It’s Over, Finally

The end of the hockey season could mean the end of an era in Detroit. The storied franchise has carried a deeply star studded lineup for the better part of the last ten years. After yesterday’s cancellation of the 2004-2005 NHL season, this could all change.

The Red Wings generally set their payroll at $65-70 million. They have done a good job of keeping their nucleus together and farming younger players to fill future roster positions. They’ve taken that and fine tuned the rest of the lineup with proven veterans. They’ve also made it a point to sign top rated goaltenders.

This is all probably something of the past.

With a new CBA on the horizon, the maximum salary cap will be around $42-45 million. The Red Wings will have expired contracts that they won’t be able to renew, or in some cases, not want to renew. Players will be retired. Players will move on.

The one single most devastating part of the entire fiasco is Steve Yzerman. A guy who put 21 seasons in as the heart and soul of this team could be done. What’s to say this lockout won’t end in replacement players and a busted union? Would Yzerman suit up for that? Probably not. His last moment as a Red Wing would be being helped off the ice.

A travesty.

Someone, please, anyone. Take Goodenow and Bettman into a room and beat the tar out of them. What they have done to the Stanley Cup is a disgrace. They cannot be allowed to continue to be involved in the NHL. They have taken what is good and turned it bad.