Not since Clint Eastwood’s chair has an inanimate object grabbed the attention of social media as the NHL Podium. If you need any proof that NHL fans are dying for their beloved game to return just know that #podiumwatch was trending on Twitter last night. It was a roller coaster night with the owners and players coming together numerous times throughout the afternoon and night. “The owners have walked out.” “The owners have come back!” “Here comes the podium!” “Hey look, there’s pizza!” It was the most fun I have had on Twitter since the Bruins beat the Canucks in Game 7 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final.
The reason why it was so much fun is because there were real negotiations taking place. I take each Tweet coming from a “league source” with a grain of salt. I refuse to let myself get excited until the ink on a new CBA has dried and I am hearing Jim Corneilson belting out the Star Spangled Banner at the Madhouse. But, for the first time since this mess began both sides seem to be striving to end the lockout and get back to playing hockey. This is encouraging. Sure it can blow up at any minute but this has been the best 48 hours in hockey since the season ended. I really feel that a deal can be reached in the next 48 hours. If it doesn’t happen now it’s not going to happen this year.