The NHL lockout is officially over after the Players' Association and league officials signed a memorandum of understanding Saturday night. The memorandum reflects the terms of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement and clears the way for NHL training camps to open today. A 48-game regular season will start January 19th with 26 of the league's 30 teams, including the St. Louis Blues, in action that night.
The Blues open the season at home against the Detriot Red Wings. Under the truncated schedule, each team will play 18 of its games against division foes before the regular season concludes April 27th.
The new CBA will last for 10 years, with an opt-out clause after eight. Under the new agreement, the longest in league history, hockey related revenues will be shared equally between owners and players. Players' contracts will be limited to seven years, but eight if teams re-sign their own players.
