Lord of the NHL – The Two Towers
The lockout is over! Pending a ratified CBA, we’re looking at the return of NHL hockey on January 19th.
The night before the lockout ended, I decided to watch Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers, for the hundredth time. It occurred to me that the movie plot is closely related to the NHL lockout. Thanks to @midway_brennan and @keribo1 (both Blackhawks fans!) for having some fun with me on the #LOTNHL hashtag.
This is the story of how the lockout ended, as told by me.
![10](https://transcendwebs.com/wp-content/uploads/101.jpg)
Frodo: “What’s on Sportsnet?”
Sam: “Well, let me see.”
Sam: “Oh yes, lovely. Negotiations.
And look! More negotiations.”
Sam: “This looks strangely familiar.”
Frodo: “Because we’ve watched this before. These negotiations are going in circles!”
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![50](https://transcendwebs.com/wp-content/uploads/50.jpg)
Eomer: “We piled the carcasses of the last offer sheet there. We left none alive.”
Aragorn: “Talks have broken off? Again?”
Eomer: “Look for your deal, but do not trust to hope. It has forsaken these fans.”
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Hama: “By order of the NHL, the arenas must empty. We make for the leagues of Europe.
Do not burden yourself with long contracts.
Take only what sticks you need.”
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Where is the goal horn that was blowing.
How did it come to this.”
Aragorn: “Ride out and meet them.”
Theoden: “Yes! Let this be the hour when we draw up a CBA together.”
Theoden: “Fell deeds awake. Now for give. Now for take. And the Red Pen writes!”
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Sam: “Those were the lockout stories that stayed with you. That meant something. Even if you were too small to understand that hockey is big business. But I think I do understand. I know now. They had lots of chances of signing only they didn’t. Because they were holding on to something.”
Frodo: “What are we holding on to, Sam?”
Sam: “That there’s some good money in this world, Mister Frodo. And it’s worth fighting for HRR.”
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The battle for The Stanley Cup is about to begin.
All our hopes now lie with two red-headed Swedish twins.
Somewhere in Rogers Arena.”