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Yes, the 2004/2005 season has been cancelled. So where does that leave the NHL? There was only one year that the season was cancelled previously, that was in 1919 due to the flu pandemic. Not even world wars were able to silence the NHL! It's the fourth major sports league to ever cancel a season. So, that being said, what's next for the NHL now that the season is cancelled?

Sadly, here in Canada, it is the ripple effect. The strike affects the sports bars, which in turn have to lay off staff. (the hockey season accounts for up to 10% of a local sports bar's yearly revenue) Also, the sports apparel stores suffer. Why buy a jersey? But on the other hand, the local, semi-pro teams benefit, more fans = more revenue. So for some, it's a loss and for others, its a win.

Of course, each side blames the other. The union says that they were ready to deal and the owners say they were ready to deal. Well, that doesn't really matter now. They will have to go back to the beginning and start from scratch. And the only people that get hurt from all this greed are the fans.

Will they recover and embrace the NHL if and when they return? Who knows? This certainly opens the gate for some other type of 'super league' to step in and totally take over the North American hockey market. I have heard there is a European league that is looking at North America and this may be the opportunity they have been waiting for.

So where does that leave the average fan? A good percentage of North American fans don't really care about hockey in the first place. This strike and the cancellation of the season will do nothing to bolster up the waning interest in hockey. Is this a sport or a league whose time has come and gone? Is the greed of the people involved killed the sport? Only time will tell.