NHL

The New York Islanders were already stuck with a major problem before the NHL lockout began; now that problem has only gotten greater.

There are only three seasons (the lockout included) scheduled until Charles Wang's Islanders will be in a new home. Whether that new home is the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, a new or renovated arena developed at the Hub in Uniondale or Quebec, Seattle, or another city due to relocation is unknown. (Photo Credit: Nuke812/Flickr)

Despite the fan banter and lack of talks between the powers that be, Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano was accepting RFQ's to be granted permission to develop the site that holds the Nassau Coliseum. Some developers made it clear that they would want to keep the Islanders in their plans. However, there has been little discussion since then and it remains uncertain as to what will happen.

There is less than 12 hours until the third lockout begins under Commissioner Gary Bettman's watch. The last occurred back in 2004, canceling the 2004-2005 season and resulted in a new salary cap system. However, that system has been failing the smaller market teams, forcing them to keep up with the other clubs who earn more revenue and can afford higher salaries.

The owners and the NHLPA are fine with a salary cap system; they are not trying to reinvent the wheel all over again. But both sides are trying to structure an agreement on how the revenue is shared between the owners and players.

In recent discussions, several different proposals have been thrown on the table but none have come close to settling the disagreement. Bettman has been prepared to lockout his players if a new deal is not reached by the end of today. Although each side is likely to meet with each other before the day is over, it seems very unlikely that an 11th hour deal will be made.

Prepare yourselves for NHL lockout 2013.

Meet Becky. 

She's the crying girl at the start of the video. Her name may or may not actually be Becky, but she seems like a Becky. Becky likes hockey and she has a big-time sad because she wants to watch the NHL this season, but the start of the hockey season is probably going to be pushed back because of a lockout, which starts at midnight on Saturday when the current collective bargaining agreement ends.

If you're any kind of NHL fan, Becky probably lives on the right side of your Facebook page, where ads live (it's nice to think that Becky and the girl in the "Meet Asian Singles!" ad hang out). Clicking on Becky's Facebook ad leads to a peti...

The NHL lockout looms only two days away, or to put it more ominously, “The Day after Tomorrow.” It seems that most pundits agree that the players and owners will be unable to reach an agreement before the September 15 expiration date.

Still, it is unlikely that the league will cancel an entire season again. They survived the first P.R. disaster but with no real on ice solutions to offer, a second cancellation will bring the curtains down on the NHL. A shortened season, however, is a real possibility.

Here are three teams that might benefit from a shorter schedule.

The Dallas Stars- The Stars were in playoff contention for most of 2011-12 before fading t...