Bettman guaranteed that all NHL teams would survive the shutdown and contraction wasn’t an issue. "With the right economic system, we can have 30 competitive, healthy franchises," he said.

Whether anyone will care about some of those teams is an entirely different matter.

"I’m really afraid for the game in the U.S.," Detroit associate coach Barry Smith said. "It’s already in such a fragile state in many places."

Former NHL coach Don Cherry, star of Hockey Night In Canada’s Coach’s Corner, disagreed with Bettman’s projection of 30 viable teams.

"I really believe there’s going to be two or three franchises that bite the dust over this," Cherry said. "Some of the franchises in the States are precarious at best."

Dallas Stars owner Tom Hicks boldly predicted there would be a 2005-06 season and Bettman echoed those sentiments.

"No one should assume anything other than we’re going ahead with a 2005-06 season," Bettman said. "It’s something we’ll begin to discuss with the owners in the next few weeks."

With or without the players?

It would seem so.

"When it’s all over with, I hope (the players) think it was worth it," Bettman said.

Many NHL people were predicting that the best offer the players could hope to get was the one they turned down Tuesday.

"I shudder at the thought of the next deal," former NHL coach and Hockey Night In Canada broadcaster Harry Neale said. "The offer might be a lot worse than this one for the players.

"I can’t imagine missing an entire year and the players having any clout come next September."

Naturally, the players disagree and still think resolution can be found that will satisfy both parties.

"We are very confident that a fair deal is out there," Goodenow said.

When that might be is something nobody knows. Just as no one can be certain as to when the talks will resume.

The season was officially cancelled Wednesday. They came so close to resolution.

Today, chances of a new CBA seem very far away.

"It’s going to take awhile," Edmonton Oilers winger Ryan Smith said.

He’s not kidding.

That waiting game is only beginning.

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