Well the NHL has locked out. What does this mean exactly?

I think I have the basic understanding of what's going on, but is there anyone that can put it in basic terms?

What I think it is -- basically the Owners and Players Association cannot come to an agreement on a Collective Bargaining Agreement. What I think the problem is that players are using (travel expenses, hotels, etc) and making more money than the teams can make via ticket and merchandise sales. So the owners aren't happy because the players (well is it the players?) are costing them money. So they are going to refuse to let them play so that they cannot further the losses of the owner(s) of the teams?

Am I on the right track with this?

Can someone help clarify or further explain this ?

I've tried searching the web but end up in a mess of stuff that leads me nowhere :(

http://forums.ayonae.ro/showthread.php?t=5644

And as for the Basketball comment. I'd rather watch COPS. Same thing really. On a plus I will be able to devote all my attention to NASCAR instead of trying to watch both. May be time to catch up on the wonderful world of WWE Wrestling!..blech

I talked to Rob Esche (Flyers) and Mark Mowers(Red Wings) yesterday and they both said the biggest issue is the Salary Cap. Neither side is giving an inch on that topic. The players offered to take 5% off the top of everyones salary as a luxery tax in order to keep playing and keep negotiations open but the owners said bno and locked em out anyways.

Greed: Our nation's greatest and proudest tradition.

Ok, Sel how did you manage to talk with those guys? Are you in the media? I'm not doubting you im just jealous....=)

I play hockey in their hometown. I am not friends with them or anythign like that. We've played at the same pickup skates and that type of thing.
Mark is a down to earth kinda guy and we have talked about hockey, babies(he's got one on the way) and that kind of thing.
Rob is kinda obnoxious. A buddy of mine almost got into a fist fight with him in the locker room cause we asked him if the guy who rented the ice knew he was there. He will talk to ya isometimes. Other times he acts kinda like you are beneath him.,

IMO, both sides are at fault.

Owners/NHL - The players don't believe that you are losing money...let their accountants do the same study yours did. If the players don't accept the very first point (the league is losing money), you'll get nowhere fast in negotiations. I start to wonder when you say you're losing money but have somehow managed to build up a $300 million "war chest" prior to these negotiations....please explain. You had you're own study to say you're losing money while building up money to lock the players out.....

Players - A lot of you make too much money and the amounts continue to skyrocket. A 5% cut will not address this....and the lower paid players don't really need their salaries adjusted. A salary cap will not take food from your families mouth...other, much more successful, leagues have one....and the players are not suffering ;).

I don't see how any negotiations will go anywhere until both sides agree there's a problem....the league is losing money. I also think the league has to admit player's salaries isn't the only reason the league is losing money. Attendance has stagnated over the past 7 years..IMO because of some poor league policies that have hindered the league from making the jump into a major sport in the US.....but that is another thread in itself.