via Craig Custance of ESPN (must be an Insider to read full article),

Last year, the NBA started on Christmas day and crammed in a condensed schedule to make up for games lost during its lockout.

Would the NHL follow suit?

One NBA source suggested that hockey should consider that option very carefully because he wasn't thrilled with how the condensed NBA schedule played out last season.

"In retrospect, I really think that was a mistake," he said. "Players -- there were more injuries. It worked out financially. It really worked out financially ... but the game suffered."

Poll NHL players and you would likely get a wide range of opinions. A young team like the Edmonton Oilers might be more than happy to cram in extra games. They have enough youth and energy where they might be able to capitalize on it.

Veterans and those with families might not think the financial advantage is worth it to play a condensed schedule. It makes for grueling travel and there's a serious health risk in a sport as physically demanding as hockey. A safety issue, like concussions where symptoms are sometimes delayed, would only be magnified in a condensed schedule.