from Ken Campbell of The Hockey News,
The NHL’s track record with negotiating contracts with its players without locking them out over the past decade has been horrendous. Thankfully, that hasn’t been the case with its on-ice officials. There hasn’t been a work stoppage with referees and linesemen since Doughnut-gate with Don Koharski in 1988 and there will not be one this season.
When the league opens the season with four games tonight, it will do so with labor harmony with it’s on-ice officials. Not that there was ever any doubt. For the past couple of months the league has been negotiating with its officials for a new deal and the talks were cordial and in good faith on both sides. And with the league and NHL Officials’ Association on the verge of signing a five-year deal, it is on the cusp of being official.
Even if it is not done in time for tonight, there was never any thought the officials would withhold their services for the regular season. All of them showed up for training camp and worked the pre-season games, largely because most of the issues had been settled by then.
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