Lundqvist Remaining Optimistic for 2012-13 Season

Vezina Trophy winner Henrik Lundqvist (that sounds so damn cool) has had quite the summer, from the Awards to welcoming his first child to the world, fashion shows, GQ gatherings and sporting events among many other occasions on his agenda - all of which I am knowledged of because of his continuous tweets about all of them. Don't take this wrong like I am some sort of stalker or something; he has plenty of those already. 

But Page Six of the NY Post finally caught up with the Rangers' goalie this past weekend at a U.S. Open Tennis event - pause - he does have a kid, now, right? I'm not of the age to be a father yet, so I haven't lived through the process, but I have a pretty good idea as to what it incorporates. That said, how does he find time to tour the world and attend these events while also fathering a newborn? That fashion show and GQ gathering I mentioned before? Those were in Italy according to the magazine. Either he has a nanny or a very lenient wife. 

I'm really not making a good case for that non-stalker look right now, am I?

Anyway, back to hockey. The Post asked Henrik about the current CBA talks between the League and NHLPA, and the possible likely lockout that is coming as a result. 

“I think the biggest issues right now are revenue sharing,” Lundqvist said. “Teams are signing players to huge contracts, and at the same time they say teams are struggling and it’s just hard to put those numbers together.”

Lundqvist actually makes a great point here, and it's also something I acknowledged in Sunday's piece. The same people pushing for contract limitations on players and revenue sharing reformat are also going out and signing their own assets to mega-deals (that's you Ed Snider) simultaneously, contradicting their own theologies. Commissioner Gary Bettman can say all he wants in attempt to make the NHLPA look like the bad guys, but his own people are making he and his side of things look downright scandalous right now. 

Still, this hasn't kept Henrik from remaining optimistic about the season's scheduled start.

“I’m approaching it that it’s going to be good to go when it’s time to go,” Henrik said. “I’m practicing the same way and, mentally, I’m preparing for a normal season.”

Which I assume is the approach most of the NHL's players are taking at the moment. For them, there's not much else they can do while the new CBA is resolved. 

Bettman, Fehr and company are all scheduled to meet here in New York City on Tuesday. It's expected that the NHL will be making another proposal in response to the NHLPA's former counterproposal. If that is the case, Tuesday will be absolutely vital to the last hopes that something gets done before September 15 - the deadline set by owners before a lockout is instilled. 

Fingers crossed, y'all.