theyll survive. maybe a little drop in interest, but theyll get by.
i'm pretty optimistic. they are all making money unlike last time. they have a lucrative tv contract unlike last time. nbc should be worried. they just entered into a ten year contract. they dont want the nhl to turn to crap because then nobody will advertise during broadcasts. they arent a player in the negotiation but they might have some sway because they are a large financier of the league. this lockout threat didnt come out of nowhere, i would have to think that in the tv negotiations they said to the nhl "you mf'ers arent going to do something stupid like lockout are you?". they might have gotten a wink in reply