. the egos are getting in the way, and I don't see that changing. so damned frustrating

I would love it to start then and have 82 games but I can't see that happening.

82 games next season maybe, I think this one is lost (I hope I am wrong)

No I don't see a season if they don't get it started by November 2nd. It's stupid, I want to turn off everything until I hear there IS a season, the media hype is stupid.