Photo: clydeorama / flickr

Alright. I went over the schedule that should have been. Crunched the numbers. And fair warning, if you think the lockout makes you angry, this post wont alleviate that feeling. It’ll help you get up to speed on what exactly we’re all missing out on, so far.

Step 1: Cancel Pre-Season Games

This includes a total of 7 games. 4 home, 3 away. The home games would have included bouts between Phoenix, Colorado, Los Angeles, and San Jose. It would have been Anaheim’s first glimpse at how unruly the Kings clan would be for the duration of their reign as Champions. I’d suppose we’ll count that cancellation as a blessing in disguise. Three away games would have occurred against San Jose, Colorado, and Los Angeles. All 7 never stood a chance at happening.

Step 2: Cancel The Start of the Season Through the 24th

Ironic to be writing this one up today. A resolution could have been reached on this very day. Instead, I’m writing about the opposite. In this step of the 2012 lockout Ducks fans lose 5 more home games, and 1 away game. Honda Center could have been full of eager fans waiting for their first glimpse of the 2012-13 season starting on October 12 vs. The San Jose Sharks. It would have been the official home opener of the season. Instead the building we all call the home away from home was locked, empty, and iceless. Abandoned. We’d have games coming up against Dallas, Carolina, Edmonton– a small detour to Phoenix– and back home against Nashville. Instead we eagerly wait on the meetings the NHL and NHLPA have, and we receive more bad news.

Step 3: Lose More Games Until November 1st.

The most recent talks between the NHL & NHLPA had an upbeat feeling to it. The NHL had finally made a proposal that sounded workable, if they were willing to tweak a few details. There was even significant hope the season could get up and going by November 2nd had things gone the way the NHL wanted. The NHLPA doctored up 3 different counter proposals in hopes that the NHL would be willing to accept 1. All it took was Gary Bettman saying no dice to all 3 to change the mood. And one day later more games were cancelled until November 1st. For Ducks fans this means a loss of 3 road games. October 26th at Boston. October 30th at Toronto, and the kicker- October 27th at Montreal. For Habs fans that game was an important one. It could have very well been the last time they would have been able to see their beloved Koivu play one last time in their arena. Ducks fans will sympathize with this sentiment as we’re all wondering if we’ve seen the last of our Finnish Flash due to the same lockout problem.

As the days go by the questions remain the same, the fans remain in the dark hoping for their season. The questions go un-asnwered. Will there be a 2012-13 NHL Season? We’re about as likely to know that answer as we are about How many licks does it take to get to the center of the tootsie pop? The world may never know.