The NHL season's still fading away, as the league announced today that the games have been canceled through November 30.
For the Phoenix Coyotes, that's 20 games -- half of them home games -- that have been lost this season because the NHL Players' Association and the NHL can't reach a collective-bargaining agreement, with the most prominent disagreement being how to divvy up the cash between the two sides.
See also:
-NHL Now Canceling Regular-Season Games -- Phoenix Coyotes Lose Four
There are only 82 games in a normal season, so it seems like every week is getting closer to the conclusion of no games, which was the case in 2004-05.
Both the NHL and the NHLPA released their statements blaming each other for not accepting their respective agreements, and it would probably take an accountant to figure out which side's telling the truth about the proposals -- if either of them are.
The Republic's Sarah McLellan has been keeping tabs on which Coyotes are headed off to Europe to play while all this drama plays out, and if you're really itching to see some Coyotes play hockey, David Schlemko and Kyle Chipchura are both playing for the Arizona Sundogs in Prescott Valley.
Meanwhile, this is probably not the best way to get the hockey season started for the Coyotes, especially since the team just had its best season in franchise history.
If it makes anyone feel any better, NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly released a statement saying the league "deeply regrets" having to cancel games -- which is the fifth time the league has canceled games this year, including twice in the preseason.
