Happy NHL Hockey Lockout: It's That Time of the Year to Talk Turkey

Thanksgiving is just a few days away, and that can only mean one thing: soon your day will be filled with Heimlich maneuvers and tryptophan-induced comas.

More importantly, if that is even possible, this festive holiday offers us an opportunity to take a few minutes to reflect on the multitude of things we have in our lives to be thankful for. 

Among those who have the most to be thankful are the NHL owners and players.  In many ways the NHL lockout is just like the first Thanksgiving—pilgrims breaking bread with natives, both sharing in the wealth, but deep down, feeling like the other is stepping on the other’s territory.

But believe it or not, for NHL owners and players, the lockout has given them even more to be thankful for this year. 

With the money that the owners are saving with each passing non-game day, their lives become just a little bit better.  Just imagine what they can do with all that extra cash.  Now they can trade in their private fleet of Gulfstream jets for an even bigger fleet of Gulfstreams.

How wonderful is that for them?

And let’s not forget the players, who have a lot to be extra thankful for during this off-ice battle.  No longer do they have to wake up by noon and rest all afternoon so that they can put in a grueling three-hour workday on the ice, playing a game in front of thousands of adoring fans.

We all know what a grind that can be.

So, when you gather around your family table Thursday to say thanks for the food that you have, and the roof over your head, take a moment to think about your fellow NHL owners and players.

Be happy that their lives are even better than before, even if it is at the expense of others who have less to be thankful for.

Oh, and Happy Thanksgiving!