The first casualty of the labor negotiations between the NHL and its players' union has fallen, and it's the Traverse City prospects tournament.
The Red Wings, who host the annual tournament, made the decision to cancel the tournament on Thursday, citing uncertainty surround a new collective bargaining agreement with the NHLPA. The current CBA expires on September 15 - the scheduled start of the tournament, and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has said that the league will lock out its players if a new CBA has not been agreed upon by that date.
The Red Wings were to be joined at the tournament by the Buffalo Sabres, the Carolina Hurricanes, the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Dallas Stars, the Minnesota Wild, the New York Rangers and the St. Louis Blues.
Detroit has not yet canceled its reservations for training camp in Traverse City, although the prevailing opinion in the hockey world is that a lockout will shorten the season to 60 games. The NHLPA is currently holding meetings in Illinois, after negotiating sessions with the owners earlier in the week.
"Consider the work hours lost for Traverse community, along with prospect development, as first cost of the likely #NHL lockout," wrote Chris Botta of the New York Times and Sports Business Journal, posting on his Twitter account (@ChrisBottaNHL).
What further costs there are is a question that remains to be answered.
