Noting the existence of a 48-game season amid dozens of 80/82/84-game seasons isn't arbitrary.

_________________

Considering they were the 'team that saved Hockey" last year. Doesn't bother me one bit

_________________
Team Cutler.

Did it matter last year?

_________________

Furthermore, denoting "due to NHL ownership locking out its players, the league played a 48-game season" is far more blemishing to Gary Bettman than it is to the Blackhawks.

_________________

Other than that, then, what other explanations are you searching for? If it's basically down to "well, the regular season was only 48 games, which has only happened twice, compared to all of the other seasons", then it's kind of a silly proposition to throw out there in the first place, isn't it?

_________________
Not a mult.

I like that it was a hockey post that brought Ivan back.

_________________

Speak for yourself.

I guess what bothers me more than anything here is this distinct vibe of trying to whitewash history, as if we need to pretend a four-month lockout didn't happen so as to inoculate the Blackhawks from criticism of the short season. But the lockout did happen. I remember it well, having to defend the legitimacy of the league against outsiders from one side of my mouth while railing against the league among real fans from the other. I remember a Red Wings executive referring to anyone who wasn't a billionaire as "cattle." I remember how by January 1st, there was a very good chance we were going to lose the whole damn year and the face of the game in North America would be irreparably scarred.

Thankfully, we got the season in, and even better, the Hawks won it all, with the same 16 wins it always takes. And not only that, but they went through half the season without losing prior to a shootout, they won the division, they led the league in goal prevention, they led the league in scoring differential, they led in wins, they led in standings points, and they did it all without having a training camp or exhibitions, and with a schedule crush-loaded with back-to-backs and three-in-fours. But the fact is that this wasn't an average season, and it almost wasn't a season at all, and history has to know the way this league was pushed to the edge and almost fell off. Whether the unique conditions make the Hawks' achievements greater or lesser than the average six-month deathmarch of NHL regular-season play, I don't know, and it's not germane. But a terrible thing happened to this league before the good stuff happened to the Hawks, and that part of the story has to be told.

_________________

Fair enough, but in the grand scheme of things, that all is pretty much put to bed once the season starts, right?

I think for those in the future that give enough of a shit to look back at the "record book", and see that the 2012-2013 season was only 48 games should be able to find out why without that line in the "book" having some definitive "*" there, shouldn't they?

Our generation IMO has, sadly, been used to being accustomed to the occasional major league work stoppage, so in the long run, I don't think the odd season length every decade or so really matters that much, especially if the playoff system remains intact as it would for a full-length season.

_________________
Not a mult.

Oh, and not really having answered OKC's original question myself, IMO it's simply in general it's a Chicago hatred of the Heat vs. love for the locals

_________________
Not a mult.

Entertaining*

_________________
This is my signature...

_________________
Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George

99 Spurs*

There isn't a double standard. Put the asterisk there if you want. It's not like it is official or anything.

_________________
You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

SHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT