Finally

Loyal reader RB and I are busy celebrating the return of the NHL to life, following the utter surrender by the Players Union last week. Much like when the Kerry campaign ended, I felt like saying our long national nightmare was over... except that this was more of a Canadian national nightmare. Now that I think about it, Canada's probably one of the few places Kerry could get elected -- Kerry looks French-Canadian, and his campaign, when you add in the spending by 527s, probably lost as much money as the NHL last year.

Understand, I could care less who won the NHL battle -- as a matter of fact, I tend to side with the players in most sports labor battles, since owners are usually trying to impose some form of socialism (salary cap, a draft) to restrict free enterprise. But it's pretty hard to spend too much time worrying about the players -- their representatives misread the situation badly, and the owners hung tough long enough to break them.

As for the changes, they're bound to create some interest among fellow puckheads. The strange environment we'll see, with tons of new free agents and buyouts, will make for an interesting environment before the season. Add in the strange lottery for the top pick in the draft, as well as the goofy new fantasy-style snake draft, and hockey's trying some really cool innovations. The potential of expanded playoffs means more of the second-best tournament in sports -- the race for Lord Stanley's Cup. The on-ice changes, such as equipment limitations on goalie equipment, the (hopeful) elimination of the red line and shootouts will be fun for the fans. All in all, after losing a season, we're potentially winning a better game.

Whetehr we choose to accept it will be up to us. I'd like to say I'll make them grovel, but I tend to doubt it.