Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Don Cherry changes mind, thinks season will be saved

Don Cherry

If you’re looking for an optimistic view on the future of the CBA negotiations, Don Cherry hasn’t been your man lately.

Roughly two months ago, Cherry said, “If I’m betting, I’d say no [NHL season].”

He seemed to reinforce that sentiment when he suggested that the dramatic collapse of talks on Dec. 6 solidified the hard-line owners’ stance.

“Looks like I will see a lot more of Marlies, Junior and Minor Midget games this year,” Cherry said in summary at the time.

Now, after weeks of little to no communication between the two sides, Cherry seems much more optimistic.

“Look to the middle of January for the game to return!” Cherry tweeted.

So what changed his mind? Ultimately, he doesn’t think that anyone “in their right mind would kill the goose that lays these golden eggs.”

He went on to assert that a shortened NHL season will be “terrific.”

“Those people who say it won’t be good hockey because it’s only half a season don’t know what they’re talking about,” he said.

“Don’t you remember the last time it was half a season and New Jersey won the Cup? It was a sprint not a marathon. Play within their own conference. Lots of action. The guys know every game is important. Won’t have the half season blahs.”

The CBA talks won’t resume before Christmas, but they might restart shortly after that.