NHL

More NHL games have been canceled through November 1st, just days after the owners submitted their latest proposal to the NHLPA that included a supposed 50-50 split in revenue sharing. The players came back with three proposals of their own, which according to reports were shot down within minutes.

Per TSN, Gary Bettman replied that "none of the three variations of player share that they [the NHLPA] gave us even began to approach (a) 50-50 (revenue split), either at all or for some long period of time. It's clear we're not speaking the same language."

The NHL submitted their latest proposal today to the NHLPA, promoting a 50/50 split between the owners and players in regards to hockey related revenue, which might become the major turning point in these negotiations. (Photo Credit: Lighthouse_li/Flickr)

To make the proposal even more intriguing, this year's season was still based on 82-games with the 2012-2013 season starting on November 2nd. Bettman's original request was for the player's percentage to be dropped from 57% to 47%. Splitting the revenue 50-50 did not seem to be in the cards for the Commissioner of the NHL. This dramatic turn of events has sparked a lot of interest in fans.

It was reported by TSN that Deadspin revealed that the league hired the research market firm, Luntz Global to conduct a focus group yesterday to find a better way to get the league's message across after examining the fans reaction to the lockout. Whether or not this had a major effect on today's news is uncertain, but it might have given the NHL that extra push that they needed to get a deal done.

And now, for the first time in months, there might be light at the end of the tunnel.

Recently the NHL canceled regular season games through Oct. 24th, thus pushing back the start date for many teams to the 2013 season. The Islanders have erased six games from their October schedule with the new opening game being set for Friday, October 26th against the Toronto Maple Leafs. (Photo Credit: Robert Kowal/Flickr)

This would have been a marquee match-up ten years ago with every Islanders fan having this game circled on their calendars after a bloody, injury filled and violent playoff series with the Leafs in 2002. Those games were the start of the end for some players (Michael Peca) while the dawning of new beginnings for others (Trent Hunter). Steve Webb became a household name that still gets chanted at the Coliseum to this day, and no one will ever forget Eric Cairns' salute to the crowd after pummeling Shayne Corson at center Ice.

Approximately three years ago, the Islanders debuted their 2009 first round pick, John Tavares in their season opener against the defending Stanley Cup champs, the Pittsburgh Penguins.

In the second period, Tavares would pick up a loose puck that had last been touched by both Matt Moulson and Trent Hunter and would roof a backhand over Marc-Andre Fleury to give the Isles a 2-1 lead.

Since then, Tavares has gone on to score 83 more goals and likely several hundred more before his career is over as he currently has 202 points in 243 NHL games.