Welcome to the blog, KW! That was a great first post, and more or less right on. Chris said you're a big Preds fan - is that right? If so, we should get some blog entries down on the team. I'm excited about the next hockey year, and like that we're getting everyone signed so far.

Now's a good time to mention this - I'm optimistic about these NHL labor negotiations. Do you remember the mid-90's, when the NBA, NHL, and MLB went on strike? The only one dumb enough to actually cancel the championship for the league was baseball, and they paid for it for years. I think that's a large part of the reason they avoided the strike two years ago. In contrast, remember the other two leagues. Both of them played a shortened season, but both had a champion at year's end (even if I'll never accept the Rangers as champion). And because of this they suffered little or no long-term ills.

The NHL is in much worse shape than it was years ago, and the players and owners have to know this. My hope is, since they showed such good sense a decade ago in playing a season, they'll realize they could threaten a number of teams and the jobs that come with those teams. The Preds, or course, are a prime example. And, have no doubt, the players don't want to lose those six-figure jobs and have to play in the AHL or IHL for peanuts. The owners don't want to lose the prestige of owning a major league team, either. This logic wouldn't work in baseball, because it's baseball and all parties are idiots, but I'm hoping there is more sense in hockey, based on the past. I could be wrong, but losing an entire year is suicide for a number of the principles involved.

My final, and probably most important, point is this. Hockey players seem to love the game more than the other leagues do, still seeming to hold dear those passions that fans love in their favorite athletes. The cliched of "of course, he's a hockey player, he returned to the ice" for an injured player is a cliche because it's true. I think that that passion will make for players who want to play, and will return to the ice for at least a majority of the next season. At least, that's what I hope. Over/under on number of games played for team next year? 60. Knock on wood.