It was announced today that the NHL has cancelled the first two weeks of regular season games, which accounts for 82 games, 6.7% of the season.
The NHL locked out its players on September 15 when the collective bargaining agreement expired.
“The cancellation was necessary because of the absence of a collective bargaining agreement between the N.H.L. Players’ Association and the N.H.L.,” the league said on its Web site.
After talks between the league and the union broke off after a two-hour bargaining session Tuesday, no negotiations have been scheduled.
“I guess at this point it’s so close to what the start of the season would be, it’s not a huge surprise,” said Devils forward Adam Henrique, who will play for the team’s A.H.L. farm club in Albany during the lockout.
This is he third time since 1994 that the players have lost games because of a labor dispute.
