Top 5 NHL stories of 2012

Look back at the NHL in 2012, there is emptiness. There were the accomplishments of Evgeni Malkin, Steven Stamkos and Erik Karlsson; big moves like Rick Nash going from Columbus to Broadway; the endless Phoenix Coyotes saga. But what did we get this fall and early winter? Nothing. No hope. No anticipation. No build-up to the best stuff. Just labor battles and cancellations. As we count down the top five stories of 2012, we can only wonder what stories were never written and never will be. — By Nicholas J. Cotsonika

TOP STORIES: Boxing | Golf | MLB | NASCAR | NBA | NCAAB | NCAAF | NFL | Olympics | Soccer | UFC

1 - 5 of 5

1 - 5 of 5

1 of 5 photos

3. Parise, Suter and the CBA — Why do the owners want to lock down the details of the collective bargaining agreement? Because it's legal collusion, and without it, they can't control themselves as they outbid each other. Some call owners hypocrites for spending and complaining about it, but the hypocrisy goes the other way if those same people accuse owners of pinching pennies and not trying to win. Perfect example: There was so much competition... more
3. Parise, Suter and the CBA — Why do the owners want to lock down the details of the collective bargaining agreement? Because it's legal collusion, and without it, they can't control themselves as they outbid each other. Some call owners hypocrites for spending and complaining about it, but the hypocrisy goes the other way if those same people accuse owners of pinching pennies and not trying to win. Perfect example: There was so much competition for the only two stars in free agency, the Minnesota Wild landed Zach Parise and Ryan Suter with matching 13-year, $98 million contracts that included guaranteed signing bonuses, which offered protection from the lockout, which seeks to outlaw those kinds of contracts. One member of the NHL negotiating committee: Wild owner Craig Leipold. less