from Damian Cristodero of the Tampa Bay Times,

For the second time in eight years players are locked out in a labor dispute, and both times — in a stunning display of either bad timing or bad luck — it has disrupted the Lightning's chances to make even more inroads, competitively and economically, into its non-traditional market.

In 2004-05, it was the drive to defend the 2003-04 Stanley Cup title. But after the season was lost and a salary cap established, the team decided it could not keep goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin. Eight years and 18 goalies later, it still is looking for a No. 1.

The 2012-13 season was supposed to be marketing gold, with the celebration of Tampa Bay's 20th anniversary season to be the thread that tied together an expected on-ice resurgence led by 60-goal scorer Steven Stamkos and newly acquired goalie Anders Lindback.

It still might be if the season is played, and no regular-season games have yet been lost . If it isn't, it's just a lost opportunity.

And those opportunities are important, said David Carter, a professor of sports business at the University of Southern California and executive director of the school's Sports Business Institute.

continued