Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman no longer holds the optimistic outlook that the NHL season will be salvaged, “I don’t see it happening. The philosophies haven’t changed and there’s no compromise in sight. I’d hoped at the last moment the owners would move off the salary cap, but they’re not going to. I don’t see a deal being done in the next week, and that’s pretty much all the time that’s left.”

He then went on to say he planned to continue to work out in hope of the NHL’s return, but with a bleak outlook for it even coming back next mid-season Yzerman might not return. “I’ve pretty much got my mind made up about what I’m going to do, but there’s no need to say for sure yet,” Yzerman said. “If next season started on time and the Red Wings called about playing, it’s something I’d definitely consider. But starting in January might be different.”

I’m frustrated that the lockout has gone this long and neither side will budge, but I’m the most frustrated with the fact that Yzerman’s last NHL game could be him leaving the ice after the puck hit him in the eye against Calgary. No player, much less a highly respected player and leader, should retire under those circumstances.