End of lockout in NLA

08 Nov 2012 | Luis Lopes

NHL and NHLPA are finally starting with real conversations to end the lockout. The days of show are over. And what about the Swiss clubs?

After 54 days without hockey activities, the conflict between NHL and NHLPA could be over in less than a week. The feedback in Hockey Press gives that hope. In the last days, NHL made a surprising move to urge NHLPA towards a deal and end the lockout. After a couple of secret meetings in a secret localization over the week-end. Both sides are showing that they want this conflict over. A lot of players have already taken off to play in European Leagues. But many still remain, connected to their phones and television screens and hoping to hear that the lockout is over.

In Switzerland, the league had open the door to twenty of the best players on the planet. But suddenly the phone number of Swiss clubs stop ringing. Swiss newspaper "le matin" writes that as an example LNB swiss club HC Sierre was about to have his NHL star but after the news coming from overseas the negotiations were canceled.

Canadian coach Serge Pelletier (Ambri) says in the same newspaper that until one week ago the NHL agents have done everything to see their players in NLA. Once the reunions between NHL and NHLPA started to get serious the phone calls are almost zero.

Are we gonna miss those players?

Definitively yes. These kind of players have made the difference in LNA. Players like Seguin and Kane made a low team like Biel be almost a contender in Swiss LNA made their fans dreaming with the impossible. In the Swiss press Biel's coach Kevin Schlapfer, with his recognized humor, hopes that the lockout simply doesn't end.

Zug's coach Doug Shedden says that without Diaz, Brunner and Swedish star Henrik Zetterberg the team will be drowning very soon as those players leave the league.

Almost 100% of players loved to play in Switzerland. Great environment is the first word that come in NHL players mind . Load crows is the second. Anonymous person in the streets is the third one, smiles Henrik Zetterberg.

Even if the fans in Switzerland like the lockout or not. Even if the lockout ends soon or not. They all admit that it's a honor that LNA clubs receive these kind of players. The experience is one in a life time for all sides. Fans, clubs and teammates.