One Heck Of A Hat Trick

And I woke up this morning to a nice surprise: a new tenative deal between NHL players and management could mean that what's left of this year's NHL season may be saved after all.

The National Hockey League and the NHL Players' Association struck a tentative agreement early Sunday that may end a more-than-100-day lockout of unionized players, the league said in a statement posted on its website.

The new agreement reached in New York still must be approved by both the players and owners, the NHL said. 

"After a marathon 16-plus hour negotiating session at the Sofitel Hotel that began Saturday afternoon, the sides announced an agreement in principle shortly after 5 a.m. Sunday," the league said.

Some players had a "crucial role in the final stages" of reaching the agreement, the union said. "Players in the room early Sunday for the announcement were: Craig Adams, Chris Campoli, Mathieu Darche, Shane Doan, Andrew Ference, Ron Hainsey, Jamal Mayers and George Parros," the players association said.

A shortened season would at least mean we'd get to see hockey this year, but as I said earlier, two crippling lockouts in eight years means I've got no real incentive to go to any games and make the drive to Columbus, let alone Pittsburgh, Detroit, St. Louis or Chicago...and remember, it's still not even a done deal.

NHL has a lot of work to do to make it up to the fans.