Quote:
Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen
Everyone knew the 2012-2013 season would have 48 games once it was set. Never did they schedule 82 games and then cancel the remainder of the season. Similarly, everyone knew there was a possibility of 0 games in the 2004-2005 season and they never released a schedule only to cancel the games. All three of those seasons were CBA issues that were known years in advance.
These games were cancelled. That's a difference that destroys the comparison.
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In 1994-95 the teams all went through training camp. There was a schedule for all teams to play 84 games. At the conclusion of training camp they were locked out. The lockout ended January 11, 1995 and it was then agreed to shorten the season to 48 games. They didn't go into September with only 48 games scheduled. They had a set schedule of 84 games and then didn't play some of them.
In 2004-05 there was the possibility of 0 games. There was also the possibility of 82 games. There was even the possibility of some number between 0 and 82. The lockout was announced September 15. The first regular season games were cancelled September 24. Games were cancelled 30 days in advance. The season wasn't cancelled until February 16. Once again, there was a set schedule of 82 games and then they were cancelled. The original schedule was released July 14, 2004, well before games were cancelled.
The 2012-13 NHL schedule was released on June 21, 2012. Each team was scheduled to play 82 games, 24 against teams in its own division, 40 against non-division teams in its own conference, and the other 18 games against teams from the other conference.
I am not saying there is a comparison between COVID-19 and CBA disagreements. I am not even saying that we didn't know of the CBA issues years in advance. I am saying that the 2019-20 NHL season is not the first season since 1919 to not last for the full, expected duration. There are three seasons that clearly did not last the full, expected duration. All had full schedules and all missed games. One missed all of the games.
You could say this is the first season since 1919 to miss games due to a non-CBA related issue. That would be correct. To say it's the first time scheduled games have not been played is factually incorrect. Games, in fact, have been cancelled in three seasons before this year. Games, in fact, have been cancelled this year. The situations are vastly different, but all four seasons have, in fact, cancelled games. The circumstances on why the games were cancelled does not "destroy the comparison".