The commissioner is hired by the owners and the union doesn't have any input, to my knowledged.

After the 2004-05 lockout, the following year's draft was conducted using lottery balls. Some teams had a better shot to get a good pick based on their lack of playoff appearances the previous three seasons. That's the year that Pittsburgh won the draft and got Sidney Crosby. The Blues took T.J. Oshie in the first round. I'm assuming that if the entire season was lost this year, the draft in 2013 would be similiar.

I don't think you can ever say a lockout is good. Yes, there were some perceived benefits to revamping the game during the 2004-05 lockout, but now that the league is in the same position, what were the real benefits. The system does need tinkering, especially in regards to the revenue system as you mentioned, but this stuff needs to be handled in the offseason.....not during the season.

That's the logic of most people who believe the season will get underway before January. The league, and thus the players too, stand to lose a lot of money if those type of events are cancelled. I really can't see anyone giving up that revenue, but I've been proved wrong before.

I was mildly surprised for the simple fact that the KHL season was underway and he hadn't left yet. I saw him skating with the Blues Tuesday and thought there was a chance he would go to Peoria and begin the adjustment to the smaller ice. Thinking with the big picture in mind, the money is too good to pass up in Russia and many NHL players are heading there themselves to playing during the lockout. Nothing wrong with Tarasenko's decision, although yes he would have benefited tremendously from time in Peoria.

Yeah, I suppose. The NHL is already wildly popular in Europe, but the personal connection with players would enhance that. But I don't think anyone in St. Louis, or any Blues fans in North America, are concerned with the start-up of the Osh fan club in Vasteras right now. They want to see hockey at Scottrade.

I believe Vladmir Sobotka has signed in the Czech Republic and Alex Steen is practicing with Modo of the Swedish Elite League. Other than that, I haven't heard much.

Yes, they will come back when the lockout is over.

I'm not all that familiar with the structure of the NFL's revenue-sharing system. But keep in mind, the NFL is a ka-billion dollar industry. There's a lot more money to spread around.

What am I amening to?

Unfortunately, the Chill won't step onto the ice until the 2013-14 season. They're using this year to get their feet on the ground. I would recommend checking it out. Jamie Rivers wants to bring a good brand of hockey to St. Charles.

Yes, the players can make money in Europe and to an extent it allows them some flexibility and wherewithal. But obviously only a fraction of the players are going, so I don't think it gives the players union any tremendous leverage. The players want to be in the NHL obviously, and while it appears they're going to stick to the their guns, they want to strike a deal as quick as the owners do.

Point taken, but what is a week going to do? The ONLY thing that would get the league's attention is an extended boycott and as much as I admire the stance of frustrated fans, I don't think know that that's possible. There's too many of them that will come back when the lockout's over. The league is counting on it, with Bettman saying as much when he commented that the NHL has the "best fans" when asked if they would return.