NHL locks out players, no formal talks planned

The National Hockey League locked out the players when their collective bargaining agreement expired Saturday at midnight, and no formal talks are planned to end the league’s fourth shutdown since 1992, including the work stoppage that led to the cancellation of the entire 2004-2005 season. The regular season is scheduled to start on October 11th, but unless a deal is reached and soon, that could be in jeopardy. The main point of contention is how to split $3.3 billion in hockey-related revenue. The owners want to decrease the percentage that goes to players, while the union wants a guarantee that players get annually at least the $1.8 billion in salaries paid out last season.